Trade register; application for a license to practice for journeymen and skilled workers with qualified professional experience

If you have passed the journeyman's or final examination in a recognized skilled trade and have qualified professional experience, you can become self-employed or take on a managerial role in most skilled trades requiring a license.

Anyone who has passed a journeyman's examination or a final examination in a recognized training occupation and has gained relevant professional experience can become self-employed or take on a managerial role in many trades requiring a license. The professional qualification must have been acquired in the trade that is to be practiced. For certain trades, it is sufficient if the professional qualification was acquired in a related trade, which can be found in the ordinance on related trades.

In addition to a journeyman's or final examination, proof of relevant professional experience is also required, which must have been acquired after the training. At least six years of professional experience is required, of which at least four years must have been in a managerial position. A managerial position can be assumed if the person concerned has been given independent decision-making powers in a company or a significant part of a company, which must be documented by job references, job descriptions or in another suitable manner. The granting of a license to practice for journeymen or journeywomen with qualified professional experience is not possible for chimney sweeps and health trades (opticians, audiologists, orthopaedic technicians, orthopaedic shoemakers, dental technicians).

• You must have passed a journeyman's examination or a comparable final examination in the trade to be practiced.
• You have worked in the trade for at least 6 years after the journeyman's examination.
• Of the 6 years, you must have held a managerial position in a company or a significant part of a company for at least 4 years.
  • A managerial position includes independent decision-making powers, which can be proven by job references or job advertisements.
• You have business management, commercial and legal knowledge.

Legal action may be taken against a rejection of the application. Information on the existing legal remedies can be found in the information on legal remedies in the notifications.

You can only practice a craft requiring a license if you are entered in the register of craftsmen. A license to practice must therefore be applied for in good time.

none

The specific fee can be found in the Chamber of Crafts' schedule of fees, which is available on the Chamber's website.

• The following documents are required:
  • Application for a license to practice
  • Proof of identification
  • Proof of formal professional qualifications acquired (journeyman's certificate, diploma)
  • Proof of at least six years of application-related professional experience, including at least four years in a managerial position. Proof of a managerial position in a company or a significant part of a company can be provided, for example, in the form of job references and job descriptions.