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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).
The specific fee can be found in the Chamber of Crafts' schedule of fees, which is available on the Chamber's website.
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.
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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.
Would you like to be entered in the Register of Craftsmen as the owner or manager of a business, but the master craftsman's examination is an unreasonable burden? Then you may be able to apply for an exemption.
Are you from another EU/EEA country or Switzerland and would like to practice a craft requiring a license in Germany? Then you can have your professional experience and training certificates recognized in Germany under certain conditions.
Are you registered in the Register of Craftsmen with a craft requiring a license and would like to practice another craft? Then, under certain conditions, you can apply for a license to practice another trade.