Professional qualifications from other EU/EEA member states See explanation of the designation of:

Conditions

Description

Recognition can be used as a substitute for the proof of competence required for regulated trades when registering a trade or appointing a managing director.

General information Explanation of this section

When registering a regulated trade and/or appointing a manager, evidence of professional competence has to be furnished. If professional qualifications were obtained in other EU/EEA member states, they are recognised in the framework of the diploma recognition procedure (recognition in accordance with Section 373c of the Gewerbeordnung 1994 or equivalence in accordance with Section 373d of the GewO 1994). These procedures are also applicable to qualifications obtained in Switzerland.

If the aspired activity is part of the EU/EWR-Anerkennungsverordnung, the recognition procedure in accordance with Section 373c of the Gewerbeordnung 1994 is applied to determine if this activity was effectively carried out outside of Austria.

If the aspired activity cannot be recognised in accordance with Section 373c of the Gewerbeordnung 1994, the authorities have to evaluate individually in accordance with Sections 373d and 373e of the Gewerbeordnung 1994 to what extent the foreign certificate equals the Austrian evidence of professional competence.

The official decision about the recognition or equivalence itself does not entitle the person to carry on a trade. For this purpose the trade has to be registered with the competent trade authority at the place where the enterprise operates.