Chamber of crafts and crafts register

In short: Anyone who practises a licence-requiring craft (e.g. electrician, painter, hairdresser) must be entered in the crafts register. For that you usually need the master craftsman’s certificate. The chamber of crafts is then responsible, not the chamber of commerce.

In more detail: The Crafts Code distinguishes licence-requiring crafts (Annex A), licence-free crafts (Annex B1) and craft-like trades (B2). In licence-free crafts you may work without a master’s certificate but must register the business and become a member of the chamber of crafts.

In detail

• Licence required: e.g. electrical technician, plumber, bricklayer, car mechatronics technician, optician. Master or equivalent qualification needed.
• Licence free: e.g. tiler, interior decorator, photographer, watchmaker.
• Pure hobbies: handmade things (e.g. jewellery) are not a craft under the Crafts Code as long as they are not made in a craft manner.
• Fee: craftspeople pay fees to the chamber of crafts, not to the chamber of commerce.
• Minors: for licence-requiring crafts there is practically no route without a master’s certificate.

See also: Trades that require a permit, Chamber of commerce membership and fee