Register of craftsmen Registration by granting an exemption according to § 9 Abs. 1 HwO

The responsibility lies with the Chamber of Crafts, in whose district the (future) branch is located.

This procedure can also be carried out through a "Point of Single Contact". The "Point of Single Contact" is a special service offered by municipalities and the state for service providers.

1. Recognition of professional experience – does not apply to health crafts (No. 33 – 37 of Annex A to the Crafts Code (HwO))

• Proof of nationality
• certificate attesting to the nature and duration of the activity issued by the competent authority or body of the home Member State. The following professional experience, partly combined with acquired professional qualifications, is taken into account:
  • self-employed or as a manager for at least 6 consecutive years (the termination of this activity must not have occurred more than 10 years ago) or
  • self-employed or responsible for an undertaking for at least three consecutive years, provided that at least three years' training has previously been completed in the occupation concerned, or
  • self-employed or as manager of an undertaking for at least four consecutive years, provided that at least two years' training has previously been completed in the profession concerned, or
  • self-employed for at least three consecutive years and employed for at least five years (no more than ten years have left the activity), or in a managerial position for at least five consecutive years, including at least three years in a technical activity and with responsibility for at least one department of the company after at least three years' training (this alternative does not apply to hairdressing).

The activity carried out must include at least one essential activity of the trade listed in Annex A to the Crafts Code, for which the exemption permit is requested. In order to take into account professional qualifications in addition to practical professional experience, a certificate of training by a state-recognised certificate or recognition of the training by the competent professional organisation of the country of origin is also required.

2. Recognition of training and competence certificates – in particular for health trades (points 33 – 37 of Annex A to the HwO) and for access to all other Annex A professions, if proof of sufficient practical professional experience cannot be provided. It is required:

• proof of nationality,
• a certified copy of the evidence of competence or formal qualifications,
• if applicable, additional proof of practical professional experience.

Depending on the individual case, further evidence may be required, which is conclusively regulated in § 5 of the Ordinance on the Conditions for the Exercise of a Craft Subject to Licensing (EU/EEA HwV) applicable to nationals of a Member State of the European Union or of another State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland.

If, during the examination of qualifications and qualifications, it is found that a relevant skills deficit exists, compensatory measures consisting of passing an aptitude test or an adaptation period may be required under conditions specified by law.

Fees are charged in accordance with the scale of fees of the competent authority.

Deadlines may have to be observed. Please contact the competent authority.

Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport