Carpenter Trade License (Tischler)
Key Facts
- Type: Regulated trade (Handwerk)
- Qualification: Master exam (Meisterpruefung)
- Registration cost: Free (€0)
- Exam fees: Covered by government since July 2023
- Start immediately: Yes, upon registration
- Scope: Furniture, interior fittings, wooden constructions
What Does This Trade Cover?
The Tischler (carpenter/joiner) trade license covers:
- Custom furniture design and manufacturing
- Kitchen installations and built-in furniture
- Interior fittings (doors, windows, staircases from wood)
- Wood restoration and repair work
- CNC woodworking and modern production methods
Qualification Alternatives
- Master exam (Meisterpruefung) for carpenters
- HTL diploma in wood technology + 3 years practical experience
- University/FH degree in wood engineering + 2 years practical experience
- Individual assessment (§19 GewO) with proof of extensive experience
- Qualified manager (§39 GewO) who holds the qualification
Vollstaendige deutsche Version →
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Tischler and Zimmermeister?
Tischler makes furniture and interior fittings. Zimmermeister builds load-bearing timber structures like roof trusses.
Do I need CNC machines to start a carpentry workshop?
Not required but increasingly standard. CNC improves precision and efficiency. Many start with manual tools.
Qualification: how to prove it
Tischler is a regulated trade under §94 Z.64 of the Austrian Trade Act (GewO 1994). The standard route is the qualification exam (befähigungsprüfung).
- Examined by: Meisterprüfungsstelle WK
- Exam modules: 5
- Exam fee: €0 — exam fees are covered by the federal government
If you cannot sit the exam, these routes are open to you:
- Lehrabschluss Tischler + Berufspraxis
- Individual assessment under §19 GewO
- Appointing a qualified managing director
Registering the trade
- Cost: Free — registration itself carries no fee
- Where: District administrative authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde)
- Decision within: max. 3 months
- Typically takes: 1-5 Werktage (bei vollstaendigen Unterlagen)
- Start trading: immediately on registration — you do not have to wait for the decision
You can register in these ways:
- Online via GISA (the trade register)
- Online via USP (the business service portal)
- In person at the authority
Who may register
- Minimum age: 18
- Citizenship or residence: Austria, EU, EEA or Switzerland
- Clean record: no disqualifying convictions (checked by the authority)
Documents to bring
- Photo ID
- Certificate of competence (Befähigungsnachweis)
- Criminal record certificate
Terms shown in German are the ones printed on the Austrian forms — you will meet them exactly like this at the authority.
Where to go, by province
| Province | Competent authority |
|---|---|
| Vienna | Magistrat der Stadt Wien, MA 63 |
| Lower Austria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft |
| Upper Austria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat |
| Styria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Graz |
| Tyrol | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Innsbruck |
| Salzburg | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Salzburg |
| Carinthia | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Klagenfurt/Villach |
| Burgenland | Bezirkshauptmannschaft |
| Vorarlberg | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Bregenz |
Legal basis: GewO 1994 §94 Z.64 . Last reviewed April 2026. This is not legal advice.