Confectioner (Konditor)
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
- Note: Separate from Baker (Baecker) trade
What This Trade Covers
- Torten, cakes, and elaborate pastries
- Pralines and chocolate confections
- Ice cream production (Speiseeis)
- Marzipan and sugar art
- Wedding and celebration cakes
- Cafe operation (with Konditor license)
Viennese Tradition
Austria's confectionery tradition is world-famous. The Viennese coffeehouse culture (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) relies on master confectioners. Famous creations like Sachertorte, Linzer Torte, and Punschkrapfen showcase the art.
Social Media Opportunity
Instagram and TikTok have dramatically increased demand for custom cake design, artistic torten, and personalized desserts. Many confectioners now use social media as their primary marketing channel.
Vollstaendige deutsche Version →
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a baker also make cakes and torten?
Simple pastries yes. Elaborate torten, pralines, and decorative confections require a separate Konditor license.
Is there a combined baker-confectioner apprenticeship?
Yes, since 2020 a 4-year combined Baeckerei-Konditorei apprenticeship exists.
Qualification: how to prove it
Konditoren is a regulated trade under §94 Z.36 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:
- 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.36 . Last reviewed April 2026. This is not legal advice.