Floor Layer Trade License (Bodenleger)
Key Facts
- Type: Regulated trade (Handwerk)
- Qualification: Master exam (Meisterpruefung)
- Registration cost: Free (€0)
- Exam fees: Covered by the federal government since July 2023
- Start immediately: Yes, upon registration
- Trending: Design floors (LVT/SPC), large-format tiles
What This Trade Covers
- Parquet installation, sanding, and finishing
- Laminate and engineered wood flooring
- Design vinyl flooring (LVT, SPC, WPC)
- Natural materials (cork, linoleum, sisal)
- Screed preparation and leveling
- Underfloor heating compatibility work
Market Trends
The Austrian flooring market is driven by renovation activity, especially in historic buildings (Altbau). Parquet restoration in Vienna's Gruenderzeit buildings requires specialized skills. Design vinyl (LVT) is the fastest-growing segment due to water resistance and easy maintenance.
Qualification Alternatives
- Master exam (Meisterpruefung) for floor layers
- Apprenticeship + additional qualification modules
- Individual assessment (§19 GewO)
- Qualified manager (§39 GewO)
Vollstaendige deutsche Version →
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest-growing flooring segment?
Design vinyl (LVT/SPC) is growing fastest due to water resistance, easy maintenance, and realistic designs.
Do I need separate qualification for parquet vs vinyl?
No, the Bodenleger qualification covers all resilient and wood-based floor coverings.
Qualification: how to prove it
Bodenleger is a regulated trade under §94 Z.6 of the Austrian Trade Act (GewO 1994). The standard route is the master craftsman exam (meisterprüfung).
- 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
- Master craftsman certificate (Meisterprüfungszeugnis)
- 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 |
| Salzburg | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Salzburg |
| Carinthia | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Klagenfurt/Villach |
| Styria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Graz |
| Tyrol | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Innsbruck |
| Burgenland | Bezirkshauptmannschaft |
| Vorarlberg | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Bregenz |
Legal basis: GewO 1994 §94 Z.6 . Last reviewed April 2026. This is not legal advice.