English
Orthopedic Shoemaker (Orthopädieschuhmacher)
GewO §94 Z.50
Verified: April 2026
Key Facts
- Type: Regulated trade (Handwerk)
- Qualification: Master exam (Meisterpruefung)
- Registration cost: Free (€0)
- Health insurance: Direct billing with social insurance possible
- Note: Distinct from regular shoemaker and orthotics maker
What This Trade Covers
- Custom orthopedic shoes (Massschuhe)
- Orthopedic insoles and foot supports
- Shoe modifications for medical conditions
- Diabetic footwear
- Orthopedic shoe repairs and adjustments
Medical Device Status
Custom orthopedic shoes and insoles are classified as medical devices
under EU MDR. Practitioners work on medical prescriptions and can
bill Austrian social insurance providers (OeGK) directly for
prescribed products.
Distinction from Related Trades
- Orthotics maker (Bandagist, §94 Z.4) — braces, prosthetics, bandages
- Regular shoemaker — free trade, no medical devices
- Foot care (Fusspflege, §94 Z.20) — nail and skin care only
Related Guides
Qualification: how to prove it
Schuhmacher is a regulated trade under §94 Z.48 of the Austrian Trade Act (GewO 1994). The standard route is the master craftsman exam (meisterprüfung).
- Examined by: 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 Linz/Wels/Steyr |
| 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.48 . Last reviewed April 2026. This is not legal advice.
Legally binding: German text of GewO 1994.