Plasterer & Drywall (Stukkateur und Trockenausbau)
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
- Growth area: Fire protection drywall and acoustic ceiling systems
What This Trade Covers
- Interior and exterior plastering (lime, cement, gypsum plaster)
- Drywall construction (Rigips/plasterboard partition walls and ceilings)
- Fire-rated wall and ceiling systems (Brandschutzwaende)
- Acoustic ceiling panels and sound-absorbing wall cladding
- Stucco work, decorative plaster, and ornamental mouldings
- Thermal insulation composite systems (WDVS) — exterior render layer
- Subfloor levelling screeds and surface preparation
Drywall Boom
Drywall (Trockenausbau) has become one of the fastest-growing construction segments in Austria. Advantages over traditional masonry include faster installation, lighter weight, and integrated fire protection. Office fit-outs, hospital renovations, and residential attic conversions drive steady demand.
Qualification Alternatives
- Master exam (Meisterpruefung) for Stukkateur und Trockenausbau
- HTL diploma in building technology + 3 years experience
- Individual assessment (§19 GewO) with extensive professional experience
- Qualified manager (§39 GewO) who holds the required qualification
Related Guides
Vollstaendige deutsche Version →
Qualification: how to prove it
Stuckateure is a regulated trade under §94 Z.60 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
- 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.60 . Last reviewed April 2026. This is not legal advice.