Craft Trades and Professional Qualification under Sections 21 and 22
What evidence of professional qualification the Trade Licensing Act requires for craft trades and how to prove...
Types of trade
Craft, Regulated and Permit (Concession) Trades
For these three types of trade, having legal capacity and good standing (no criminal record) is not enough — you must additionally prove your professional qualification (special conditions under § 7 of the Trade Licensing Act). They differ mainly in how you prove your qualification and whether you also need state authorisation.
craft: apprenticeship certificate or experience
regulated: precisely defined in Annex 2
permit: + consent of the authority
don't qualify? responsible representative
Three types according to how you prove your expertise
Craft trade
Annex 1 · notifiable
Expertise: an apprenticeship certificate, secondary school-leaving exam (maturita) or diploma in the field (§ 21). Without education in the field, this can be replaced by a related field + 1 year of experience, retraining + 1 year of experience, or 6 years of experience alone (§ 22).
List of craft tradesRegulated trade
Annex 2 · notifiable
Expertise: precisely set out for each trade individually in Annex 2 — specific education, authorisation, certificate or examination. The general ‘related field + experience’ rule does not apply here.
List of regulated tradesPermit (concession) trade
Annex 3 · concession
Expertise under Annex 3 and, in addition, the consent or opinion of a state administration authority. The authorisation arises only once the decision granting the concession becomes final, not upon notification.
Catalogue of permit tradesHow expertise is proven for each type
| Type of trade | Annex to the Trade Act | Expertise requirement | How to document experience and education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craft | No. 1 | Education in the field, or a related field with experience, or experience | Document under § 21: apprenticeship certificate, maturita, higher vocational/university degree in the field, professional qualification. Substitutes under § 22: a related field (apprenticeship certificate / maturita / higher vocational / university) + 1 year of experience, retraining + 1 year of experience, or 6 years’ experience in the field alone. |
| Regulated | No. 2 | Precisely defined for each trade individually | Documents set out directly in Annex 2 — typically specific education + experience, authorisation (e.g. ČKAIT/ČKA), a certificate or a professional examination. The § 22 substitutes generally do not apply. |
| Permit (concession) | No. 3 | Expertise under Annex 3 + consent of the authority | Professional qualification under Annex 3 and, in addition, the consent / opinion of the relevant state administration authority; the concession is granted by the authority in administrative proceedings. |
Experience in the field means the performance of professional activities in the field or a related field (§ 7(4)) — as a self-employed person (OSVČ), an operations manager, a responsible representative, a person responsible for managing the activity, or an employee carrying out independent professional work. It is usually documented by an employment contract + employer confirmation. For the unqualified trade (živnost volná, Annex 4), no expertise needs to be proven. Source: Act No. 455/1991 Coll., § 7, § 21, § 22 — verified 2026.
How to document your qualification step by step
- Determine which annex your activity falls under craft (No. 1), regulated (No. 2) or permit (No. 3) → detail
- For a craft trade, verify education in the field under § 21 apprenticeship certificate, maturita, higher vocational school, university or a professional qualification in the relevant field
- No education in the field? Use a substitute under § 22 a related field + 1 year of experience, retraining + 1 year of experience, or 6 years of experience in the field
- For a regulated trade, find the specific requirement in Annex 2 authorisation, certificate or precisely defined education + experience — the § 22 substitutes do not apply here
- For a permit (concession) trade, prove expertise under Annex 3 you also need the consent or opinion of the relevant state administration authority → detail
- Don’t meet the conditions yourself? Appoint a responsible representative they must meet both the general and the special conditions and have a contractual relationship with you
- Attach the documents to your notification (or concession application) for foreigners, a recognition of professional qualification issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) serves as the document
When you must have a responsible representative
A responsible representative is a person who is responsible for the proper operation of the trade and for compliance with trade licensing regulations, and who has a contractual relationship with you (§ 11). You must appoint one if, as a natural person, you do not yourself meet the special conditions — that is, you do not have the professional qualification for the given craft, regulated or permit (concession) trade. Conversely, if you personally meet the qualification, you do not need a responsible representative.
- The responsible representative must meet both the general and the special conditions of the trade (legal capacity, good standing and professional qualification).
- No one may be a responsible representative for more than 4 entrepreneurs (§ 11(7)). Note: some older sources cite the outdated limit of 2.
- You must notify the authority of the appointment and termination of the office within 15 days. If the representative ceases to perform the office, you must appoint a new one within 15 days.
- For permit (concession) trades, the appointment of a responsible representative takes effect only on the day it is approved by the trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad).
Source: Act No. 455/1991 Coll., § 11 — verified 2026.
Amendment to concessions: Act No. 220/2025 Coll. from 1 January 2026
With effect from 1 January 2026, the Trade Licensing Act was amended by Act No. 220/2025 Coll. in connection with the new legal regulation of weapons and ammunition. It affects mainly permit (concession) trades in the area of weapons and munitions (development, manufacture, repair, purchase, sale and storage of weapons, ammunition and explosives). For these concessions, always verify the specific requirements for professional qualification and the consent of the relevant authority in the current Annex 3. Source: Act No. 220/2025 Coll., MPO — verified 2026.
Road transport of up to 9 persons? It’s a concession (Bolt, Uber, taxi drivers)
The transport of persons by vehicles carrying up to 9 people — i.e. a classic taxi service as well as rides via Bolt or Uber — falls under the permit (concession) trade ‘Road motor transport’, on which the transport authority issues an opinion. If you want to carry passengers, read our separate guide: Bolt, Uber and taxi driver →
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a craft, regulated and permit (concession) trade?
For all three you must prove professional qualification, but the way differs. For a craft trade (Annex 1) an apprenticeship certificate or education in the field is enough, or a related field with experience, or possibly 6 years of experience (§ 21 and 22). For a regulated trade (Annex 2) the expertise is precisely defined for each trade individually and substituting it with experience generally does not apply. For a permit trade (Annex 3) you additionally need the consent of a state administration authority, and the authorisation arises only upon granting of the concession, not upon notification.
For how many entrepreneurs can one person be a responsible representative?
For no more than 4 entrepreneurs (§ 11(7) of the Trade Licensing Act). Some older sources cite a limit of 2, but that no longer applies. The responsible representative must meet both the general and the special conditions for each trade.
How do I document experience if I have no education in the field?
For a craft trade, under § 22, education can be substituted by: an apprenticeship certificate, maturita, higher vocational school or university degree in a related field together with 1 year of experience, retraining for the given activity with 1 year of experience, or 6 years of experience in the field alone. Experience is usually evidenced by an employment contract and a confirmation from the employer. For regulated trades these general substitutes do not apply — follow Annex 2.
What is professional qualification under § 21?
Proof of duly completed education in the relevant field: an apprenticeship certificate (secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate), maturita, higher vocational or university education in the field, or possibly a recognition of professional qualification or a professional qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.
Do I need professional qualification for the unqualified trade (živnost volná) too?
No. For the unqualified trade (Annex 4), no expertise needs to be proven — the general conditions suffice, i.e. legal capacity and good standing. The special conditions concern only craft, regulated and permit (concession) trades.
When does the authorisation arise for a permit (concession) trade?
Only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final, not upon notification. For a concession the authority decides in administrative proceedings, and for many concessions it requires the consent or opinion of the relevant state administration authority (e.g. the transport authority for road transport).
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Looking for a specific craft or field?
Browse the trades catalogue — for each one you will find which annex it falls under and what professional qualification it requires.