Profession: tradesperson
How to run a business as a tradesperson (plumber, bricklayer, electrician)
A craft trade is not an unqualified trade (živnost volná). A plumber, heating engineer, bricklayer, joiner and electrician all need a craft trade licence (Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act) and for it you must prove professional qualification — with an apprenticeship certificate or a secondary school-leaving exam (maturita) in the field, or with experience in the field (§ 21 and § 22). If you do not have education in the field, you appoint a responsible representative. For an electrician you additionally need a certificate under the new government regulation, which replaced the old „Decree 50“.
How to notify a craft trade step by step
- Verify the field and your professional qualification find out which field of Annex 1 your work belongs to (Plumbing, heating engineering / Bricklaying / Joinery, floor laying / Installation, repairs, inspections and testing of electrical equipment) and whether you have an apprenticeship certificate, a maturita, experience in the field, or will instead arrange a responsible representative
- Prepare proof of education or experience apprenticeship certificate / secondary school-leaving exam (maturita) / diploma / retraining certificate; for experience in the field, a confirmation from an employer holding a trade authorisation in the field. For an electrician, additionally a certificate of professional qualification in electrical engineering (min. § 6 of Government Regulation No. 194/2022 Coll.)
- Meet the general conditions (§ 6) full legal capacity (usually 18 years) and good standing (no criminal record); the authority obtains the criminal record extract itself
- Fill in the Single Registration Form (JRF) in person at any trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad) or Czech POINT, or electronically via rzp.gov.cz. With a single form you simultaneously notify the ČSSZ (Czech Social Security Administration) and your health insurance company of the commencement of activity → detail
- Pay the administrative fee 1,000 Kč for the first notification, 800 Kč electronically; each additional field notified at the same time +500 / 400 Kč
- Prove professional qualification (and appoint a responsible representative if needed) attach to the notification the proof of education/experience in the field under § 21 or § 22, or the consent and documents of the responsible representative under § 11
- Collect the extract and start your business the authority enters you in the Trade Register and issues an extract (today’s equivalent of the old trade certificate) within 5 working days; the trade authorisation arises on the day of notification provided the conditions are met
How to prove professional qualification (§ 21 and § 22)
| Route to proving it | What you provide | Section / note |
|---|---|---|
| Apprenticeship certificate in the field | secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field — you do not need to document experience in the field | § 21 para. 1 letter a) |
| Maturita in the field | secondary education with a maturita examination in the relevant field (or with vocational-training subjects in the field) | § 21 para. 1 letter b) |
| Higher vocational or university education in the field | higher vocational or university education in the relevant area — no experience required | § 21 para. 1 letters c), d) |
| Professional qualification (NSK) | obtaining all professional qualifications for the given complete professional qualification (e.g. „Plumber“, „Bricklayer“) — examination before an authorised person | § 21 para. 1 letter f) |
| Related field + 1 year of experience | apprenticeship certificate / maturita / higher vocational education in a related field and proof of 1 year of experience in the field | § 22 letters a)–c) |
| Retraining + 1 year of experience | retraining certificate for the given field and proof of 1 year of experience in the field | § 22 letter e) |
| 6 years of experience in the field | proof of six years of experience in the field — a route also for someone with no vocational education at all | § 22 letter f) |
| Responsible representative | if you meet none of the above, you appoint a responsible representative who holds the qualification on your behalf | § 11 — see callout below |
Experience in the field must be documented (employment contracts, confirmation from an employer holding a trade authorisation in the field), not merely claimed. What counts as a „related field“ is determined by Decree No. 21/2008 Coll. — some fields (e.g. electrical) have no related fields. Source: § 21 and § 22 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll., Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) — verified 2026.
Electrician: additionally a certificate under Government Regulation No. 194/2022 Coll. (the end of „Decree 50“)
For an electrician, a craft trade licence is not sufficient. Physical work on electrical equipment may only be carried out by a person with professional qualification in electrical engineering. Since 1 July 2022 this has been governed by Government Regulation No. 194/2022 Coll. together with Act No. 250/2021 Coll., which repealed the long-standing Decree No. 50/1978 Coll. For a self-employed electrician (OSVČ) working independently, the minimum level is § 6 — „electrical technician“ (independent activity); inspections additionally require an inspection technician (§ 9) and TIČR authorisation. The certificate has a limited validity (usually 3 years) and must be renewed. Source: Government Regulation No. 194/2022 Coll., Act No. 250/2021 Coll. — verified 2026.
No education in the field? Appoint a responsible representative (§ 11)
If you do not meet the special condition (professional qualification) and do not want to wait for six years of experience in the field, you must appoint a responsible representative — a natural person who themselves holds an apprenticeship certificate or has experience in the field, is in a contractual relationship with you and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. One person may serve as a responsible representative for at most 4 entrepreneurs at the same time. However, this is not a mere formality on paper: they must genuinely participate in the activity, otherwise the authority may refuse their appointment. Source: § 11 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll. — verified 2026.
Frequently asked questions from tradespeople
Can I be a plumber or bricklayer without an apprenticeship certificate?
How is experience in the field documented?
Does an electrician need only a trade licence?
What is a responsible representative and when do I need one?
What lump-sum expense allowance do I have as a tradesperson?
How much does it cost to set up a craft trade and how quickly will I have it?
Related guides
Clarify which type of trade you need
A craft trade is a regulated trade with an obligation to document professional qualification. How does it differ from a regulated trade (vázaná) and a concession trade, and what must you document for each?