Stove fitting

Stove fitting is a craft trade (field no. 33 of Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act) covering the design, construction, repair and maintenance of stoves, fireplaces and warm-air heaters. To obtain it you need professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act and fulfilment of the general conditions under Sections 6 to 8.

Conditions for operating

General conditions under Sections 6 to 8 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record; none of the obstacles to operating the trade under Section 8 may persist (medical fitness and liability insurance are not required).

Professional qualification under Section 21 - one of the following documents is sufficient (without the need to provide proof of experience):
- a document evidencing proper completion of secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field of education;
- a document evidencing proper completion of secondary education with a school-leaving examination (maturita) in the relevant field of education;
- a document evidencing proper completion of higher vocational education in the relevant field of education;
- a document evidencing proper completion of university education in the relevant area of study programmes;
- a document recognising professional qualification;
- a document verifying or recognising a full qualification attained under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

Alternative qualification under Section 22 - if you do not hold education directly in the field:
- education in a related field (apprenticeship certificate, maturita or higher vocational school) + 1 year of experience in the field;
- university education in the relevant related area of study programmes (no experience);
- retraining for the given field + 1 year of experience in the field;
- 6 years of experience in the field without a document of education.

The professional qualification may be met on behalf of the entrepreneur by an appointed responsible representative under Section 11.

Examples of activities

Construction of tiled stoves and solid-fuel stoves
Construction and bricking-up of fireplaces and fireplace inserts
Installation of warm-air and storage heaters
Design and realisation of pizza ovens and bread ovens
Construction of solid-fuel ranges and range bodies
Repairs, reconstruction and maintenance of stoves and fireplaces
Bricking-up and rendering of combustion chambers with fire-resistant materials
Connecting a heater to the chimney flue (flue gas path)

What this trade is and what it is for

Stove fitting is a craft trade (field no. 33 of Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act) covering the design, construction, repair and maintenance of local solid-fuel heaters. This includes primarily tiled and storage stoves, fireplaces, fireplace stoves, warm-air heaters, solid-fuel ranges and ovens intended for baking (bread ovens, pizza ovens). The stove fitter can not only build the heater but also brick up the combustion chamber with fire-resistant material, design the draught system and connect the heater to the flue gas path so that the appliance heats safely and economically.

This trade is suitable for tradespeople who want to run a business in the field of solid-fuel heating and the construction of bespoke individual heaters.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

Stove fitting covers in particular:

construction of tiled, storage and warm-air stoves,
bricking-up and fitting of fireplaces and fireplace inserts,
construction of solid-fuel ranges, pizza ovens and bread ovens,
bricking-up of combustion chambers with fire-resistant materials,
repairs, reconstruction and maintenance of stoves and fireplaces.

Boundaries with neighbouring trades: the construction, cleaning, inspection and revision of chimneys (flue gas paths) is typically provided by the craft trade Chimney sweeping; the bricklaying work itself on the construction then by Bricklaying. Gas heaters and boilers connected to the gas supply fall under the licensed (concession) trade Installation, repairs, revisions and testing of gas equipment. If you wish to carry out these activities as well, you need the relevant separate licence.

Conditions for obtaining it under the law

The applicant must meet the general conditions under Sections 6 to 8 of the Trade Licensing Act - full legal capacity and a clean criminal record and, at the same time, none of the obstacles to operating the trade under Section 8 may persist (e.g. a ban on activity in the field imposed by a court or administrative authority). Medical fitness and liability insurance are not required for this trade.

As a craft trade, stove fitting requires professional qualification. You demonstrate this under Section 21 with one of the following documents: an apprenticeship certificate, a school-leaving certificate (maturita), a higher vocational school or university diploma in the relevant field, a document recognising professional qualification, or a document verifying or recognising a full qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll. With documents under Section 21, experience in the field is not demonstrated separately - the corresponding education in the field is itself sufficient.

If you do not hold education directly in the field, you use the alternative route under Section 22: education in a related field and 1 year of experience (for university education in a related area, without experience), retraining and 1 year of experience, or 6 years of experience in the field without a document of education.

You do not always have to hold the professional qualification in person - you can appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the qualification on your behalf.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

Check that you meet the general conditions and the professional qualification (in person or through a responsible representative).
Complete the Unified Registration Form (JRF) for notifying the trade.
Submit the notification at any Trade Licensing Office (municipal Trade Licensing Office), online via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT branch.
Provide the documents on professional qualification and pay the administrative fee.
The trade licence arises on the day of notification; the office will make the entry in the Trade Register usually within 5 working days.

You will find the detailed procedure in the guide How to start a trade.

Documents and fees

Proof of identity (identity card or passport).
Proof of professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 (apprenticeship certificate, maturita, diploma, proof of experience, retraining, etc.).
Consent of the responsible representative, if you appoint one.
Administrative fee for notifying the trade: CZK 1,000, for electronic submission CZK 800.
Registration period: within 5 working days of notification.

Frequently asked questions

Is an apprenticeship certificate from another field enough?

It depends on the relatedness of the field. With an apprenticeship certificate (or another document of education) directly in the field of stove fitter, you proceed under Section 21 and do not demonstrate experience. For a related field you use Section 22 (education in a related field + 1 year of experience). The specific assessment is carried out by the Trade Licensing Office.

Can I run a business without education, on the basis of experience alone?

Yes. Under Section 22, professional qualification can be demonstrated by 6 years of experience in the field even without a document of education.

Do I need a health card or insurance to operate stove fitting?

No. The law does not require medical fitness or liability insurance for this trade. You only have to meet the general conditions under Sections 6 to 8 (among other things a clean criminal record and the absence of obstacles to operating the trade).

Can I resolve the qualification through a responsible representative?

Yes. If you do not meet the professional qualification yourself, you appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 who meets the qualification on your behalf. One person may act as responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

May I also build chimneys within this trade?

No. The construction, cleaning and revision of chimneys fall under the separate craft trade Chimney sweeping, for which you need your own licence.