Smithing, farriery

Smithing, farriery is a craft trade (Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act) focused on hand and machine forging, the manufacture and repair of metal products, and the shoeing of horses. To obtain it, a professional qualification under Section 21 or Section 22 of the Trade Licensing Act is required.

Conditions for operating

General conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. Under Section 8, operation must not be barred by any obstacles to operating the trade.

Professional qualification under Section 21 (at least one of the routes):
- secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field of education
- secondary education with a school-leaving (maturita) examination in the relevant field of education
- higher vocational education in the relevant field
- university education in the relevant area of study programmes
- recognition of professional qualification
- verification of attainment of a full professional qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

Alternative professional qualification under Section 22 (at least one of the routes):
- education in a related field + 1 year of experience in the field
- retraining (full professional qualification) + 1 year of experience in the field
- 6 years of experience in the field without proof of education

Professional qualification may be demonstrated through a responsible representative under Section 11.

Neither medical fitness nor liability insurance is required.

Examples of activities

Hand and machine forging of machine parts, tools and metal products
Manufacture and repair of forged furniture, grilles, gates, fences and railings
Artistic and craft smithing (forged fittings, decorations)
Shoeing of horses and trimming of hooves
Manufacture and fitting of horseshoes and orthopaedic shoeing
Repair and renovation of agricultural and farm tools
Shoeing of draught and sport horses for stables and riding clubs
Manufacture of locksmith and smithing semi-finished products and forgings

What the trade is and what it is for

Smithing, farriery is a craft trade (listed in Annex 1 to the Trade Licensing Act) focused on skilled work with metal. It covers both hand and machine forging, that is, the manufacture and repair of machine parts, tools and a wide range of metal products by forming metal hot and cold. The farriery part of the trade then covers hoof care and the shoeing of horses.

This trade allows you to carry out the classic craft as well as its artistic forms and to provide services to customers from households, farmers, horse breeders and businesses alike. The licence comes into existence on the very day of notification to the Trade Licensing Office.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The trade Smithing, farriery covers in particular:

hand and machine forging of machine parts, tools and metal products;
manufacture and repair of forged furniture, grilles, gates, fences, railings and artistic smithing work;
manufacture, fitting and repair of horseshoes, shoeing of horses and trimming (care) of hooves.

Boundaries with neighbouring trades: Welding, locksmithing or metal machining on their own fall under the trade Locksmithing, toolmaking. Surface treatment of metals (galvanising, painting) belongs to the field Electroplating, enamelling. Medical procedures on animals (e.g. orthopaedic treatment of hoof diseases) constitute the practice of veterinary care under special regulations, not a trade. If you are unsure how a specific activity should be classified, we recommend asking the Trade Licensing Office directly.

Statutory conditions for obtaining the trade

To notify a craft trade you must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. A clean criminal record is proved by an extract from the Criminal Records Register (the office obtains it itself). Under Section 8 it is additionally examined whether you are barred by any obstacles to operating the trade (insolvency, a ban on activity in the field imposed by a court or administrative body).

You must further demonstrate professional qualification under Section 21, by one of the following routes:

secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field of education;
secondary education with a maturita examination in the relevant field;
higher vocational education in the relevant field;
university education in the relevant area of study programmes;
recognition of professional qualification, or verification of attainment of a full professional qualification under Act No. 179/2006 Coll.

If you do not meet the above, you can use the alternative qualification under Section 22: education in a related field plus 1 year of experience in the field; retraining plus 1 year of experience; or 6 years of experience in the field without proof of education.

You do not have to meet the qualification in person – you may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11, who provides the qualification on your behalf. One person may act as responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF) – with a single submission you handle the trade as well as registration with the tax office, the social security administration and the health insurer.
Submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT branch.
Provide the documents – professional qualification (apprenticeship certificate, maturita certificate, diploma, proof of experience or retraining), proof of payment of the fee, and where applicable the responsible representative's consent.
Pay the administrative fee of CZK 1,000; for an electronic submission via rzp.gov.cz only CZK 800.
Wait for registration – the Trade Licensing Office enters the trade in the Trade Register, as a rule within 5 working days, and issues an extract.

You will find the detailed procedure in the guide /jak-zalozit-zivnost.

Documents and fees

Proof of professional qualification under Section 21, or Section 22 (education, experience, retraining).
Proof of identity (identity card; for foreigners a travel document).
Consent and documents of the responsible representative, if you appoint one.
Administrative fee: CZK 1,000 on notification, CZK 800 for an electronic submission.
The office verifies the clean criminal record and obstacles from official registers (Criminal Records Register, Insolvency Register).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an apprenticeship certificate, or is experience enough?

One of the routes is sufficient. If you do not have education in the field, you can notify the trade on the basis of 6 years of experience in the field under Section 22, or retraining plus 1 year of experience.

Can I shoe horses without this trade?

Shoeing of horses is a craft activity falling under this trade. Therapeutic orthopaedic procedures on hooves, however, belong to veterinary care. For ordinary shoeing you need a trade licence and a professional qualification.

Is a medical examination or insurance required?

No. For this trade neither medical fitness nor liability insurance is required.

When can I start trading?

The trade licence comes into existence on the very day of notification. The office has 5 working days to enter it in the register and issue the extract.

What if I do not meet the qualification myself?

You may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11, who provides the professional qualification on your behalf and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade.