Provision of Physical Education and Sports Services
Field of activity No. 27 under the Trade Licensing Act.
What you need: Specific expertise set by law (education, experience, certification).
- Vázaná živnost
- Field No. 27
- See conditions below
- 8 activity examples
A regulated trade for the professional supervision of sports training and the provision of physical education and sports services (coach, instructor, trainer). It requires proof of professional qualification under Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act; experience is not required.
Professional qualification under Section 24 and Annex 2 to Act No. 455/1991 Coll. - met by one of these options:
1) university education in a study programme and study field focused on physical culture, physical education and sport, or
2) higher vocational education in a field focused on physical culture, physical education and sport, or
3) a retraining certificate or another document of professional qualification for the relevant work activity issued by a body accredited under specific legislation, by a body accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, or by the ministry responsible for the sector in which the trade is operated, or
4) a professional qualification for the relevant physical education area under the Act on the recognition of the results of continuing education.
Experience is not required. The law does not require medical fitness or liability insurance. The professional qualification may be proved through a responsible representative under Section 11.
Examples of activities
- personal trainer at a fitness centre and gym
- coach of a sports team or an individual
- ski and snowboard instructor
- swimming instructor
- instructor of yoga, pilates and group classes
- spinning and indoor cycling instructor
- conditioning and athletics coach
- coach of combat and martial sports
What the trade is and what it is for
The trade "Provision of physical education and sports services in the field of physical education and sport" is a regulated trade (Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act). It entitles you to professionally lead and instruct people in movement, physical education and sports activities - that is, to work as a coach, instructor, trainer or conditioning coach.
The essence of the activity is the professional supervision of sports training: drawing up training plans, practising correct technique, supervising safety and providing methodical guidance to clients. Because this is an activity with a direct impact on people's health and safety, the legislator has classified this trade as regulated and requires proof of professional qualification.
What falls under this trade (and what does not)
The trade covers in particular:
- leading individual and group training (personal training, fitness classes, group exercise),
- coaching athletes, teams and amateurs in sports clubs,
- instruction in specific sports - skiing, snowboarding, swimming, yoga, pilates, spinning, combat sports, etc.,
- conditioning and recovery guidance accompanied by methodical explanation of technique.
What does not belong here: the mere operation of sports grounds, halls, gyms or the organisation of tournaments falls under the unqualified (free) trade "Operation of physical education and sports facilities and organisation of sports activities", for which no qualification is proven. So if you merely rent out premises or organise events, you do not need the regulated trade. Sports massages fall under the regulated trade "Massage, reconditioning and regeneration services", and education and training outside sport fall under other fields. Always distinguish between leading people in sport (regulated) and providing facilities (free).
Conditions for obtaining the licence under the law
The applicant must meet two groups of conditions:
1) General conditions (Sections 6 to 8 of the Trade Licensing Act): full legal capacity and a clean criminal record; at the same time, there must be no obstacle to operating a trade (e.g. a court-imposed ban on activity or an as yet unresolved insolvency). A clean criminal record is proved by an extract from the Criminal Record Register, which the office obtains itself.
2) Professional qualification (Section 24 and Annex 2 to Act No. 455/1991 Coll.): for a regulated trade the qualification is laid down directly by law and cannot be replaced by mere experience as with craft trades. You meet it by one of the options:
- university education in a study programme and field focused on physical culture, physical education and sport, or
- higher vocational education in a field focused on physical culture, physical education and sport, or
- a retraining certificate or another document of professional qualification issued by an accredited body (accreditation under specific legislation, by the Ministry of Education or the relevant ministry), or
- a professional qualification for the relevant physical education area under the Act on the recognition of the results of continuing education.
Experience is not required. If you do not meet the qualification yourself, you may appoint a responsible representative (Section 11) who provides proof of the qualification on your behalf.
How to notify or obtain the trade step by step
- Fill in the Unified Registration Form (JRF) - a single form for the Trade Licensing Office, the tax office, the social security administration and the health insurance company.
- Submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or through Czech POINT.
- Submit proof of professional qualification - a diploma, school report, retraining certificate or a document of professional qualification.
- Pay the administrative fee.
- Wait for registration - the trade licence arises on the day of notification and the office will enter you in the Trade Register within 5 working days.
You will find a detailed procedure in the guide How to set up a trade.
Documents and fees
- a completed Unified Registration Form (JRF),
- a valid proof of identity,
- a document of professional qualification (a diploma, school report, retraining certificate or professional qualification),
- for a responsible representative, their documents and consent to the appointment,
- an administrative fee of CZK 1,000 upon notification (for the first electronic submission via rzp.gov.cz CZK 800).
Frequently asked questions
Is a coaching course enough, or do I need a university degree?
You do not need a university degree. For example, a retraining certificate from an accredited body or a professional qualification is sufficient. The important thing is that the document corresponds to the relevant physical education area.
Is any experience required?
No. For this regulated trade experience is not required; only professional qualification is proved through education, retraining or a professional qualification.
What if I do not have the qualification, but my employee does?
You may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act who meets the professional qualification and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.
Do I, as a trainer at a fitness centre, need this trade?
If you professionally lead, instruct and draw up training plans for clients, then yes. If you only operate the facility without leading the exercise, an appropriate unqualified (free) trade will suffice.
Do I need a medical report or insurance?
No. The law does not require medical fitness or liability insurance for this trade.