Inspections, examinations and tests of designated technical equipment in operation

A regulated trade (Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act) for inspections, examinations and tests of designated technical equipment in operation that serves to secure the operation of a railway, rail transport or ski lifts. Professional qualification is proven by a certificate issued by the railway administrative authority under Sections 47 and 48 of Act No. 266/1994 Coll., on railways.

Conditions for operating

General conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record; at the same time, there must be no obstacles to operating the trade under Section 8 (medical fitness is not required for this trade).

Professional qualification under Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act (regulated trades are governed by Sections 23 and 24): a certificate issued by the railway administrative authority under Sections 47 and 48 of Act No. 266/1994 Coll., on railways, as amended by Act No. 23/2000 Coll. and Act No. 191/2006 Coll. No other facts (neither education nor practice) need to be documented for this trade; practice is not required.

For a regulated trade, the professional qualification is set separately directly in Annex 2 and cannot be replaced by general practice, as is the case with a craft trade.

Responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act: if the business holder does not meet the professional qualification in person (or is a legal person), they may prove it through an appointed responsible representative, who must meet both the general and the professional (special) condition. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than 4 business holders.

Clean criminal record: yes (Section 6 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). Medical fitness: no. Liability insurance: no. Financial capacity: no.

Examples of activities

inspections and tests of designated technical electrical equipment of a railway (e.g. traction lines, supply stations)
inspections and tests of designated technical lifting equipment on a railway
inspections of designated technical pressure and gas equipment serving the operation of a railway
inspections and tests of designated transport technical equipment (e.g. moving parts, lifts, escalators in stations)
inspections of equipment for protection against the effects of atmospheric and static electricity on railway structures
inspections of equipment for protection against the adverse effects of return traction currents
inspections and tests of designated technical equipment of ski lifts
carrying out periodic inspections of designated technical equipment to secure the operation of rail transport

What this trade is and what it is for

The Inspections, examinations and tests of designated technical equipment in operation trade is a regulated trade listed in Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act (regulated trades are governed by Sections 23 and 24 of the Act). It entitles you to carry out professional inspections, examinations and tests of so-called designated technical equipment (DTE) that is in operation and serves to secure the operation of a railway, rail transport or ski lifts.

The purpose of the activity is to verify that the equipment is technically fit, safe and meets the established requirements throughout its operation. It is therefore an activity with a direct impact on transport safety, and the law accordingly regulates it and conditions it on documenting a professional qualification.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

This trade covers inspections, examinations and tests of designated technical equipment of the following kinds:

pressure and gas equipment,
electrical equipment (including traction lines),
lifting and transport equipment,
equipment for protection against the effects of atmospheric and static electricity,
equipment for protection against the adverse effects of return traction currents,

where such equipment serves to secure the operation of a railway, rail transport or ski lifts.

What does not belong here: the assessment and testing of reserved technical equipment outside the railway sector (ordinary reserved pressure, gas, electrical and lifting equipment in industry and buildings) falls under other, separate trades, or is governed by Act No. 250/2021 Coll. and the authorisations of the Technical Inspection of the Czech Republic (TIČR). This trade concerns exclusively railway designated technical equipment. The actual installation, repair or manufacture of equipment also falls under other trades.

Statutory conditions for obtaining the trade

You must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act - full legal capacity and a clean criminal record - and there must be no obstacles to operating the trade under Section 8. Medical fitness is not required for this trade.

You must also document your professional qualification under Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act. This is a certificate issued by the railway administrative authority under Sections 47 and 48 of Act No. 266/1994 Coll., on railways, as amended by Act No. 23/2000 Coll. and Act No. 191/2006 Coll. This certificate is the proof of the professional qualification attained, and apart from it no other facts need to be documented for this trade; practice is not required.

Because it is a regulated trade, the professional qualification is set separately directly in Annex 2 and cannot be replaced by general practice as is the case with a craft trade.

If you do not meet the professional qualification yourself (or a legal person is doing business), you may prove it through a responsible representative under Section 11, who must meet the general conditions as well as the said special (professional) condition. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than four business holders.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

Obtain a certificate of professional qualification from the railway administrative authority (the Railway Authority), or appoint a responsible representative who holds one.
Complete the Unified Registration Form (URF) for the notification of a regulated trade.
Submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or through Czech POINT.
Submit the proof of professional qualification (the certificate) and pay the administrative fee.
If the conditions are met, the Office will make an entry in the Trade Register, usually within 5 working days. The licence comes into existence as early as the date of notification.

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

Documents and fees

a completed Unified Registration Form (URF),
proof of identity,
a certificate issued by the railway administrative authority under Sections 47 and 48 of Act No. 266/1994 Coll. (or documents for the responsible representative under Section 11),
administrative fee: CZK 1,000 for the notification, or CZK 800 for electronic submission,
the clean criminal record is verified by the Office itself from the criminal records register.

The responsible (central) authority for this trade is the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Na Františku 32, 110 15 Prague 1; the appellate authority is the Minister of Industry and Trade.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need practice for this trade?

No. Practice is not required. It is sufficient to submit a certificate issued by the railway administrative authority under Sections 47 and 48 of Act No. 266/1994 Coll., on railways.

What equipment does the trade concern?

Designated technical equipment (pressure, gas, electrical, lifting, transport and protective) that serves to secure the operation of a railway, rail transport or ski lifts.

Who issues the certificate of professional qualification?

The railway administrative authority (the Railway Authority) under Sections 47 and 48 of Act No. 266/1994 Coll., on railways, as amended.

When can I start doing business?

The licence comes into existence on the date of notifying the trade. The Office will usually make the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days.

What if I do not meet the professional qualification in person?

You can appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act who meets the general conditions as well as the required professional qualification. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than four business holders.