Changes in the Trade Licensing Act from April 1, 2025
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June 17, 2025
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From 1. 4. 2025 The amendment to Act No. 455/1991 Coll. on Trade Licensing (hereinafter referred to as the "Trade Licensing Act") entered into force, which is closely related to the entry into force of the new Construction Act No. 25/2025 Coll. The changes are mainly focused on the construction sector, where qualification requirements are tightened and the classification of several activities is changed.
Three types of businesses remain intact
- craft trade – the condition is professional competence acquired through apprenticeship in the field (listed in Annex No. 1 of the Trade Licensing Act);
- related trade – requires professional competence acquired in another way (listed in Annex No. 2 of the Trade Licensing Act);
- free trade – no professional qualification is required to operate it (it is located inrecommended list of free trades from 1. 4. 2025).
Overview of the main changes effective from 1 April 2025
- name change three related businesses in group 213 – Construction,
- introduction four new related businesses in the same group,
- elimination one free trade from the list of recommended free trades,
- addition activities that are not a trade according to the Trade Licensing Act.
Changes in the names of existing related trades (group 213 – Construction)
- No. 10 – preparation of project documentation for a simple construction and for reporting minor construction and building modifications (originally: preparation of documentation and design of simple buildings, small buildings and changes to these buildings);
- No. 14 – performance of the activities of a construction manager for other than reserved constructions (originally: performance of the activities of a construction manager);
- No. 14 – performance of construction supervision activities for other than designated structures (originally: performance of construction supervision activities).
Adjustment of qualification for trade No. 10
- university degree in architecture and urban planning, construction, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering, or
- Complete secondary vocational education with a focus on construction, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering and at least 3 years of experience.
(Before the amendment, only a university degree or a complete secondary vocational education in a technical field was sufficient.)
In the activities of the construction manager and construction supervisor (new wording under No. 14), the obligation to have certificate of completion of the professional competence examination or certificate of special professional competence.
Four new regulated trades from 1 April 2025 (replacing the original trade under No. 13)
- No. 13 – management of the implementation of announced minor construction works, construction modifications and maintenance of the building;
- No. 13a – performance of construction supervision activities for notified constructions, minor constructions and construction modifications;
- No. 13b – construction of buildings;
- No. 13c – construction of engineering structures.
Note on the transition period: The original tied trade "performance of the activity of management of construction for individual recreation ..." cannot be reported from 1 April 2025. If the entrepreneur had it registered until 31. 3. 2025, can perform it until 31. 3. 2029.
Professional competence requirements
No. 13 – management of the implementation of announced minor construction works, construction modifications and maintenance of the building
- university degree in architecture and urban planning, construction, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering, or
- Complete secondary vocational education focused on construction + 3 years of experience.
No. 13a – performance of construction supervision activities for notified constructions, minor constructions and construction modifications
- university degree in architecture and urban planning, construction, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering, or
- Complete secondary vocational education focused on construction, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering + 3 years of experience.
No. 13b – construction of buildings
- certificate of completion of the professional competence examination or certificate of special professional competence and at the same time:
– second-level university education in architecture and urban planning or construction, or
– first-degree university education in the same fields + 3 years of experience, or
– complete secondary vocational education focused on construction + 5 years of experience.
No. 13c – construction of engineering structures
- certificate of completion of the professional competence examination or certificate of special professional competence and at the same time:
– second-level university education in the field of study of civil engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineering + 3 years of experience in the construction of civil engineering structures, or
– first-degree university education in the above fields or Complete secondary vocational education focused on construction, mechanical engineering or electrical engineering + 5 years of experience in the construction of civil engineering structures.
Abolition of one free trade from 1 April 2025
- Carrying out construction works and their changes was removed from the list of recommended free trades.
- An entrepreneur who had this trade declared until 31. 3. 2025, can perform it until 31. 3. 2029 (according to the transitional provisions of the amendment).
Activities that are not a trade from 1 April 2025
- licensed architect, licensed landscape architect,
- authorized spatial planner,
- authorized civil engineer, authorized inspection engineer,
- authorized construction manager,
- authorized construction supervision.