Mountain Guide beings: Recognition of Professional Qualifications issued by other EU/EAA Member States

Evidence of formal qualifications from other Member States can be recognised by administrative decision of the Provincial Government as a substitute for examinations, education and training for mountain guides, canyoning guides or sport climbing instructors in accordance with the provisions of Vorarlberg law. For hiking guides, recognition is carried out by the Mountain Guide Association (Bergführerverband). For mountain guides, an aptitude test may be prescribed if there are substantial differences in relation to the relevant qualification in accordance with the provisions of Vorarlberg law and those differences cannot be compensated for by know-how based on professional experience or continuing vocational training (seminars, other forms of continuing vocational training). Canyoning guides, sport climbing instructors and hiking guides can choose between an aptitude test and an adaptation period. The aptitude test is held by the Vorarlberg Mountain Guide Association. This also applies to evidence of formal qualifications issued in third countries or to thirdcountry nationals, provided that those qualifications are to be treated as equivalent on the basis of EU law or a State Treaty.

As a general rule, recognition is necessary only if you want to set up in Vorarlberg as a mountain guide, canyoning guide, sport climbing instructor or hiking guide.

If the activity in Vorarlberg is carried out only temporarily or occasionally, the provisions governing temporary activities (tourism activity) apply (see the relevant EAP form).

None

EUR 76.30 Provincial administrative charge for the official copy
EUR 47.30 Application fee under the Fees Act (Gebührengesetz)
EUR 83.60 Fee for the official copy under the Fees Act
Further costs depend on the number of enclosures (EUR 3.90 per bifolio (= four DIN A4 pages), maximum of EUR 21.80 per enclosure).

If a non-official expert report is necessary, this will be communicated separately in advance.

Section 11 of the Mountain Guides Act (Bergführergesetz); Regulation of the Provincial Government on the recognition of evidence of formal qualifications, the adaptation period and the aptitude test under EU law within the framework of the Mountain Guides Act (Verordnung der Landesregierung über die Anerkennung von Ausbildungsnachweisen,
den Anpassungslehrgang und die Eignungsprüfung nach dem Recht der Europäischen Union im Rahmen des Bergführergesetzes)

General Administrative Procedure Act 1991 (Allgemeines Verwaltungsverfahrensgesetz 1991)

Administrative Fees Ordinance of the Province of Vorarlberg
(Verwaltungsabgabenverordnung des Landes Vorarlberg)

Fees Act 1957 (Gebührengesetz 1957)

The application must be accompanied by:
a) evidence of formal qualifications issued by the competent body,
b) evidence of professional experience or continuing vocational training,
c) evidence of the content and scope of the education, training and examinations completed (curricula and the like),
d) proof of nationality, and
e) if applicable, a certificate documenting a change of name.

The evidence can be submitted either as originals or as copies. If there are any doubts as to authenticity, a certified translation may be requested. In the case of the evidence referred to in points a) to d), a translation by a certified translation agency must be enclosed upon request if it is not in German.

Bergführerwesen: Anerkennung von Berufsqualifikationen aus anderen EU/EWR-Mitgliedstaaten [Mountain Guide beings: recognition of professional qualifications from other EU/EAA Member States]

A distinction is made:

With regard to Member States in which education and training are regulated within the meaning of the Professional Qualifications Directive:

Upon application, the Provincial Government must recognise, by administrative decision, diplomas, certificates or evidence of formal qualifications which attest to the successful completion of regulated education and training within the meaning of Directive 2005/36/EC, and are issued to a national of a Member State of the European Union by a competent body of a Member State, as substitutes for examinations, education and training within the meaning of the relevant section of the Mountain Guides Act and the regulations issued under that act.

With regard to Member States in which education and training are not regulated within the meaning of the Professional Qualifications Directive:

Upon application, the Provincial Government must recognise, by administrative decision, diplomas, certificates or evidence of formal qualifications which attest to the successful completion of education and training and are issued to a national of a Member State of the European Union by a competent body of a Member State, as substitutes for examinations, education and training within the meaning of the relevant section of the Mountain Guides Act and the regulations issued under that act, provided that the
applicant has exercised the profession in question on a full-time basis for one year or on a part-time basis for a period of equivalent duration during the previous ten years in a Member State.

If there are substantial differences between the qualification attested by evidence and the qualification acquired by means of examinations, education and training regulated in the relevant sections of the Mountain Guides Act and the regulations issued under that act, and if those differences are not compensated for by know-how based, in particular, on professional experience or continuing vocational training, the Provincial Government must grant recognition on the condition that the lacking qualification is established by the successful completion of an aptitude test. Canyoning guides, sport climbing instructors and hiking guides can choose between an aptitude test and an adaptation period. That administrative decision must specify the areas in which the qualification is deficient.

The aptitude test must be taken with the Mountain Guide Association. The Mountain Guide Association must certify the result of the aptitude test and notify the Provincial Government of that result.

Personal data are processed in order to handle your case and/or conduct proceedings. Information on data processing and your rights as a data subject can be found in the form.

Amt der Vorarlberger Landesregierung, Amtsstelle Sportreferat [Office of the Vorarlberg Provincial Government, Sport Uni]

For hiking guides:

Vorarlberger Bergführerverband [Vorarlberg Mountain Guide Association): Contact: +43(0)6642234935; vorarlberg@bergfuehrer.at; www.bergfuehrer.at/vorarlberg

An electronic or handwritten signature is not required for applications.

Appeals against decisions of the Provincial Government may be lodged with the Regional Administrative Court (Landesverwaltungsgericht). The appeal must specify the contested
decision and the authority that issued it. It must contain a request and set out the grounds on which the allegation of illegality is based.

The appeal must be filed in writing to the relevant competent provincial government within 4 weeks of the date of notification of the decision and must contain information that makes it possible to assess its timeliness. The appeal may be filed electronically: Appeals in administrative proceedings.

EAP Vorarlberg  

Assistenzzentrum nach der EU-Berufsanerkennungsrichtlinie 2005/36/EG 
Mag. Irene Linke
Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft
Stubenring 1 
1010 Wien 
T +43 1 71100 805446 F +43 1 71100 935446 irene.linke@bmaw.gv.at post.i7@bmaw.gv.at
http://www.bmaw.gv.at/ 

Amt der Vorarlberger Landesregierung
Römerstraße 15
6900 Bregenz

16 October 2019