Examination and Certification in Austria

Apprenticeship training is concluded with the final apprenticeship exam. By passing the exam, the apprentice shows that they have acquired the skills and competences needed to be successful. The exam consists of a practical and a theoretical section.

The final apprenticeship exam aims to establish whether the apprentice has acquired the skills and competences required for the respective apprenticeship trade and whether the apprentice is able to carry out the job activities in an appropriate manner. The exam consists of a practical and a theoretical part. The theoretical aspect is waived for candidates who have successfully completed part-time vocational school.

In the practical section, the candidates have to demonstrate practical skills and competencies. This element of the examination is organised by the regional Apprenticeship Offices and has to be taken in front of a board of examiners (examination committee) which comprises a chairperson and two stakeholders (one employer and one employee representatives). The chairperson is appointed by the Regional Advisory Board on Apprenticeship (LBAB) for five years. The chairperson and at least one member of the board must be professional experts in the respective field, and the chairperson must also be an authorised apprenticeship trainer.

Also, people who have not undergone formal education (apprenticeship training or school) can, according to Article 23, Paragraph 5 of the Vocational Training Act, take the final apprenticeship examination and thus acquire a vocational qualification. The following requirements must be fulfilled.

• Candidates must be 18 or older.
• Evidence must be provided that the knowledge and skills required for the respective apprenticeship occupation were acquired in an informal or non-formal way (e.g. by exercising a relevant semi-skilled or other practical activity of appropriate length or by attending a relevant course).
• The completion of at least half of the legal apprenticeship period stipulated for the respective apprenticeship occupation can also be accepted as evidence if there is no other possibility of entering into an apprenticeship contract for the remaining apprenticeship period.

The 2011 amendment to the Vocational Training Act has broadened access to the apprenticeship final exam. The respective provision legitimates Apprenticeship Offices of the Economic Chambers to determine that the practical final apprenticeship examination be taken in two parts. The first part comprises identification of the qualifications which the candidate has already acquired, while in the second part the candidate is required to prove any missing qualifications. This provision applies if candidates are 22 years or older and have, as part of higher qualification schemes, completed educational measures deemed compatible by the Regional Advisory Board on Apprenticeship. After passing the exam, the graduate receives a certificate that bears the name of the occupation. It is issued by the Apprenticeship Office.

Final Apprenticeship Exam Clearing Office

The aim of the Apprenticeship Exam Clearing Office is an Austria-wide quality assurance for the tasks of the apprenticeship-leave exam. For that reason, the Clearing Office (together with vocational training experts) develops examination tasks and also standardises tasks drawn up by experts outside the Clearing Office. The exams that are “cleared” are marked with a quality seal and are available to all Apprenticeship Offices that administer the exam process.

In addition to the examination tasks, the qualification of the examiners of the apprenticeship final examination is also supported. Guidelines are available to examiners for selected occupations. In addition, there is a two-part certified examiner training course. This can be attended throughout Austria based on the curriculum of the Final Apprenticeship Exam Clearing Office.