Austria

Constituent Organisation: Bundeskammer der Architekten und Ingenieurkonsulenten

ECEC Delegates:

Secretary General Robl Josef
c/o BAIK, Karlsgasse 9/2. 1040 Vienna, Austria
email: office@arching.at
homepage: http://www.arching.at

Access to the profession in Austria
Architects - Chartered Engineering Consultants
(March 2004)

The access to the profession is regulated by a federal law called "Ziviltechnikergesetz".
To become a "Ziviltechniker" (Architect or Chartered Engineering Consultant) it is necessary to prove the professional ability in three ways:

1. First it is necessary to pass the demanded study (architecture; technological, scientific and mining areas; areas connected with environmental and soil sciences)on university level.
2. The second step is a professional practice of at least three years (after having finished the studies). One of these three years has to be passed as an employee working under the instructions of the employer.
3. Third step is to pass a licensing examination ("Ziviltechnikerprüfung"):

LICENCING EXAMINATION:
The application for this examination - including all necessary papers - has to be made to the Chamber of Architects and Chartered Engineering Consultants where he/she has his/her main residence. The chamber passes the application together with an advisory opinion to the competent Ministry, which is the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Labour. The ministry decides about the application and assigns the candidate to an examination commission.
It is a public oral examination and there are no remedies.
If the candidate does not pass the examination, he/she has the possibility of a second and a third try.

The examination covers the following areas:
" Austrian administrative law which includes especially the scope and basic knowledge of the different regulations;
" Business administration, especially basics in the fields of cost accounting, organisation, personnel matters, investing and financing etc.;
" Legal and professional regulations of the special professional field
" Professional laws and ethics of the profession, which includes especially knowledge about the Ziviltechnikergesetz, Ziviltechnikerkammergesetz, fee scales, ethic code etc.

AUTHORIZATION:
The authorization for professional practice ("Befugnis") is awarded by the Federal Ministry for Economic affairs and Labour and is specific for architecture or one of the more than 40 specializations of Chartered Engineering Consutants. It may be exercised by natural persons or by partnerships of architects and engineers.
Before making use of the authorization the applicant has to take an oath that he/she will observe the law, the responsibilities and the duty to keep confidential.

Areas of specialisations:
Architects are officially authorized rendering architectural services.
Chartered Engineering Consultants are officially authorized working in technological, scientific, mining areas and in areas connected with environmental and soil sciences.

Scope of the authorization:
The authorization enables the architects/chartered engineering consultants to provide planning, testing, supervising, consulting, co-ordination for their entire expert area.
They act as trustees and handle total planning projects. They draft reports and are entitled to act as representative before authorities and public law corporations.
They draw up public documents in their areas of specialization using a seal (=external sign of authorization and certification).
Architects/Chartered Engineering Consultants are not entitled to the execution of works.
When having their authorization active, they have to work freelance. When they become employed (private or public) they have to put their authorization "resting".
If and when an architect/engineer does not want to make use of the authorization, he has the possibility to declare it as "resting" and inform the chamber about that in written form. If he wants to have his authorization "active" again, he has to give this information to the Chamber in written form as well.
That signifies that form of practice is important in Austria. Ziviltechniker (architects and engineers) may have joint enterprises, but authorization, professional duties and liability is kept to the respective Ziviltechniker, while to the client they may offer general planning services of all types.

TITLE:
The academic titles of graduates of universities differ. Depending on which university they have passed their studies, they are either called
DI (Diplomingenieur) or Mag. (Magister)
The professional titles "Architekt", "Ingenieurkonsulent", "Zivilingenieur" and "Ziviltechniker" are protected by the Austrian "Ziviltechnikergesetz". They can only be used by persons who are licensed.

EU/EEA-CITIZENS IN AUSTRIA:

Providing Services in Austria by architects and chartered engineering consultants:

If you want to provide services in Austria you have to fulfil the following requirements:
1. You have to be authorised to practise as an architect/engineer in an EU/EEA member state and you must have an establishment there.
2. You have to inform the Chamber of Architects and Chartered Engineering Consultants of the region, where you want to provide your services (see list of chambers below).
3. The following documents are needed:
" A certificate stating that you are lawfully pursuing the activities in question in the member State where you are established
" Diplomas, certificates and other evidence:
¢ Architects: according to Architects´ Directive (85/384/EEC)
¢ Engineers: according to 1st Directive for the recognition of diplomas (89/48/EEC)
" Evidence of 3 years of practical experience
" Proof of no bankruptcy in the last 5 years
" Extract of the register of convictions (not older than 3 months)
" Evidence of nationality

Establishment in Austria:

You have to apply for an authorization at one of the 4 Austrian regional Chambers of Architects and Chartered Engineering Consultants (list see below).

Requirements for architects:
" Diplomas, certificates and other evidence according to Architects´ Directive (85/384/EEC)
" A certificate stating that you have an authorization as an architect or that you are lawfully practising as an architect.
" Evidence of 3 years of practical experience
" Proof of no bankruptcy in the last 5 years
" Extract of the register of convictions (not older than 3 months)
" Evidence of nationality
" certificate issued by one of the 4 Austrian regional Chambers stating that you are informed on the laws and professional ethics of Austrian architects.

Requirements for chartered engineering consultants:
" Diplomas, certificates and other evidence according to 1st Directive for the recognition of diplomas (89/48/EEC)
" Proof of no bankruptcy in the last 5 years
" Extract of the register of convictions
" Evidence of nationality
" If your training/practical experience is not equivalent to the training/practical experience in Austria: training course (maximal 3 years duration) or verbal aptitude test or practical experience

Contact Points:

The regional chambers will supply you with all the information you need, as for example information on insurance and building regulations and are also offering a wide range of seminars and courses:

Kammer der Architekten und Ingenieurkonsulenten für Wien, Niederösterreich und Burgenland
1040 Wien, Karlsgasse 9/1
Tel. 0043/1/5051781
Fax 0043/1/5051781-70
E-mail: kammer@arching.at
Internet: www.arching.at/wien

Kammer der Architekten und Ingenieurkonsulenten für Steiermark und Kärnten
8010 Graz, Schönaugasse 7/1
Tel. 0043/316/82 63 44-0
Fax 0043/316/826344/25
E-mail: office@aikammer.org
Internet: www.aikammer.org

Kammer der Architekten und Ingenieurkonsulenten für Oberösterreich und Salzburg
4040 Linz, Kaarstraße 2/II
Tel. 0043/732/738394-0
Fax 0043/732/738394-4
E-mail: office@linz.aikammeros.org
Internet: www.aikammeros.org

Kammer der Architekten und Ingenieurkonsulenten für Tirol und Vorarlberg
6020 Insbruck, Rennweg 1
Tel 0043/512/5885335
Fax 0043/512/588335-6
E-mail: arch.ing.office@tirol.com
Internet: www.kammerwest.at