Waffenhandel Fachkundeprüfung nachweisen

As part of the licensing procedure for the commercial arms trade, you must provide evidence of the relevant specialist knowledge. To do this, you take a specialist knowledge test at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

If you purchase firearms or ammunition commercially or independently as part of a commercial enterprise, hold them for sale, take or seek out orders, transfer them to others or arrange their purchase, sale or transfer, you require a firearms trading license. If you do not have the qualification required by the Weapons Act (as a gunsmith entered in the register of craftsmen), you can prove that you have the necessary specialist knowledge by taking a specialist knowledge examination before the examination board of your federal state.

As a rule, a chamber of industry and commerce (IHK) in your federal state is responsible for conducting the firearms proficiency examination and managing the examination board for proof of proficiency in the firearms trade. The examination board is generally responsible for the entire federal state.

In the specialist knowledge examination before the examination board, you demonstrate your knowledge

• about firearms and ammunition of all kinds, if you have applied for a comprehensive firearms trading license, or
• the types of firearms and ammunition for which you have applied for a permit to trade.

The examination is usually carried out by order of the authority to which you have applied for the firearms permit and cannot be applied for separately.

In the theoretical part of the examination, you must demonstrate knowledge of the regulations governing the trade in firearms and ammunition, the acquisition and carrying of firearms and the main features of other firearms regulations.

In the practical part of the examination, you must demonstrate safe handling of the tested categories of firearms. This includes disassembling and assembling, naming essential parts and describing how they work.

In order to successfully pass the specialist examination for the trade in weapons and ammunition, you need not only theoretical but also practical knowledge. Extensive preparation is therefore recommended.

If you have applied for a permit to trade in ammunition, the handling of common ammunition and its use in the associated firearm will be tested.

• identity card
• Proof of payment of the fees
• If applicable, notification from the authority responsible for the trading license that the examination is to take place

Participation in the examination is subject to a fee. The amount of the fees is laid down in the schedule of fees of the IHK Südthüringen.

Normally, you apply for a license to trade in weapons and are then registered for examination via the responsible licensing authority. You can or must register yourself with some chambers of industry and commerce.

• As a rule, you will receive notification from the authority responsible for the trading permit that the examination is to take place
• Your registration will be confirmed by the IHK and you will receive an invitation to the examination date
• You take the exam on site at the IHK
• You will receive a certificate from the IHK confirming that you have successfully passed the examination

With the proof of specialist knowledge, you can continue the licensing procedure for the arms trade.

• Specialist knowledge examinations take place at irregular intervals, so the time between notification from the authority and the examination may vary
• The certificate is usually available immediately or a few days after passing the oral part of the examination

The examination is taken orally. As a rule, it should last at least 30 minutes, but should not exceed 60 minutes. The examinations are conducted as individual examinations.

The examination board will inform you of the result of your examination immediately. If it is positive, you will receive an examination certificate. You must send a copy of this examination certificate to the authority processing your application.

If you fail the examination, you will receive a notification. The examination board is entitled to issue the notification of failure with a blocking period until the next repeat examination.

The certificate of professional competence is valid indefinitely and nationwide.

• Detailed information on how to lodge an appeal can be found in the notification of failure of the examination
• Administrative appeal

• In order to obtain a permit to trade in firearms, proof of the relevant specialist knowledge must be provided.
• The proof of expertise must be provided by an examination before a competent examination board at a chamber of industry and commerce (IHK).
• In order to conduct the examination, the authority responsible for the licensing procedure usually sends the applicant's data to the IHK.
• Costs are incurred.
• Responsible: IHK South Thuringia

Contact the body responsible for conducting the firearms proficiency examination or the management of the examination board in your federal state. This is usually a Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

In the Free State of Thuringia, the IHK Südthüringen has been commissioned to carry out the specialist knowledge examinations.

Thuringian State Administration Office

• Forms: as a rule, you will receive all the necessary forms from the authority that issues the firearms trading license, in some cases also directly from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form requirement: no
• Personal appearance required: yes