Weapons – Registration for the qualification test for commercial arms trading

As part of the licensing procedure for commercial arms trading, you must prove that you have the relevant specialist knowledge. To do this, you take a specialist knowledge examination at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Industrie- und Handleskammer or IHK). With proof of specialist knowledge, you can continue the permit procedure for arms trading. The certificate is valid for an unlimited period of time and nationwide.

Usually, the examination is ordered by the authority to which you applied for the weapons permit and cannot be applied for separately.
Depending on the scope of the trade permit you have applied for, the examination covers certain categories of weapons.

Theoretical and practical part of the examination:

• 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, as well as the basic features of the other regulations governing firearms.
• In the practical part of the examination, you must demonstrate safe handling of the tested categories of weapons. This includes, among other things, disassembling and assembling, naming essential parts and describing the mode of operation.
• 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.

As a master gunsmith registered in the Handicrafts Register, you already possess the expert knowledge and do not have to prove it again by passing an examination at the IHK.

Procedure:

1. You apply for a firearms trade permit and are usually registered for the examination by the authority responsible for the trade permit. With some Chambers of Industry and Commerce you can or must register yourself.
2. Your registration is confirmed by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and you receive an invitation to the examination date.
3. You take the examination on site at the IHK.
4. You will receive a certificate from the IHK confirming that you have successfully passed the examination.

Prerequisites

• (Pre-) Registration for the exam
  
  As a rule, the authority to which you have applied for a licence to trade in weapons must register or pre-register you for the examination.

Documents required

• If applicable, notification of the competent authority for the weapons trade licence that the examination is to take place.
• Identity document
  
  Identity card or other official identification document containing a photograph.
  Residence permit, if the applicant is not an EU national

Fees

EUR 200.00 to EUR 350.00

Legal basis

• Weapons Act (Waffengesetz or WaffG) § 22 Absatz 1
• General Weapons Act Ordinance (Allgemeine Waffengesetz-Verordnung or AWaffV) §§ 15, 16
• Rules of Procedure for the Examination Committee for the Specialist Knowledge Examination for the Weapons Trade
• Fee schedule of the IHK (Section C.2.)

Average time to process request

• Specialised knowledge examinations take place irregularly, therefore the duration between notification by the authority and examination may vary.
• The certificate is usually available immediately or a few days after passing the oral part of the examination.

More information

• Overview of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Germany
• Information from the Federal Ministry of the Interior on the subject of weapons law
• Information on the Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) examination
• Information sheet of the Berlin Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) for the trade in weapons and ammunition

Für Sie zuständig

• Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Berlin
• Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Berlin

  Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Berlin

  Contact

  • Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Berlin
  • Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Berlin
  • Fasanenstraße 85 ,  10623 Berlin
  • Tel.: (030) 31510-0
  • Fax: (030) 31510-166
  • E-mail: service@berlin.ihk.de
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