According to the Styrian Social Care Professions Act ( Steiermärkisches Sozialbetreuungsberufegesetz - StSBBG), professional social workers may only work in Styria under certain conditions.

Professional social workers are trained professionals who help shape the lives of people who are disadvantaged due to age, disability or other difficult circumstances.

They have extensive knowledge of the many aspects of living with disadvantages and can implement a wide range of guidance, support and help in all matters, from coping with everyday life to finding meaning in life.

Evidence of skills and qualifications obtained abroad may be recognised by the competent authorities.

Recognition is based on the Styrian Professional Regulations Act ( Steiermärkisches Berufsregelungen-Gesetz - StBRG).

Please note:

You can find more detailed information on the recognition procedure on the website of the Department of Health and Care Management - Health Professions Unit.

Persons who have evidence of skills or education that meets the requirements governing evidence of qualifications may apply to have these credentials recognised as meeting the requirements laid down in the provincial law for the pursuit of the same profession, provided that the evidence of skills or education:

• was issued by the competent authority of their home Member State; and
• is required in their home Member State in order to be authorised to take up and pursue that profession in its territory.

If the taking-up or pursuit of a profession is not regulated in the Member State of origin, persons who have pursued that profession in that Member State for at least 1 year on a full-time basis in the last 10 years, or part-time for an equivalent overall length of time, may apply for their professional qualifications to be recognised, provided that they hold one or more pieces of evidence proving their skills, and this evidence:

• was issued by the competent authority of their home Member State; and
• certifies that the holder underwent preparation for the pursuit of the profession concerned.

Compensatory measures may then be required where:

• training in the profession concerned covers subjects that differ substantially in content from those stipulated in the provincial legislation regulating the profession in question; or
• the profession is regulated under the applicable provincial legislation and involves one or more regulated activities that are not included in the vocational profile under the laws of the applicant's Member State of origin and the training required covers subjects that differ substantially in content from the applicant's training.

• Proof of citizenship
• Evidence of skills or training entitling the holder to take up the profession concerned
• Where applicable, a certificate of professional experience
• Information on training in the country of origin, to determine whether it differs from the training required under provincial law
• Proof of medical fitness (no older than 3 months)
• Proof of good repute (no older than 3 months)
• Proof of language skills required for practising the profession

Please note the requirements applicable to the submission of documents. You can find more detailed information on the website of the Department of Health and Care Management - Health Professions Unit.

ca. 200 Euro - 250 Euro

§ 15 Steiermärkisches Sozialbetreuungsberufegesetz - StSBBG

§§ 9 ff.  Steiermärkisches Berufsregelungen-Gesetz (StBRG)

The authorities are obliged to issue the decision whithin six months after the application has been received. If the authority fails to decide within the specified deadline, you have the option of a " Säumnisbeschwerde" . This Säumnisbeschwerde" must include the name of the authority whose decision is pending. Additionally, the letter must state the request and provide evidence that the decision deadline of the authority has expired.

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I have noted that the data provided by me, as well as any data received by the administration over the course of the preliminary investigation, will be automatically processed as per article 6, para. 1 lit. c and e of the General Data Protection Regulation in accordance with the underlying material laws of the legal process. Furthermore, I am aware that this is for the purpose of executing the legal procedure initiated by me, the granting of regulatory approval and also for the purpose of review. I have read the general information regarding: 

• the right to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, withdrawal and objection, as well as on data portability
• the right to lodge a complaint with the Austrian data protection authority
• the responsibilities of the process controller and the data protection officer as per https://datenschutz.stmk.gv.at.

Authentication or signature of the application is not required.

Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung
8010 Graz, Hofgasse 16

An appeal is possible against rulings issued by an authority and shall be filed by the party within a 4 weeks term with the authority that issued the ruling of first instance (against rulings without investigation procedure within a two weeks term). The term starts with the receipt of the written copy of the ruling, in the case of oral pronouncement simultaneously with it.

The appeal shall indicate the ruling it contests, the authority that issued the ruling and contain a motion of appeal with the reasons. No more appeal is admissible if the party expressly waived the right of appeal after receipt or pronouncement of the ruling.

Each ruling contains instructions on the right to appeal and indicates the authority and the deadline for submission of such appeal.

Point of Single Contact Styria

Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung
Abteilung 12 - Wirtschaft, Tourismus, Wissenschaft und Forschung
8020 Graz, Nikolaiplatz 3
Telefon: +43 316 877 4231
E-Mail: Homepage:  https://eap.stmk.gv.at

06.05.2024