The Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection is the competent authority for the recognition of equivalence of a diploma acquired in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for first-level and second-level emergency medical technician.

Working in Austria without the state recognition or employing such persons, is an administrative offence, punishable by a fine. It may also be subject to personal liability consequences under criminal and civil law.

The current Austrian legal situation distinguishes among the following levels of activities of emergency medical technicians:

• First-level emergency medical technician
• Second-level emergency medical technician
• Second-level emergency medical technician with general emergency qualifications regarding pharmacology
• Second-level emergency medical technician with general emergency qualifications regarding venous access and Infusion
• Second-level emergency medical technician with special emergency qualifications regarding artificial respiration and Intubation

Emergency medical technicians may perform their tasks

• as volunteers (ehrenamtliche Tätigkeit) or
• as employees (berufliche Tätigkeit).

Diploma for first-level or second-level emergency medical technician, issued on the basis of a state certified training. Diploma have to be issued by the Government of an EEA-State or of Switzerland.

Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection
Radetzkystraße 2
1031 Vienna
e-mail: anerkennung@sozialministerium.at

A written application can be submitted in person, by post or electronically.

In case of significant differences between the national qualification and the Austrian qualification, recognition can be granted only on the basis of compensation measures (either completion of adaptation training or an aptitude test in an Austrian training institution).

The process can be expected to take four months.

Appeals may be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection in writing within four weeks after receiving the decision.

• Application
• Curriculum vitae
• Austrian residence permit or Austrian postal address with an authorised recipient for formal delivery (written authorisation!)
• Formal qualification confirming officially recognized and successfully completed training in an EU Member State, EEA-State or in Switzerland
• Attestation certifying that the applicant is legally established in a Member State for the purpose of pursuing the activities concerned and that he/she is not prohibited from practising, even temporarily, at the moment of delivering the attestation
• Diploma supplement/syllabus stating the ECTS credit value for each course
• A valid entitlement (not older than one year) to use an automated external defibrillator ( AED)
• If possible/available proof of professional experience
• Evidence of citizenship, valid passport or personal identification document (copy)
• Police clearance certificate from the country of origin, issued within the last three months. Please note: Police clearance certificates from Croatia and Slovenia issued by Ministry of Justice only. An Austrian Criminal Record Certificate is only accepted in connection with the police clearance from the country of origin.
• Medical certificate (issued by a general practitioner within the last three months) confirming that the applicant fulfills all health requirements for the profession
• In case the applicant's name differs from the name shown on the diploma or on the certificate, a wedding or divorce certificate or any other official document proving the change of name must be submitted
• For applications as a second-level emergency medical technician with general/special emergency qualifications, certificates and documents covering practical and theoretical training in the following areas must be submitted:
  • Basic pharmacology
  • Venous access and infusions
  • Intubation and respiration

All documents and certificates must be submitted in German or English, either as an original or as a copy authenticated by a court, a notary public or a municipal authority. Only the translations by a certified court translator are accepted.

Non authenticated copies or untranslated documents are not accepted. After processing, all original documents will be returned immediately.

Administration fees are approximately 250 Euro. The fees have to be paid after completion of the procedure.

This application is for:

• First-level emergency medical technician
• Second-level emergency medical technician

section 18 of the Sanitätergesetz (SanG)

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.

Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection

1 January 2024