Legal Aspects of Coaching in Austria

Attention

The independent practice of coaching is regulated by law in Austria by the Trade Licensing Act. Violations of the trade regulations result in administrative penalties

Coaching training

In the coaching market, the sales volume of the training market is estimated to exceed the sales volume of the market. The question of who is allowed to offer coaching training is therefore also of great importance. This is not regulated by law.

Attention

It should be noted that the exercise of the profession is regulated by law.

Attention

Training participants must be informed that they are not allowed to carry out the activity as a self-employed person due to the lack of a corresponding trade licence. The training providers therefore have a duty to inform the participants in this respect.
High-quality training is all training programmes certified by the ICF.

Attention

The independent practice of coaching is regulated by law in Austria by the Trade Licensing Act. Violations of the trade regulations result in administrative penalties

Attention

In the coaching market, the sales volume of the training market is estimated to exceed the sales volume of the market. The question of who is allowed to offer coaching training is therefore also of great importance. This is not regulated by law.

Attention

It should be noted that the exercise of the profession is regulated by law.

Attention

Training participants must be informed that they are not allowed to carry out the activity as a self-employed person due to the lack of a corresponding trade licence. The training providers therefore have a duty to inform the participants in this respect.
High-quality training is all training programmes certified by the ICF.
If you want to coach in Austria, you have to take into account business laws regulating protected trades. Two professional groups are legally entitled to offer coaching as a service:
  • Registered life and social counsellors and management consultants
  • Coaching as a self-employed activity is considered a commercial activity in Austria and is therefore subject to the Austrian Trade, Commerce and Industry Regulation Act (Gewerbeordnung). Coaching is an explicit right of reservation in the professions of management consultancy and life and social counselling. The right to exercise coaching as a self-employed person is therefore reserved for these occupational groups. These are “regulated trades”. A special certificate of competence is required for a trade licence.
You can find out more about coaching business in Austria in our webinar :