Engineering Act (IngG 2017)

In 2019, the implementation of the regulation continued.

In 2020, the award of the engineering qualification is based on a validation process. It focusses on the work experience acquired after completion of a higher technical qualification, which must be designed in such a way that advanced knowledge, skills and competences can be acquired.

In 2020, Danube University Krems was commissioned to carry out the external evaluation of this validation process. The aim was to review the functionality of the procedure as well as the work of the certification bodies and to derive conclusions for possible improvement measures from the results. The evaluation report was submitted to the Ministry of Economy in autumn 2020.

The evaluation report was published and discussed in detail with representatives of the certification bodies in the first quarter of 2021. As a result, measures were taken that could be easily or quickly implemented, such as a common exchange platform for all certification bodies, the intensification of communication, and the streamlining of processes. Discussions were initiated on measures that require changes in the legal bases.

In 2022, adjustments were made to the implementation regulation by updating the fields in which the engineering qualification can be obtained. A second evaluation was carried out in 2022 based on the first evaluation, focusing on the question of results and effects of the certification.

The results of the second evaluation were published in 2023, focusing on the question of the results and effects of the certification procedure. The aim was to enable an assessment of the effectiveness and acceptance of the certification procedure in the context of the Austrian and European education landscape, as well as an assessment of the labour market relevance of the qualification, by means of quantitative analyses and surveys of participants and stakeholders. Further development potential was derived from this.

The most striking result of the study, when comparing the old procedure for awarding the professional title ‘engineer’ and the new certification procedure for the qualification ‘engineer’, is a significant decline in the number of applications by 42.3%, with almost identical success rates for the two procedures.

In 2024, no changes were made. The engineering certification was continued as previously, maintaining its existing structure and guidelines.

In line with the engineering qualification, since the end of 2024, qualifications have also been developed for non-technical subjects (i.e. for commercial and business schools, tourism schools, schools with design/creative subjects, etc.) at five-year secondary VET programmes. The legal framework for this is provided by the Federal Act on Higher Vocational Education and Training. The professional certificates (Fachdiplome), as these qualifications are called, will be awarded – as is the case for engineers – on the basis of relevant vocational training and several years of professional experience. The practical experience must have been designed in such a way that the qualification candidates have expanded and deepened their knowledge and skills as well as their scope for action and creativity (i.e. from NQF level 5 to NQF level 6). The regulations for acquiring the professional certificates are currently being laid down in an ordinance. It is expected that it enters into force in the second half of 2026.