100+ Free Befähigungsprüfung Sicherheitsgewerbe Practice Questions

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Key Facts: Befähigungsprüfung Sicherheitsgewerbe Exam

100

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Exam Fee for 1st and 2nd Attempts Since 2024

WKO Meisterprüfungsstelle

§§ 129–130 GewO

Statutory Trade Code Basis for Sicherheitsgewerbe

Gewerbeordnung 1994

§ 95 GewO

Reliability Verification (Zuverlässigkeitsprüfung)

Gewerbeordnung 1994

§ 80 (2) StPO

Statutory Citizen Arrest Power (Anhalterecht)

Strafprozessordnung

30 Days

Limitation Period for Possession Disturbance (Besitzstörung)

Zivilprozessordnung § 454

The Austrian Befähigungsprüfung Sicherheitsgewerbe is the statutory trade competence examination administered by WKO Meisterprüfungsstellen for licensing private security guards and private detective agencies in Austria. It covers GewO 1994 §§ 129–130, StGB, StPO § 80 Abs. 2, ABGB possession protection, WaffG, GDPR/DSG video surveillance rules, TRVB fire safety, ÖNORM alarm standards, and commercial cost calculations. Since 2024, the first and second exam attempts are free under Austrian federal funding. This prep bank provides 100 research-based practice questions with detailed explanations.

Sample Befähigungsprüfung Sicherheitsgewerbe Practice Questions

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1Under § 94 Z 62 and § 95 of the Austrian Trade Code (Gewerbeordnung 1994 - GewO), how is the security trade (Sicherheitsgewerbe: Berufsdetektive, Bewachungsgewerbe) classified?

A.As a regulated trade requiring proof of competence and an official reliability check (Zuverlässigkeitsprüfung)

B.As a free commercial trade requiring only standard business registration without pre-qualification

C.As a state monopoly service administered exclusively by the Austrian Federal Police (Bundespolizei)

D.As a semi-regulated craft trade requiring only an apprenticeship completion certificate (Lehrabschluss)

Explanation: Under § 94 Z 62 GewO 1994, the Sicherheitsgewerbe (comprising Berufsdetektive and Bewachungsgewerbe) is a regulated trade (reglementiertes Gewerbe). Furthermore, § 95 GewO designates it as a reliability trade (Zuverlässigkeitsgewerbe), meaning the authority must verify the commercial and moral reliability of the applicant before registration.

2Which authority is competent to conduct the statutory reliability review (Zuverlässigkeitsprüfung) under § 95 GewO 1994 for a security trade license applicant in Austria?

A.The district administrative authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde or Landespolizeidirektion as trade authority)

B.The Austrian Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer - AK)

C.The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) Apprentice Office (Lehrlingsstelle)

D.The local municipal labour court (Arbeits- und Sozialgericht)

Explanation: Under § 95 GewO 1994 the security trade is a reliability trade, so the trade authority — the district administrative authority (§ 333 GewO: the Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde, i.e. Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat in chartered cities; the Landespolizeidirektion where it acts as security authority) — must complete the official reliability check (Zuverlässigkeitsprüfung) by decree before the license is registered in the GISA.

3Under § 129 of the Austrian Trade Code (GewO 1994), which activity is explicitly reserved for licensed private detectives (Berufsdetektive)?

A.Providing information about private circumstances, conducting investigations into criminal acts, and performing surveillance (Observation)

B.Exercising sovereign arrest powers and issuing judicial search warrants on behalf of the public prosecutor

C.Confiscating movable property from debtors without court enforcement orders (Exekutionstitel)

D.Issuing administrative fines for traffic infractions on private company premises

Explanation: Section 129 GewO 1994 lists the statutory scope of Berufsdetektive, which includes providing information on private circumstances, conducting investigations into criminal offenses, performing surveillance/observation of persons, locating missing or hidden persons, and gathering evidence for judicial proceedings.

4Which of the following activities falls within the statutory scope of the guarding trade (Bewachungsgewerbe) under § 130 GewO 1994?

A.Guarding persons, property, construction sites, and operating emergency alarm monitoring centres with intervention services

B.Representing clients as legal counsel in civil and criminal litigation before regional courts

C.Conducting undercover polygraph lie detector tests on prospective company employees

D.Providing sovereign border control and customs clearance at international airports

Explanation: Under § 130 GewO 1994, the Bewachungsgewerbe encompasses guarding people (Personenschutz), commercial and industrial plants, buildings, construction sites, porter and reception services, event steward services, cash/valuables transport, and operating alarm receiving centres (Notruf- und Alarmzentralen) with mobile intervention.

5Under § 130 Abs. 8 and 9 GewO 1994, what specific obligations must a security trade business fulfil regarding the employees it deploys on reserved guarding or detective activities?

A.Use only employees who are of full legal capacity (eigenberechtigt), reliable and suitable, and submit a register of all such persons — with name, date and place of birth, nationality and home address — to the Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde or the Landespolizeidirektion acting as security authority no later than two weeks before their first deployment, reporting every subsequent change within two weeks

B.Ensure all security guards possess a valid Austrian firearm carry permit (Waffenpass) regardless of duties

C.Register guards exclusively with the Austrian Ministry of Defence (Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung)

D.Issue guards a temporary judicial police badge with sovereign enforcement jurisdiction

Explanation: Section 130 Abs. 8 GewO 1994 permits security trade businesses to use only employees who are eigenberechtigt and possess the required reliability and suitability. Under § 130 Abs. 9 GewO the entrepreneur must submit a register of all persons deployed on § 129 Abs. 1 and Abs. 4 activities to the security authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde, or the Landespolizeidirektion where it is security authority of first instance) no later than two weeks before their first use; changes must be notified within two weeks. Under Abs. 10 the authority informs the employer in writing if a registered person lacks reliability.

6Under § 130 Abs. 6 GewO 1994, what identification duty applies to licensed private detectives (Berufsdetektive) and their employees while exercising the activities reserved by § 129 Abs. 1 GewO?

A.They must carry the authority-issued trade legitimation (Gewerbelegitimation with photograph under §§ 62 and 129 Abs. 3 GewO), present it on demand to the authorities and organs of the public security service, and hand it over to those organs for inspection

B.Employees must wear a gold metal shield resembling the official badge of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI)

C.Guards are exempt from carrying any form of identification if they wear a high-visibility security jacket

D.Service cards must only be issued after 5 consecutive years of unblemished service in the company

Explanation: Pursuant to § 130 Abs. 6 GewO 1994, entrepreneurs licensed for the Berufsdetektive trade and their employees must carry the Gewerbelegitimation (the photo trade legitimation issued by the authority on application under § 129 Abs. 3 GewO in the sense of § 62 GewO) while performing detective activities, show it on demand to authorities and public security organs, and hand it over to those organs for inspection.

7Under § 129 Abs. 6 GewO 1994, what is the crucial rule regarding standardized work clothing (einheitliche Berufskleidung) used by guarding trade enterprises?

A.Its use requires approval by the Federal Minister of Labour and Economy, which is granted only if no confusion with the uniforms of the public security service, the customs administration, the Judiciary Guard or the Armed Forces is to be feared, and all outer garments must bear clearly recognizable company designations (§§ 63 ff. GewO)

B.They must match the exact pattern and insignia of Austrian Bundespolizei patrol uniforms for deterrence

C.Private security vehicles must be equipped with blue emergency flashing lights and sirens identical to police patrol cars

D.All guard uniforms must be imported directly from an approved EU law enforcement supplier without modifications

Explanation: Section 129 Abs. 6 GewO 1994 subjects the use of standardized work clothing in the guarding trade to approval by the Federal Minister of Labour and Economy. Approval is granted only where confusion with the uniforms of the public security service, customs administration, Justizwache or Bundesheer is not to be feared; every outer garment must carry clearly visible designations under §§ 63 ff. GewO, and the approval must be revoked if later changes to state uniforms create a confusion risk.

8Under § 130 Abs. 5 GewO 1994, what is the statutory duty of confidentiality (Verschwiegenheitspflicht) for licensed private detectives (Berufsdetektive) and their employees?

A.They must keep secret all matters entrusted to them, a duty that extends by analogy to their employees; it is lifted only where and insofar as the client expressly releases them from it

B.They are only bound to secrecy during active working hours and may freely disclose client data on social media after their shift

C.Confidentiality ceases automatically 12 months after the termination of the service contract with the client

D.Guards may disclose confidential client security plans to competing security firms for peer review without client consent

Explanation: Section 130 Abs. 5 GewO 1994 obliges entrepreneurs licensed for the Berufsdetektive trade to maintain confidentiality (Verschwiegenheit) over matters entrusted to them; the duty does not apply where and insofar as the client expressly releases them from it, and it applies by analogy to their employees. Whether they are released from testifying or producing business papers in judicial or administrative proceedings is governed by the applicable procedural rules.

9Under § 39 of the Austrian Trade Code (GewO 1994), what are the legal requirements when a legal entity (such as a GmbH) appoints a commercial managing director (gewerberechtlicher Geschäftsführer) for a security trade?

A.The managing director must fulfill the statutory reliability criteria, hold the Befähigungsnachweis, and be an employee working at least half the standard weekly working time or be a registered company officer

B.The managing director can be any nominal shareholder regardless of qualifications as long as they reside in Austria

C.A commercial managing director is never required if the company employs at least five certified security guards

D.The managing director must be an active sworn police officer on official leave of absence

Explanation: Under § 39 GewO 1994, a legal entity must appoint a gewerberechtlicher Geschäftsführer who possesses personal reliability (§ 95 GewO), provides proof of professional competence (Befähigungsnachweis), and is either a member of the management board (Vorstand/Geschäftsführer) or an employee subject to social insurance working at least half of the statutory weekly working hours.

10Under § 87 GewO 1994, on which grounds must the trade authority revoke a security trade license (Entziehung der Gewerbeberechtigung)?

A.Loss of personal reliability (Wegfall der Zuverlässigkeit), such as serious criminal convictions, severe insolvency offenses, or repeated gross violations of security trade regulations

B.Failure to achieve a minimum gross annual turnover of €500,000 within the first three operating years

C.Refusal of the security business to accept an unprofitable municipal patrol assignment

D.Operating a security company with fewer than twenty fully equipped patrol vehicles

Explanation: Under § 87 and § 95 GewO 1994, if the trade license holder or gewerberechtlicher Geschäftsführer loses the mandatory reliability (Zuverlässigkeit) — e.g. through criminal convictions against life, freedom, or property, or systematic breach of trade duties — the authority must revoke the trade license.

About the Befähigungsprüfung Sicherheitsgewerbe Exam

The Befähigungsprüfung Sicherheitsgewerbe is the statutory Austrian competence examination required under §§ 94 Z 62, 129, and 130 of the Trade Code (Gewerbeordnung 1994) to obtain a trade license for operating a private security company (Bewachungsgewerbe) or a private detective agency (Berufsdetektive). The trade is classified as a regulated reliability trade (Zuverlässigkeitsgewerbe § 95 GewO), requiring rigorous mastery of trade law, civil self-defense and property protection (ABGB §§ 339, 344), criminal law and citizen detention (StGB, StPO § 80 Abs. 2), weapons regulations (WaffG), GDPR/DSG compliance, technical surveillance standards (ÖNORM EN 50131/50518, TRVB), and commercial cost calculation. This bank provides 100 research-based practice questions in English.

Assessment

Three separately assessed modules under the Sicherheitsgewerbe Prüfungsordnungen (Bewachungsgewerbe & Berufsdetektive) and GewO 1994 §§ 94 Z 62, 129, 130: Module 1/2 are a written examination (Bewachungsgewerbe: Sicherungsplan, Diensteinteilung, Unterweisung, plus bookkeeping/payroll/costing tasks; Berufsdetektive: case-based written assignment) and an oral commission examination (Austrian law, security management, business administration); Module 3 is the Unternehmerprüfung under the Unternehmerprüfungsordnung. Modules test Austrian law, security management, technical security systems, investigation tactics, preventive fire safety, and commercial calculation.

Time Limit

varies-by-module

Passing Score

Graded on the Austrian school scale (1 to 5); all subjects must achieve at least Genügend (grade 4).

Exam Fee

€0 — free of charge for the first and second attempt since 1 January 2024 (Fachverband der gewerblichen Dienstleister (WKO); administered by Meisterprüfungsstellen)

Befähigungsprüfung Sicherheitsgewerbe Exam Content Outline

20%

Trade & Professional Law (Gewerbe- und Berufsrecht für das Sicherheitsgewerbe)

Austrian Trade Code (GewO 1994 §§ 94 Z 62, 95, 129, 130), reliability verification (Zuverlässigkeitsprüfung), employee suitability and the two-week personnel register duty (§ 130 Abs. 8–9), the detective's authority-issued trade legitimation (§ 130 Abs. 6), ministerial approval of guarding uniforms (§ 129 Abs. 6), confidentiality (§ 130 Abs. 5), reporting duties, Collective Agreement for Security Services (Bewachungs-KV), and youth protection laws

25%

Criminal, Procedural & Police Law (Straf-, Strafprozess- und Sicherheitspolizeirecht)

Citizen stop rights (§ 80 Abs. 2 StPO / Jedermann-Anhalterecht), self-defense and defense of others (§ 3 StGB / Notwehr), excusing necessity (§ 10 StGB / entschuldigender Notstand), trespass (§ 109 StGB), coercion (§ 105 StGB), unlawful deprivation of liberty (§ 99 StGB), bodily harm and theft offenses, Security Police Act (SPG boundaries), Weapons Act (WaffG 1996), firearm categories, carry permits (Waffenpass), and Weapons Use Act (WaffGG)

20%

Civil Law, Possession Defense & Data Protection (Zivilrecht, Besitzschutz und Datenschutz)

Protection of possession (§ 339 ABGB / Besitzstörungsklage, 30-day statutory limitation period), self-help (§ 344 ABGB / Selbsthilfe), tort and liability law (§§ 1295 ff. ABGB, Employee Liability Act / DHG), security contracts, GDPR (DSGVO) and Austrian Data Protection Act (DSG), video surveillance regulations (justified interest, signage, retention periods), and employee monitoring

20%

Physical Security, Technical Systems & Fire Protection (Objektschutz, Sicherheitstechnik & Brandschutz)

Guarding tactics, patrol services (Revier- und Separatbewachung), cash and valuables in transit (GWT standards), intrusion alarm systems (EMA according to ÖNORM EN 50131), alarm receiving centres (ARC / ÖNORM EN 50518), access control, preventive fire protection (TRVB guidelines, fire classes A–F, fire safety officer duties), and emergency response

15%

Private Detective Operations, Investigation Tactics & Costing (Berufsdetektive & Kalkulation)

Scope of private detective activities (§ 129 GewO), surveillance techniques (Observation), evidence gathering for civil and criminal court proceedings (§ 272 ZPO), strict evaluation of legitimate interest, GPS vehicle tracking jurisprudence, and commercial cost calculations (hourly rate costing, social charges, non-productive time, overhead markup)

How to Pass the Befähigungsprüfung Sicherheitsgewerbe Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Graded on the Austrian school scale (1 to 5); all subjects must achieve at least Genügend (grade 4).
Assessment: Three separately assessed modules under the Sicherheitsgewerbe Prüfungsordnungen (Bewachungsgewerbe & Berufsdetektive) and GewO 1994 §§ 94 Z 62, 129, 130: Module 1/2 are a written examination (Bewachungsgewerbe: Sicherungsplan, Diensteinteilung, Unterweisung, plus bookkeeping/payroll/costing tasks; Berufsdetektive: case-based written assignment) and an oral commission examination (Austrian law, security management, business administration); Module 3 is the Unternehmerprüfung under the Unternehmerprüfungsordnung. Modules test Austrian law, security management, technical security systems, investigation tactics, preventive fire safety, and commercial calculation.
Time limit: varies-by-module
Exam fee: €0 — free of charge for the first and second attempt since 1 January 2024

Keys to Passing

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Befähigungsprüfung Sicherheitsgewerbe Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the conditions for the citizen's stop power under § 80 Abs. 2 StPO: concrete facts must indicate the person is committing a criminal act, has just committed one, or is wanted for one; the stop must be proportionate (verhältnismäßig); and the nearest organ of the public security service must be notified without delay (unverzügliche Anzeige).

2Understand the difference between self-defense (§ 3 StGB / Notwehr against an imminent or ongoing unlawful human attack) and excusing necessity (§ 10 StGB / entschuldigender Notstand, which excuses — not justifies — an act averting an imminent significant detriment).

3Learn the 30-day statutory limitation period for filing a possession disturbance claim (Besitzstörungsklage nach § 339 ABGB, § 454 ZPO) from the moment the possessor learns of both the disturbance and the identity of the disturber.

4Review the Austrian Firearms Act (WaffG 1996) categories as amended in 2025/26 (A = prohibited weapons and war material, B = permit-required firearms such as handguns, C = other long guns requiring a Waffenbesitzkarte, Waffenpass, or valid hunting licence since 28 April 2026) and know the distinction between a Waffenbesitzkarte (possession/transport) and a Waffenpass (right to carry).

5Practice commercial guard rate calculations (Stundensatzkalkulation): Base wage + mandatory employer social security contributions (~30–35%) + non-productive time factor (vacation, sick leave, public holidays ~20–25%) + operational overhead surcharge + profit margin + 20% Austrian VAT.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Austrian Befähigungsprüfung Sicherheitsgewerbe?

It is the official trade competence examination in Austria required under § 94 Z 62 and §§ 129–130 of the Trade Code (Gewerbeordnung 1994) to obtain a trade license for operating a private security guarding enterprise (Bewachungsgewerbe) or a private detective agency (Berufsdetektive). It is administered by the Meisterprüfungsstellen of the provincial Economic Chambers (WKO).

What rights do private security guards have in Austria compared to the police?

Private security personnel in Austria possess no sovereign law enforcement powers (keine hoheitlichen Befugnisse). Their legal powers are derived from private property rights (Hausrecht), self-defense (§ 3 StGB), civil self-help (§ 344 ABGB), and the citizen's stop power (§ 80 Abs. 2 StPO / Jedermann-Anhalterecht). They must strictly respect police jurisdiction and hand over stopped suspects immediately.

How much does the Befähigungsprüfung Sicherheitsgewerbe cost in Austria?

Since 1 January 2024, examination fees for the first and second attempt at Austrian Meister- und Befähigungsprüfungen are completely covered by federal government funding (€0 exam fee for candidates at WKO Meisterprüfungsstellen).

How does this practice bank prepare candidates for the Austrian exam?

While the official examination consists of German-language written planning cases and an oral commission hearing, this practice bank provides 100 high-yield multiple-choice questions in English designed to test, reinforce, and solidify Austrian legal codes (GewO, StGB, StPO, ABGB, WaffG, DSGVO), security engineering standards (ÖNORM, TRVB), and commercial pricing rules.