A well-known apprenticeship occupation may have a different name tomorrow, gain new focal points, or receive a modernized final apprenticeship examination. That's exactly what's happening with the Austrian Lehrberufspaket 1/2026: six training regulations are being comprehensively renewed, and eight further apprenticeships updated. Part of it has already been in effect since 1 July 2026; three major reorganizations start on 1 January 2027.
For young people, parents and adult career changers, this is more than a change on paper. The Lehrberufspaket 2026 shows which competencies employers should impart more systematically in the future: digital working, sustainability, automation, documentation, quality orientation, and professional ethical conduct. This overview explains the 14 affected occupations, places the changes in the context of career choice, and shows which questions are important before applying in Austria.
The essentials in 60 seconds
- Six apprenticeships will receive new training regulations: Vehicle technology, installation and energy technology, glass construction technology, glass forming and glass finishing, preparation, and animal care.
- Eight apprenticeships will be updated: Assistant (m/f) in security administration, baking technology, rail travel and mobility service, event management clerk (m/f), hairdresser (stylist), industrial clerk (m/f), confectionery, and civil engineering specialist (m/f) with a focus on tunnel construction.
- Have been in effect since 1 July 2026 die reorganizations for glass forming and glass finishing, preparation and animal care, as well as the eight updates.
- From 1 January 2027, the following will take effect Vehicle technology, installation and energy technology, and glass construction technology.
- The apprenticeship in fruit and vegetable preservation was discontinued. Außerdem wurde die Lehrberufsliste mit ihren Anrechnungs- und Verwandtschaftsregeln angepasst.
The overview is taken from the current information of the Federal Ministry for Economy, Energy and Tourism and the Austrian Economic Chambers. The underlying regulations were published in the legal information system.
What all the new training regulations have in common
The modernized occupational profiles do not consist only of technical tasks. The ministry also names cross-disciplinary competence areas that are structured similarly in all the new training regulations: quality orientation, sustainability, digital working, methodological competence and professional ethics. For applicants this means: manual skills remain important, but in many technical occupations they are no longer sufficient on their own.
A modern apprentice should document workflows in a traceable way, assess measurement values, use digital tools confidently, be mindful of resource consumption and proceed systematically when errors occur. In a job interview it is therefore worthwhile to mention more than just school grades. Examples from workshops, technical projects, repairs, club work or internships can show how someone solves problems, works carefully and takes responsibility.
Six apprenticeships are being comprehensively modernized
1. Vehicle technology: Four areas of focus under one roof
The previous apprenticeships in automotive engineering and bodywork engineering will be merged into vehicle technology from 2027. The four planned areas of focus are passenger car technology, commercial vehicle technology, motorcycle technology and bodywork technology. E-mobility, alternative drives, driver assistance, electrical systems and information technology are given more weight. The official Vehicle Technology Training Ordinance provides the legal framework for this.
Suitable for you if: You enjoy mechanical systems, like measuring and diagnosing, and are willing—alongside traditional workshop work—to understand electronics and software logic. Ask the employer which specialization they actually train for and on which vehicle and drive systems apprentices receive practical experience.
2. Installation and Energy Technology: Buildings are becoming networked systems
From 2027, Installation and Building Technology will become Installation and Energy Technology. The new structure includes the main modules „Water and Heat“ and „Ventilation“. The specialized module „Climate and Automation Technology“ can build on these. Renewable heat, energy-efficient operation, control, commissioning, safety testing and systematic troubleshooting are coming closer together. Details are set out in the Installation and Energy Technology Training Ordinance.
Suitable for you if: If you want to combine practical work on construction sites with measuring devices, technical plans and automated systems. Clarify before signing the contract which main module is offered and whether the company can actually cover the specialized module.
3. Glass construction technology: Craftsmanship, building physics and digital planning
From 2027, glass construction technology will receive a core module and the optional specialist module "Planning and Construction". The new focal points include sustainability, climate protection and energy‑efficient glazing. The specialist module adds consulting, building physics, site‑specific measurements, design and digital construction. The occupation therefore combines installation and material processing with planning, standards knowledge and CAD.
Suitable for you if:If you want to combine precise craftsmanship, design and spatial thinking. Ask during a taster day whether everyday work is more focused on installation, workshop production, renovation or planning. The same apprenticeship title can have very different emphases in day‑to‑day work depending on the company.
4. Glass forming and glass finishing: Rare crafts can still be trained
Since July 2026, five traditional apprenticeships with very few trainees have been consolidated into a new apprenticeship. The focal areas range from glassblowing and glassmaking to glass painting, glass grinding and engraving. The aim of the consolidation is to continue craft training despite the small number of training companies.
Suitable for you if:You should bring high concentration, a feel for materials, design skills and an interest in rare manufacturing techniques. Because there are only a few training locations, the location, the commute to vocational school and the actual availability of apprenticeship places should be considered early in planning.
5. Preparation: Biology meets design and 3D technology
The traditional apprenticeship in preparation has been modernized. Specialists produce and restore animal specimens for museums, teaching, research or private commissions. In addition to anatomy, conservation and lifelike design, finished body models and 3D printing can now also be part of the work process.
Suitable for you if: Sie biologische Genauigkeit, künstlerische Arbeit und Geduld kombinieren. Ein Schnuppertag ist hier besonders wichtig: Der reale Umgang mit toten Tieren, chemischen Stoffen und langen Detailarbeiten unterscheidet sich deutlich von einer rein kreativen Vorstellung des Berufs.
6. Tierpflege: Mehr Artenschutz, Beobachtung und Dokumentation
Die Tierpflege ist seit Juli 2026 nach Kompetenzbereichen neu gestaltet. Artenschutz und neue Anwendungen werden stärker berücksichtigt. Zum Berufsalltag gehören nicht nur Füttern und Pflege, sondern auch Verhaltens- und Gesundheitsbeobachtung, Dokumentation, Reinigung und Desinfektion, Tiertransporte, Instandhaltung von Unterkünften sowie die Zusammenarbeit mit wissenschaftlichen oder tiermedizinischen Fachkräften.
Suitable for you if: Sie sind verlässlich, körperlich belastbar und aufmerksam und akzeptieren auch Routinen, Hygiene und Wochenenddienste. Tierliebe ist eine gute Motivation, ersetzt aber nicht die Bereitschaft zu Reinigung, Sicherheitsregeln und genauer Dokumentation.
Acht weitere Lehrberufe: Was seit Juli aktualisiert ist
Drei Ausbildungsversuche werden reguläre Lehrberufe
Assistent/in in der Sicherheitsverwaltung, Eventkaufmann/-frau und Industriekaufmann/-frau wurden nach positiver Evaluierung in die Regelausbildung übergeleitet. Für Lehrstellensuchende schafft das mehr Planungssicherheit: Die Berufe sind nicht mehr nur befristete Versuche. Das sagt jedoch noch nichts über die Zahl der offenen Plätze in einer Region. Suchen Sie gezielt nach Betrieben, die genau diesen Lehrberuf registriert ausbilden.
Backtechnologie wird dauerhaft verankert
Baking technology was introduced in 2019 as a training pilot and is now becoming a standard apprenticeship under a new examination regulation. The occupation complements the traditional bakery with production technology, quality assurance, laboratory analyses and technological knowledge. Anyone who likes food crafts but also finds larger systems and standardized processes interesting should compare both apprenticeship programs during taster placements.
Two pilot training programs are being extended
The rail travel and mobility service as well as the tunnel construction focus of the civil engineering specialization will continue for two years longer for the time being. Further adjustments to the job profile are to be developed for the mobility service. In tunnel construction, the extension prevents a gap while several construction apprenticeship trades are being redesigned. An extension is not the same as a final transition into a standard apprenticeship trade; therefore, ask about the specific entry options and the training plan.
Three final apprenticeship examinations are being reorganized to be more practice-oriented
For hairdressers (stylists), baking technology, and confectionery, the examination regulations are being changed. For hairdressers, the ministry lists four subjects: basic skills, color change and haircut, women's service, and men's service. Anyone already in training should not deduce which examination version applies to them personally from a general overview. The entry date and transitional rules can be decisive; the responsible apprenticeship office provides binding information.
What the changes mean for your career choice
A modern name does not automatically make an apprenticeship trade suitable. Conversely, a traditional job profile can be technically more demanding than it appears from the outside. Use this package as an opportunity to examine the actual everyday working life more closely.
- Compare activities instead of titles:Do you want to assemble, advise, design, diagnose, document, or work with animals?
- Define module or focus: Ein Betrieb muss nicht jede mögliche Spezialisierung anbieten. Fragen Sie nach der konkreten Eintragung im Lehrvertrag.
- Arbeitsumgebung erleben: Werkstatt, Baustelle, Labor, Tierunterkunft und Veranstaltungsbetrieb stellen unterschiedliche Anforderungen an Lärm, Wetter, Körperarbeit und Arbeitszeiten.
- Digitalen Anteil prüfen: Fragen Sie, welche Messgeräte, Diagnoseprogramme, CAD-Systeme oder Dokumentationswerkzeuge Lehrlinge verwenden.
- Ausbildungsqualität prüfen: Wer ist Ausbilder, wie läuft die Einschulung, wann werden Lehrlinge selbstständig und wie wird auf die Lehrabschlussprüfung vorbereitet?
- Weg und Berufsschule einplanen:For rare occupations, a long commute or blocked vocational school classes may occur.
The AMSThere are currently 229 recognized apprenticeships, or 329 variants if specializations and main modules are included. Around 80 percent of the training period takes place in-company and 20 percent in vocational school. That is why not only the regulation is important, but also the quality of the specific training company.
Eight questions for a trial day and the job interview
- Under which exact job title will my apprenticeship contract be registered?
- Which main module or specialization will actually be covered?
- Which new content from the training regulations can I learn practically on the job?
- Which machines, measuring instruments, and digital tools do apprentices work with?
- Who will supervise me on a day-to-day basis, and how often will I receive feedback?
- Where is the vocational school located, and does the instruction take place weekly or in blocks?
- How does the company prepare apprentices for the final apprenticeship examination?
- What are the opportunities for permanent employment and further training after graduation?
Legally, an apprenticeship contract must concern a recognized apprenticeship trade and be registered by the company with the apprenticeship office. The WKO explains the legal cornerstones of the apprenticeship contract and the tasks of the apprenticeship offices. Have verbal agreements regarding the focus, training location, or additional modules confirmed as clearly as possible in the contract or in supplementary documents.
Three decision-making situations from practice
Interest in technology, but no clear focus yet
A student is interested in vehicles but is wavering between bodywork, diagnostic technology, and electromobility. Instead of just searching for "car repair shop," she compares companies based on their future focus in vehicle technology, attends two trial days, and asks about high-voltage and assistance systems. In this way, she makes her decision based on the actual training rather than an outdated job profile.
Practical work with climate benefits
A school leaver wants to do manual work and is interested in the energy transition. In installation and energy technology, he compares "water and heat" with "ventilation" and checks whether the company offers climate and automation technology later on. The connection to sustainability is created not by the title alone, but by concrete systems, projects, and learning opportunities.
Creative profession with few training locations
An applicant discovers glass painting and engraving. The new bundling keeps these rare paths open, but there are only a few companies regionally. She therefore clarifies the apprenticeship position, vocational school, and specialization first before making housing or commuting plans. A broad alternative plan involving glass construction technology or a related design profession prevents the career choice from depending on a single location.
How to proceed now
- Select a maximum of three from the 14 professions whose activities match your interests.
- Read the job profile and requirements in the AMS career lexicon, not just short advertisement texts.
- Search current apprenticeship positions and check the exact job title.
- Arrange a taster day and take the eight questions from this article with you.
- Compare at least two companies in terms of learning content, supervision, commute, and the likelihood of being taken on.
- Before signing, check the job title, specialization, apprenticeship duration, training locations, and start date.
Our guide Find apprenticeship positions in Austria supports the search, taster days, and applications. Those who have not yet considered technical paths will find in the article Women in Technology Programs and orientation options. Our overview explains the broader connection between the energy transition and qualifications Green Jobs.
FAQ on the Apprenticeship Package 2026
Do I have to wait until 2027 to apply?
No. Apprenticeship positions in the previous occupations can still be relevant. What matters is under which regulation and designation the specific entry takes place. Ask the company and the apprenticeship office how a start date around January 1, 2027 will be handled.
Does an ongoing apprenticeship contract automatically switch to the new regulation?
That cannot be answered generally from the package overview. The respective ordinance contains transitional provisions. Have your start date and registered apprenticeship occupation officially verified by the competent apprenticeship office before you accept any changes.
Is a special module guaranteed to be available?
No. A module in the training regulations does not mean that every company offers it. The company must be suitably equipped in terms of personnel and resources. Ask specifically about training authorization, learning stations, and registration.
Are modernized apprenticeship occupations automatically better paid?
No. apprentices' pay is generally determined by the applicable collective agreement, not by how new the training regulations are. Therefore compare job content, industry, collective agreement, and development opportunities separately.
Conclusion: New regulation, but the quality of the company remains decisive
The Apprenticeship Package 2026 brings electric mobility, building automation, sustainability, digital planning and modern examination formats more strongly into dual vocational training. At the same time, it preserves rare trades and converts proven training pilot projects into regular occupations. For applicants, this is an opportunity to take a closer look: choose not just a title, but a company that credibly, comprehensively and with proper supervision imparts the desired specialization.
