How to get Workitem attributes list

Robert, I used this code and it has worked for me:

     private boolean printAttributesOfType(IProjectArea projectArea,
            String workItemTypeID, IProgressMonitor monitor)
            throws TeamRepositoryException {

        IWorkItemType workItemType = getWorkItemClient().findWorkItemType(
                projectArea, workItemTypeID, monitor);

        List<IAttributeHandle> builtInAttributeHandles = getWorkItemClient()
                .findBuiltInAttributes(projectArea, monitor);
        IFetchResult builtIn = getTeamRepository().itemManager()
                .fetchCompleteItemsPermissionAware(builtInAttributeHandles,
                        IItemManager.REFRESH, monitor);

        List<IAttributeHandle> custAttributeHandles = workItemType
                .getCustomAttributes();
        ;
        IFetchResult custom = getTeamRepository().itemManager()
                .fetchCompleteItemsPermissionAware(custAttributeHandles,
                        IItemManager.REFRESH, monitor);

        log("Attributes of Work Item type: " + workItemType.getDisplayName()
                + " ID: " + workItemType.getIdentifier());
        log("  Built In Attributes");
        printAttributeTypes(builtIn.getRetrievedItems(), monitor);

        log("  Custom Attributes");
        printAttributeTypes(custom.getRetrievedItems(), monitor);

        return true;
    }

My code above returns the attributes of a specific work item type. The attribute might be still missing at the work item. You would have to check it is there and create it, if not.

Your code above looks for all built in attributes for a project area and not a work item type.