Compulsory Qualification

Certain trades are governed by regulations aimed at ensuring the safety of workers and the public. To practice a regulated trade, you need to hold a certificate of qualification.

By virtue of the Act respecting workforce vocational training and qualification:

• Workers have to obtain the required certificates of qualification to perform certain regulated work.
• Employers have to make sure that their personnel hold the certificates of qualification required by regulation.

The compulsory-qualification process generally involves three steps. You may be exempted from one or more apprenticeship program requirements if you hold a valid certificate of qualification or have pertinent training, experience or skills.

The regulatory provisions vary from one trade to another.

An apprenticeship guide and checklist are provided to apprentices when they enrol. A supervision guide is available on the web page of the qualification in question.

You can also consult the general provisions regarding the regulatory amendments of November 30, 2015 (French only). (PDF, 167 KB)

Step 1 – Enrolment

To obtain the vocational qualification you require to practise a regulated trade, you have to start by filing an application, as follows:

1. Consult the Information Guide – Enrolment Application – Qualification Program (PDF, 1.0 MB).
2. Complete the Enrolment Application – Qualification Program (PDF, 595 KB)
3. Send your application form along with the required documents and payment to the following address:
   
   Centre administratif de la qualification professionnelle (CAQP)
   Case postale 100
   Victoriaville (Québec)  G6P 6S4
   1 866 393-0067 (toll-free)

If you meet the criteria, Emploi-Québec will send you:

• an apprenticeship guide
• an apprenticeship card
• a Vocational Qualification Process form showing the number of hours of your apprenticeship, the required vocational training, the qualification components you need to master and any recognized experience, etc.
• a document entitled Vocational Qualification Process — Follow-Up
• a journeyperson’s checklist

If your situation exempts you from the apprenticeship program requirements, you will be issued a certificate of qualification at this step in the procedure.

Step 2 – Apprenticeship

You have to apprentice with an employer. If you are not yet employed, you have to be hired by an employer in order to take the apprenticeship program.

Your employer will assign someone who holds a certificate of qualification in your trade to serve as a journeyperson.

You must carry a valid apprenticeship card at all times. In most cases, the card has to be renewed once a year.

An apprenticeship program covers the following:

• the skills you need to master under the supervision of a person who holds a certificate of qualification (a journeyperson who can confirm that you have mastered the skills described in the apprenticeship guide)
• the number of hours of your apprenticeship under the supervision of a journeyperson
• compulsory training outside the workplace that you need to complete successfully in order to obtain your certificate (it is up to you to find and enrol in a course at an institution that offers the necessary training)

Once you meet all of these requirements, Emploi-Québec will invite you to take a qualification examination at one of its centres.

Step 3 – Qualification examination

Most apprenticeship programs include a qualification examination prepared and administered by Emploi-Québec.

Exams are given in the following regions : Bas-Saint-Laurent, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Capitale-Nationale, Mauricie, Estrie, Montréal, Outaouais, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Côte-Nord, Nord-du-Québec, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Lanaudière, Laurentides, Montérégie and Centre-du-Québec.

To be eligible for the exam, you must have completed the apprenticeship program and paid the exam enrolment fee.

The exam covers the main qualification elements, especially the content of the apprenticeship guide.

You have to pass the exam to obtain a certificate of qualification.

See the Preparing for the examination page.

More information

For additional information, contact the Centre administratif de la qualification professionnelle (CAQP) at 1-866-393-0067.

Make a change of address using the Internet

You can make a change of address at any time using the Service québécois de changement d’adresse.

Applications for administrative reconsideration—decisions related to regulated qualification programs

Application for Administrative Reconsideration —Public Employment Services

Use this form to apply for reconsideration of your file if you disagree with a decision that has been rendered concerning:

• Compulsory qualification
• A failing grade on an examination related to compulsory qualification programs
• Qualification related to interprovincial standards (Red Seal Program)

Send your application to the following address:

Direction des Centres de contacts spécialisés
Service du réexamen administratif
225, rue des Forges, bureau 530
Trois-Rivières (Québec) G9A 5Z5

Reporting a situation that does not respect the conditions set by law - compulsory qualification

As part of its mandate in matters of training and vocation qualification, Emploi-Québec is responsible for applying the Act respecting workforce vocational training and qualification (CQLR, c. F-5) and its two regulations: 

• Regulation respecting certificates of qualification and apprenticeship in electricity, pipe fitting and mechanical conveyor systems mechanics in sectors other than the construction industry (CQLR, c. F-5, r. 1)
• Regulation respecting certificates of qualification and apprenticeship regarding gas, stationary engines and pressure vessels (CQLR, c. F-5, r. 2)

In the case of an offence, the Act provides for a fine of between $325 and $700 per day or part of a day during which the offence lasts.

In order to ensure that the conditions set out by law are respected, citizens, workers and employers who witness an offence a situation that does not respect the conditions set by law may report the situation to file a complaint (PDF, 186 KB) with Emploi-Québec.

Emploi-Québec studies all complaints such reports, and investigates to determine whether an offence has indeed been committed.