Apprentice

A graduate who has successfully completed a study program recognized by the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) in the trade covered by the application can obtain an apprentice competency certificate (ACC). If you have a similar diploma, obtained outside of Québec, you must obtain a recognition of acquired competencies  from the ministry responsible for education.

You must satisfy the general conditions and present the following documentation:

Proof of studies

• If you graduated from a vocational studies program (DEP) less than 90 days ago, you must provide one of the following documents:
  
  • Provincial attestation of training (original document or electronic document if the training centre offers this service)
  • Achievement record with mention of DEP (copy accepted)
  • Statement of competencies with mention of DEP (copy accepted)
• If you have graduated from a college studies program, you must provide the original of a college studies transcript that mentions that you passed the program

Job guarantee

You must present a job guarantee. This guarantee must:

• Come from an employer registered with the CCQ
• Be for a duration of at least 150 hours, spread over a period of at most three consecutive months

If you are a woman, you do not need a job guarantee. See the measures in force that concern you.

How to submit your file to the CCQ

The form Application for registration or modification of identification file and/or choice of union association and all copies of supporting documents required must be sent by mail to the following address:

Commission de la construction du Québec 
a/s Demande d’obtention d’un certificat de compétence apprenti 
Case postale 2030, succursale Chabanel 
Montréal (Québec)  H2N 0C4

Candidates may also go to one of the CCQ’s regional offices with all of their documentation.

People who become apprentices in Québec may have their training and work experience recognized so that they are properly classified in their apprenticeship. Click here to find out more.

SETTING UP SHORT-TERM TRAINING COURSES: REGULATORY CHANGES ADOPTED

Starting March 28, 2024, Act R-20 allows the Commission de la construction du Québec to issue an Apprentice Competency Certificate (ACC) to people holding a Skills Training Certificate (attestation d’études professionnelles – AEP) and wishing to practice one of the trades listed below.

In January 2024, short-term training courses leading to a Skills Training Certificate (attestation d’études professionnelles – AEP) started being offered at various vocational training centres.

As a reminder, in Fall 2023, the Government of Quebec announced the temporary availability of paid short-term training courses. Anyone interested in registering for one of the courses listed below had until December 15, 2023, to do so.

Criteria and supporting documents for obtaining an ACC with AEP

To work in the construction industry under Act R-20, you must hold a competency certificate.

Starting March 28, 2024, holders of a recognized AEP can obtain an ACC from the CCQ. They must apply no later than December 31, 2025. Certain conditions must be respected, including the following:

• Meet the general conditions for obtaining an ACC;
• Obtain an AEP between January 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, and provide proof of this by presenting:
  
  
  • The provisional vocational training certificate issued by the educational establishment on completion of the course; the Skills Training Certificate (AEP) will be produced at a later date;
    
    or
  • the Skills Training Certificate (AEP);
• Provide evidence of having passed the Santé et sécurité générale sur les chantiers de construction (worksite health and safety) course, which is included in programs leading to an AEP;
• Present a job guarantee from a CCQ-registered employer guaranteeing at least 150 hours of work over a period of no more than three (3) consecutive months.

The Application for registration or modification of identification file or choice of union association form and all copies of the required supporting documents must be mailed to the following address:

Commission de la construction du Québec 
Demande d’obtention d’un certificat de compétence apprenti 
Case postale 2030, succursale Chabanel 
Montréal (Québec)  H2N 0C4

The complete documentation may also be dropped off in person at one of the CCQ’s regional offices. 

Comparison table: AEP vs DEP

It is important to note that the AEP is not a diploma, but rather a short-term qualifying training course offered and certified by a school service centre. As a result, unlike the diploma of vocational studies (DEP), the AEP is not a recognition of the completion of vocational studies under the Education Act.

Consequently, the sections of the regulations governing the construction industry as they relate to vocational diplomas (DEPs) do not apply to AEPs.

The following is a comparative summary of the four new AEP and DEP courses leading to construction industry trades.

For more information, people registered for short-term course can contact us at 1 844 942-9792.

A person is eligible to obtain an apprentice competency certificate (ACC) in a given trade if the state of the labour pool allows.

When the labour pool is “open,” a person who satisfies the general conditions  may obtain a competency certificate when he or she meets the following requirements.

Job guarantee

To obtain an ACC, candidates must have an employer reserve a place for them when a labour pool opens by contacting the Info-pénurie line, at 514 736-8743 or 1 877 973-6874 (call made by employer). By reserving this place, the employer guarantees the candidate 150 hours of work over three months.

If you are a woman, see the measures in force that concern you.

Proof of studies

• You must provide proof that you hold the prerequisites for the program leading to the vocational studies diploma (DEP) in the trade covered by the application.
• If you do not hold the prerequisites for the program leading to the vocational studies diploma (DEP) in the trade covered by the application, you may obtain an exemption from holding a competency certificate and you will have to commit to completing these prerequisites within one year.

How to submit your file to the CCQ

The form Application for registration or modification of identifiction file and/or choice of union association and all copies of supporting documents required must be sent by mail to the following address:

Commission de la construction du Québec 
a/s Demande d’obtention d’un certificat de compétence apprenti 
Case postale 2030, succursale Chabanel 
Montréal (Québec)  H2N 0C4

Candidates may also go to one of the CCQ’s regional office with all of their documentation.

The CCQ must receive the employee’s complete file within 14 working days following registration of the employer’s job guarantee in order for the requested competency certificate to be issued.

People who become apprentices in Québec may have their training and work experience recognized so that they are properly classified in their apprenticeship. Click here to find out more.

Individuals who demonstrate that they have acquired, in work experience and in hours in vocational training courses, the number of hours equivalent to at least 35% of the duration of apprenticeship in a trade (except the trade of crane operator) may apply for an apprentice competency certificate (ACC).

The hours that may be recognized are:

• Hours worked and declared to the CCQ in the trade requested when the person has already held an ACC for this trade
• Hours worked and paid in this trade outside of the field of application of Act R-20.
• Hours in vocational training courses completed for this trade and recognized by a competent authority

Individuals must satisfy the general conditions and present the following documents:

• Fill out and send the form Application for apprentice competency certificate – recognition of work experience for a trade (except crane operator), and attach the experience record (with copies of all supporting documents required as indicated in the form)
• Demonstrate their academic or functional prerequisites according to the trade targeted

Job guarantee

Individuals present a job guarantee. This guarantee must:

• Come from an employer registered with the CCQ
• Be for a duration of at least 150 hours, spread over a period of at most three consecutive months

How to submit your file to the CCQ

The form Application for registration or modification of identification file or choice of union association and all copies of supporting documents required must be sent by mail to the following address:

Commission de la construction du Québec 
a/s Demande d’obtention d’un certificat de compétence apprenti 
Case postale 2030, succursale Chabanel 
Montréal (Québec)  H2N 0C4

Candidates may also go to one of the CCQ’s regional offices with all of their documentation.

People who become apprentices in Québec may have their training and work experience recognized so that they are properly classified in their apprenticeship. Click here to find out more.

People who live outside of Canada and wish to obtain an ACC must consult the heading “Candidate abroad (international recruitment).”

Students in a recognized study program may apply for issuance of a temporary apprentice competency certificate (ACC) with a validity period of 6 months. Like any apprentice, he will work under the supervision of a journeyperson, his hours will be counted in his apprenticeship book and he will benefit the salary rate corresponding to his apprenticeship period. The student ACC is not offered to people studying to obtain a Skills Training Certificate (attestation d’études professionnelles – AEP) or wishing to work as a crane operator.

Students must satisfy the general conditions and present the following documentation:

• Provide proof of school attendance. This proof must be submitted to the CCQ no later than 30 days following the date indicated on the document. Beyond this period, new proof will be required;
• Provide a letter of commitment or a written confirmation from an employer that confirms the hiring, without specification of hours. A letter of commitment is different from a job guarantee. Indeed, at this stage, the student does not have to obtain a minimum guarantee of hours from his employer to obtain his ACC as a student candidate. As soon as he has completed his program, he must obtain a ACC as a graduate of a recognized study program to continue working on a construction site. He will then have to provide a job guarantee of 150 hours over 3 consecutive months, obtained from an employer.

How to submit your file to the CCQ

The form Application for registration or modification of identification file and/or choice of union association and all copies of supporting documents required must be sent by mail to the following address:

Commission de la construction du Québec 
a/s Demande d’obtention d’un certificat de compétence apprenti 
Case postale 2030, succursale Chabanel 
Montréal (Québec)  H2N 0C4

Candidates may also go to one of the CCQ’s regional offices with all of their documentation.

This certificate cannot be renewed, but a student may apply again if he or she is still registered in his or her study program.

The certificate is cancelled if the student leaves or terminates his or her program. 

Students will have to satisfy another issuance criterion set out in the regulation to obtain their apprentice competency certificate if they leave or terminate their study program. 

People who become apprentices in Québec may have their training and work experience recognized so that they are properly classified in their apprenticeship. Click here to find out more.

Holders of a journeyman competency certificate who wish to undertake or continue apprenticeship in another trade may obtain an apprentice competency certificate (ACC) for this trade. Holders of a journeyman competency certificate limited to a speciality in a trade may continue apprenticeship in another specialty or, if applicable, in all tasks in this trade.

How to submit your file to the CCQ

The form Application for registration or modification of identification file and/or choice of union association and all copies of supporting documents required must be sent by mail to the following address:

Commission de la construction du Québec 
a/s Demande d’obtention d’un certificat de compétence apprenti 
Case postale 2030, succursale Chabanel 
Montréal (Québec)  H2N 0C4

Candidates may also go to one of the CCQ’s regional offices with all of their documentation.

People who become apprentices in Québec may have their training and work experience recognized so that they are properly classified in their apprenticeship. Click here to find out more.

A sole proprietorship (physical person) or a designated representative may obtain an apprentice competency certificate (ACC) as an employer candidate. 

The employer candidate must satisfy the general conditions.

How to submit your file to the CCQ

The form Application for registration or modification of identification file and/or choice of union association and all copies of supporting documents required must be sent by mail to the following address:

Commission de la construction du Québec 
a/s Demande d’obtention d’un certificat de compétence apprenti 
Case postale 2030, succursale Chabanel 
Montréal (Québec)  H2N 0C4

Candidates may also go to one of the CCQ’s regional offices with all of their documentation.

People who become apprentices in Québec may have their training and work experience recognized so that they are properly classified in their apprenticeship. Click here to find out more.

Individuals living outside of Canada who have been selected by an employer and wishes to join the construction industry in Québec can ask to have their work experience recognized in order to obtain an apprentice competency certificate (ACC), with the exception of the trade of crane operator.

The recognition procedure for candidates living abroad is conducted in two general steps: the request for preliminary analysis before you arrive in Québec and the application for issuance of an ACC once you arrive in Québec. Before undertaking this process, make sure to find an employer willing to hire you in Québec. The employer will have to co-sign the required forms.

Request for preliminary analysis  

First, you must fulfil a set of criteria in order to submit your file to the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) so that it can proceed with a preliminary analysis:

• Demonstrate that you have the academic prerequisites (Comparative evaluation of studies outside of Québec)
• Demonstrate that you have work experience equivalent to at least 35% of the apprenticeship in the trade
• Find an employer registered with the CCQ who is ready to hire you when you obtain your competency certificate
• Fill out the form Application for preliminary analysis – recognition of work experience for a trade, including the “Work Experience Sheet – Employee.” You may fill out several sheets, as they are used to demonstrate all of the work hours that you would like to have recognized

Hours that may be recognized are:

• Paid hours worked in this trade outside the jurisdiction of Act R-20
• The hours of training completed for this trade and recognized by a competent authority

The details of the procedure regarding the request for preliminary analysis (information to send, documents, etc.) are given in the form.

How to submit your file to the CCQ

The form Application for preliminary analysis - Recognition of work experience for a trade (except crane operator) and all the documentation required must be sent to [email protected].

The CCQ will send its decision to you and to the employer offering you work in Québec within about 20 working days after it receives the form and all the documents required.

Application for issuance of an ACC once you arrive in Québec

After the preliminary analysis is accepted, you may apply to obtain an ACC from the CCQ. IMPORTANT: This application can be made only once you arrive in Québec, even if some of the conditions listed below have been undertaken before you immigrate to Canada.

You must fill out the general terms and present a job guarantee. Note the following details concerning the items on the list of general terms:

• In the form Application for registration or modification of identification file or choice of union association, you do not have to write in a permanent code in section 1.
• You must obtain your social insurance number from Service Canada.
• If you took the course Santé et sécurité générale sur les chantiers de construction before you arrived in Québec, make sure to provide the last 4 digits of your social insurance number to ASP construction, once you obtain that number.
• With regard to copies of an official document on this list, the document must be in English or French. If the document is written in another language, you must attach a professional translation into French or English.

Job guarantee

You must also present a job guarantee. The guarantee must:

• Be from the employer registered with the CCQ who signed the form filed with your request for a preliminary analysis
• Be for a duration of at least 150 hours, spread over a period of at most three consecutive months

How to submit your file to the CCQ

The form Application for registration or modification of identification file or choice of union association and all documentation required must be sent by mail to the following address:

Commission de la construction du Québec 
a/s Dossier de reconnaissance internationale
Case postale 2010, succursale Chabanel 
Montréal (Québec)  H2N 0C3

You can also go in person to a CCQ regional office with all of your documentation.