💡 Key takeaway: "competency card" is the everyday expression for the CCQ competency certificate (apprentice, journeyman or occupation). Anyone performing construction work covered by the R-20 Act must hold a valid right to work, and it is up to the employer to verify it. A certificate is issued for 12 months; it renews automatically if the worker was active in the previous 14 months, otherwise they must apply.
Competency card or competency certificate: what is the difference?
None: it is the same document. The official name is "competency certificate" (certificat de compétence). "Competency card" (carte de compétence) is the everyday expression in the industry; the CCQ does not use the word "card" for this document on its certificate page or in its glossary. Don't confuse it with the MÉDIC Construction card, which belongs to the insurance plan.
What is the competency certificate for, and who needs one?
It authorizes a person to work in Quebec's construction industry. Anyone performing work within the meaning of the R-20 Act must hold a right to work: a valid competency certificate, an exemption, a confirmation number for a request based on the state of labour pools (valid for up to 14 working days) or a temporary right to work. The CCQ distinguishes three certificates:
| Certificate | For whom | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice (CCA) | A person learning a trade | The holder also receives an apprenticeship booklet. The apprenticeship has 1 to 5 periods of 2,000 hours depending on the trade. |
| Journeyman (CCC) | A person who has demonstrated their qualifications in a trade | Shows the trade and, where applicable, the specialty or activities of the trade. Requires, among other things, being 16, a social insurance number and the General Health and Safety on Construction Sites course. |
| Occupation (CCO) | A person performing construction work on job sites, such as a labourer or specialized labourer, or a specialized occupation | Specialized occupations include surveyor, blaster-driller, lineworker, diver, welder and pipe welder. |
Which trades and occupations are covered?
The CCQ recognizes 25 trades, 6 specialized occupations and some thirty occupations. Trades are defined by regulation, occupations by the collective agreements. Trades include electrician, carpenter-joiner, roofer, painter, bricklayer-mason, plasterer, pipefitter, reinforcing steel worker, crane operator and elevator mechanic.
The trade and, for an apprentice, the apprenticeship period determine the wage rate. See our tables of CCQ wages by trade or the CCQ 2026 rate calculator.
How does an employer verify a worker's certificate?
It is the employer's job: the CCQ writes that verifying the validity of the right to work is the employer's responsibility. On the pages consulted, it does not describe any public instant verification tool. Verification therefore relies on the worker's documents, the hiring declaration and, when needed, contacting the CCQ.
Ask for the certificate
The worker must hold a certificate in good standing and have it on them on the job site. Check its type, the trade or occupation covered and its validity period.
Require an apprentice's booklet
When hired, the apprentice presents their apprenticeship booklet and certificate. The booklet shows their apprenticeship period, and therefore the applicable rate. The CCQ mails a notice as soon as at least 1,600 hours are recorded in their name; the employer can consult it along with the hours worked since.
Note the region and the mentions
The home region shown on the certificate gives hiring priority in that region. A worker who accumulates at least 750 hours with the same employer over the previous 24 months has access to provincial mobility, and the mention "Employeur préférentiel" (preferred employer) appears on their certificate.
Declare the hire within 48 hours
Every hire, layoff, dismissal or departure must be declared through the CCQ's online services within 48 hours (Saturdays, Sundays, statutory holidays and mandatory annual leave do not count). The confirmation number provided must be entered in the payroll register. With an employment guarantee, a letter of engagement or an exemption, a hiring number is created automatically and mailed to the employer: no notice is needed in that case.
If you have doubts about a file, contact the CCQ through its online services or the line reserved for employers, listed on ccq.org.
How long is a certificate valid?
12 months. The CCQ issues certificates valid for 12 months: this applies to journeymen, to apprentices under an employment guarantee who have completed their 150 hours of work, and to a first occupation certificate. A temporary apprentice certificate for a student in training is valid for 6 months and cannot be renewed, but the student can apply again if still enrolled in their program.
How do you renew a competency certificate?
Most often automatically. The certificate is renewed with no action required when the worker was active in the 14 months before the renewal date and meets the conditions specific to their type of certificate. Otherwise, they must apply to the CCQ's customer service; once the application is approved, the certificate is mailed. The rules vary by certificate:
- Apprentice: automatic renewal if they worked in their apprenticeship trade during the 14 months before expiry. Under an employment guarantee (at least 150 hours, over no more than three consecutive months, with an employer registered with the CCQ), the CCQ issues a 12-month certificate if the 150 hours were completed.
- Journeyman: automatic renewal if active in the 14 months; otherwise, on application, with any applicable fees ($100 according to the CCQ's page). Certain reasons for inactivity allow renewal at no charge.
- Occupation: automatic renewal if the worker worked in the industry during the 14 months before renewal; a renewal application can also be made no later than 8 months after expiry, with a 150-hour employment guarantee over no more than 3 months, according to the CCQ's page.
The CCQ can also issue a temporary right to work, valid for a limited time. These conditions vary by category and can change: confirm them on ccq.org.
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Can you hire someone without a certificate?
Only if they hold another valid right to work. An exemption may be granted exceptionally, at the employer's request, in specific cases: competency acquired outside Quebec, intergovernmental agreements (Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick), a person essential to a particular job, a labour shortage, and so on. The worker cannot work on the job site before a favourable decision from the CCQ.
A temporary right to work allows someone to work while waiting for the certificate or exemption. And in a region where certified labour is insufficient, a person without a diploma can obtain an apprentice or occupation certificate.
What are the employer's obligations related to certificates?
- Verify the right to work of anyone performing work.
- Declare every hire and end of employment within 48 hours and enter the confirmation number in the payroll register.
- Have an apprentice's tasks performed under the immediate supervision of a journeyman of the same trade, and respect apprentice-to-journeyman ratios (on the books and on the job site).
- Declare each employee's trade and apprenticeship period in the CCQ monthly report.
The CCQ enforces these rules: it can bring civil proceedings, recommend penal proceedings to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions and suspend work when people do not hold the required certificate. The pages consulted give no fine amounts; see the R-20 Act.
And where does CCQ payroll fit in?
The apprenticeship period recorded in the booklet determines an apprentice's rate: best to check it before running payroll. SubmitX calculates payroll for CCQ-covered employees from timesheets entered at the office or on the job site (CCQ payroll is part of the Pro plan, pricing on request; 7-day trial with no credit card). Verifying the certificate, however, remains the employer's responsibility. See the CCQ 2026 guide and our article on CCQ payroll for contractors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a competency card and a competency certificate?
None: it is the same document. "Competency certificate" (certificat de compétence) is the CCQ's official name; "competency card" (carte de compétence) is the everyday expression.
How long is a CCQ competency certificate valid?
The CCQ issues certificates valid for 12 months. A student's temporary apprentice certificate is valid for 6 months and cannot be renewed.
How do you renew a competency certificate?
It is renewed automatically if the worker was active in the 14 months before the renewal date and meets the conditions specific to their type of certificate. Otherwise, they must apply to the CCQ.
Who must check that a worker holds a valid certificate?
The employer. The CCQ states that it is the employer's responsibility to verify the validity of the right to work of anyone who performs construction work.
Must an apprentice show their booklet when hired?
Yes: when hired, the apprentice must present their apprenticeship booklet and their competency certificate. The booklet shows their apprenticeship period.
Sources
The official pages below are in French.
- CCQ: Competency certificate
- CCQ: Apprentice competency certificate
- CCQ: Journeyman competency certificate
- CCQ: Occupation competency certificate
- CCQ: Renewal on application
- CCQ: Exemptions
- CCQ: Trades and occupations
- CCQ: Following the rules on hiring, payroll and workforce mobility
- CCQ: Declaring every hire and end of employment
- CCQ: Respecting apprentice-to-journeyman ratios
- CCQ: Workers' responsibilities and obligations
- CCQ: Offences and remedies
- CCQ: Glossary
- CCQ: Support guide for employers (PD5269F, 2507)
Last checked: October 13, 2026. This article is for information only. CCQ rules and conditions can change: confirm them on ccq.org before acting.
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