Licensing guide · Quebec

How to Become a Painter and Decorator in Quebec

Last checked 5 sources checkedNOC 73112

Do you need certification?

Certification required

Painter and decorator is a compulsory trade in Quebec. You need a certificate, or registration as an apprentice, to work in the trade.

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Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“The journeyman competency certificate (JCC) indicates the trade and, if applicable, the specialty or activities of the trade that the person may practise.”

From ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/comp..., checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Certification required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $100
  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $100

  1. Submit the application form and supporting documents to the CCQ by mail or at a regional office to obtain an apprentice competency certificate.

    Source
    “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 ... You can also go to one of the CCQ’s regional offices with all of your documentation.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/appr...

  2. Complete the apprenticeship in the trade, which is divided into periods of 2,000 hours each.

    Source
    “Apprenticeship in a trade in the construction industry is calculated in hours in the trade and in hours of training and upgrading. The duration of the apprenticeship is divided into apprenticeship periods of 2,000 hours each.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/appr...

  3. Contact Customer Services or write to a regional office to register for the provincial qualification examination and pay the registration fee.

    Source
    “Contact Customer Services at 1 888 842-8282 to determine the date and location of their examination. They must pay the $100 registration fee with a credit card”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/examen-qualification-2/adm...

  4. Take and pass the provincial qualification examination in the trade.

    Source
    “Have passed the qualification examination”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/comp...

  5. Apprentices who pass the provincial qualification examination automatically obtain their journeyman competency certificate free of charge.

    Source
    “Apprentice candidates who have passed their provincial qualification examination automatically obtain their competency certificate free of charge.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/comp...

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $100

One-time fees listed for Trained in Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Exams $100 100%
One-time total $100 100%

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • Listed one-time fees: $10
  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $100

  1. Collect proof of residential address in the other province, an official document, proof of qualification or apprentice card, and proof of passing the health and safety course.

    Source
    “Supply proof of residential address in New Brunswick from among the following list ... Provide proof of qualification or of possession of an apprentice card ... Prove that they have passed the course Santé et sécurité générale sur les chantiers de construction”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/ententes-...

  2. Send the completed application form with all documents to the CCQ to register for a registration certificate.

    Source
    “Attach the form Application for registration or modification of identification file or choice of union association, duly filled out”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/ententes-...

  3. Pay the fee for attestation of recognition of a health and safety equivalence where required under the agreement.

    Source
    “Pay the $10 fee required for attestation of recognition of a health and safety equivalence (cheque, money order, credit card, debit card, or cash)”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/ententes-...

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $10

One-time fees listed for Licensed in another province, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Other $10 100%
One-time total $10 100%

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $200
  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $100
  • Listed time: 0.7 months (only 1 of 6 steps state a time)

  1. Send the preliminary analysis application form and all required documentation by email to have work hours and training hours recognized.

    Time: 20 days
    Time source
    “The CCQ will send its decision to you by email about 20 working days after it receives the form, duly completed, and all the documents required.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/appr...
    Source
    “The form Application for preliminary analysis – Recognition of work hours and training hours (international recruitment) for a trade (except crane operator) and all the documentation required must be sent”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/appr...

  2. Once the preliminary analysis is accepted and after arriving in Québec, apply to obtain an apprentice competency certificate from the CCQ.

    Source
    “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 steps have been initiated before you immigrate to Canada.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/appr...

  3. Complete the 30-hour general health and safety on construction sites course offered through schools or industry associations.

    Source
    “The 30-hour course Santé et sécurité générale sur les chantiers de construction is offered through the schools in the different school boards or through the construction industry’s employer and union associations.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/appr...

  4. Register for the provincial qualification examination and pay the registration fee.

    Source
    “Contact Customer Services at 1 888 842-8282 to determine the date and location of their examination. They must pay the $100 registration fee with a credit card”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/examen-qualification-2/adm...

  5. Take and pass the provincial qualification examination in the trade.

    Source
    “Have passed the qualification examination”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/comp...

  6. Non-apprentice candidates who have passed the provincial qualification examination must apply to the CCQ and pay the required fee to obtain the journeyman competency certificate.

    • Journeyman competency certificate fee: $100
      Source
      “Pay the required $100 fee to the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), if applicable, by postal or bank money order, personal cheque, credit card, or debit card, or in cash if the application is presented at a CCQ Customer Services counter”
      ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/comp...
    Source
    “However, non-apprentice candidates who have passed their provincial qualification examination must apply to the CCQ and pay the required fee.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/comp...

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $200

One-time fees listed for Trained outside Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $100 50%
Exams $100 50%
One-time total $200 100%

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total.

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Experience

  • Candidates must demonstrate, with supporting documents, that they have practised the trade and acquired experience in hours worked and, if applicable, in training credits at least equal to the total duration of the apprenticeship for the trade.

    Source
    “Candidates must demonstrate, with supporting documents, that they have practised a trade or specialty and acquired experience in hours worked and, if applicable, in training credits, at least equal to the total duration of the apprenticeship for the trade or specialty covered.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/examen-qualification-2/adm...

Other

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

Holders of a certificate in a trade or occupation recognized under the interprovincial agreements must register with the CCQ to obtain a registration certificate, providing proof of qualification without retaking an examination.

Source
“Holders of a New Brunswick certificate in a trade or occupation recognized under the agreement must register with the CCQ to obtain a registration certificate.”
ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/ententes-...

  1. Register with the CCQ

    Source
    “Holders of a New Brunswick certificate in a trade or occupation recognized under the agreement must register with the CCQ to obtain a registration certificate.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/ententes-...

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Commission de la construction du Québec

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Commission de la construction du Québec

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Commission de la construction du Québec

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Commission de la construction du Québec

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Commission de la construction du Québec

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 73112, Painters and decorators (except interior decorators). Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Quebec and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Quebec $24.00 $34.98 $41.83 Very limited (1 of 5)
Canada $20.00 $28.00 $40.99 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Quebec

Wages in every province and territory

Painters and decorators in other provinces and territories

Regulated in all 12 other jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare painter and decorator licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Journeyperson ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/comp... · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Eligibility ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/examen-qualification-2/adm... · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. Apprentice ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/appr... · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Intergovernmental Agreements (ON, NB, NL) ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/ententes-... · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Red Seal ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/sceau-rouge · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a painter and decorator in Quebec?

Yes. Certification, or registration as an apprentice, is required to work in the trade in Quebec. Certification is managed by the Commission de la construction du Québec.

Which exams are required?

Provincial qualification examination.

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