Licensing guide · Quebec

How to Become a Drywall Finisher and Plasterer in Quebec

Last checked 5 sources checkedNOC 73102

Do you need certification?

Certification required

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

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“The labour management by the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) is done through labour pools corresponding to the industry’s trades and occupations.”

From ccq.org/en/En-tete/qui-sommes-nous/mission, 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. The applicant applies to the CCQ for an apprentice competency certificate by submitting the required form and supporting documents by mail or at a regional office.

    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”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/appr...

  2. The applicant completes the apprenticeship in the trade, which is calculated in hours of work and training 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. The applicant registers for the provincial qualification examination by contacting Customer Services with payment of the $100 fee, or by letter with a cheque or money order.

    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. The applicant takes and passes the provincial qualification examination in the trade.

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

  5. Apprentice candidates who have passed the provincial qualification examination automatically obtain their 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: $100
  • 1 step without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $100

  1. The worker obtains the Red Seal endorsement in the trade through the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program.

    Source
    “The Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program has designated a list of trades and occupations for which workers may obtain Red Seal endorsement.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/sceau-rouge

  2. The worker applies for a competency certificate from the CCQ by mail or at a regional office, including the required forms, an official identity document, proof of the safety course, and payment of the $100 fee.

    Source
    “Payment of the $100 fee required (cheque, money order, credit card, debit card, or cash)”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/sceau-rouge

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $100

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

1 step 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: $100
  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $100
  • Listed time: 0.7 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)

  1. The applicant sends the application for preliminary analysis form with all required documentation by email to the CCQ.

    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. The applicant must be in Québec before applying for the apprentice competency certificate, even if earlier steps were started before immigrating.

    Source
    “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. After the preliminary analysis is accepted, the applicant applies to the CCQ to obtain an apprentice competency certificate.

    Source
    “After the preliminary analysis is accepted, you may apply to obtain an ACC from the CCQ.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/appr...

  4. The applicant completes the apprenticeship and registers for and passes the provincial qualification examination, paying the $100 registration fee.

    Source
    “They must pay the $100 registration fee with a credit card”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/examen-qualification-2/adm...

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $100

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

3 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.

  • Journeyman certificate application 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...

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

Workers who have obtained the Red Seal endorsement have their skills in this trade recognized and may apply for a competency certificate from the CCQ without any additional examination or assessment.

Source
“Workers who have obtained the Red Seal endorsement have their skills in this trade recognized and may apply for a competency certificate from the CCQ’s Customer Services by mail or by going to one of the regional offices.”
ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/sceau-rouge

  1. Apply with Red Seal

    Source
    “Workers who have obtained the Red Seal endorsement have their skills in this trade recognized and may apply for a competency certificate from the CCQ’s Customer Services by mail or by going to one of the regional offices.”
    ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/sceau-rouge

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 73102, Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Quebec and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Quebec $25.00 $38.00 $43.34 Very limited (1 of 5)
Canada $23.00 $33.00 $43.75 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Quebec

Wages in every province and territory

Drywall finishers and plasterers in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 6 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare drywall finisher and plasterer licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. A mission anchored in Québec law ccq.org/en/En-tete/qui-sommes-nous/mission · fetched October 9, 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. Journeyperson ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/certificat-competence/comp... · 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 drywall finisher and plasterer 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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