Licensing guide · Quebec

How to Become a Heavy Duty Equipment Technician in Quebec

Last checked October 10, 20264 sources checkedNOC 72401

Do you need certification?

Certification required

Heavy duty equipment technician is a compulsory trade in Quebec. You need a certificate, or registration as an apprentice, to work in the trade.

Protected titles: Not listed in the sources checked

Show the source

“At the end of their last apprenticeship period, apprentices receive a letter from the CCQ obliging them to register for the qualification examination within one month. This registration is obligatory, even if they do not want to set a date for the exam immediately. If they do not register, their work permit will be suspended.”

From ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/examen-qualification-2/adm..., checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status: Certification required See the source
Routes: Trained in Canada: 3 steps, listed one-time fees $100

Licensed in another province: 2 steps, listed one-time fees $100

Trained outside Canada: 3 steps
Annual fees: Not stated by the regulator Check with Commission de la construction du Québec

Your roadmap

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

Trained in Canada

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

Complete 85% of apprenticeship
The CCQ informs apprentices that they are eligible for the provincial qualification examination once they have completed 85% of their apprenticeship.

Source
“Apprentices are informed by the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) that they are eligible for the provincial qualification examination in their trade when they have completed 85% of their apprenticeship.”
ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/examen-qualification-2/adm...
Register for the examination
Apprentices register for the examination by contacting Customer Services to determine the date and location, or by writing a letter to their regional office with their client number and payment.
- Exam registration fee: $100
  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...
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...
Take the qualification exam
The apprentice schedules and takes the provincial qualification examination before the registration fee's validity period ends.

Source
“It is up to apprentices to contact the Customer Service within four (4) months before the end of this period to schedule their exam.”
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 in Canada, by type
Fee type	Amount	Share
Application	$100	100%
One-time total	$100	100%

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

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

Listed one-time fees: $100
1 step without a listed fee

Submit application documents
The worker applies to the CCQ's Customer Services by mail or at a regional office with the registration form, the recognition of professional qualifications form, a photocopy of an official document, and proof of passing the health and safety course.

Source
“The application must include: 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/sceau-rouge
Pay the application fee
The worker includes payment of the required fee with the application.
- Competency certificate application fee: $100
  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
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 type	Amount	Share
Application	$100	100%
One-time total	$100	100%

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

3 steps without a listed fee
Listed time: 0.7 months (only 1 of 3 steps state a time)

Receive CCQ decision
The CCQ sends its decision by email about 20 working days after receiving the completed form and all required documents.

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 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...
Apply for apprentice certificate
After the preliminary analysis is accepted and once the candidate has arrived in Québec, they may 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...
Take health and safety course
The candidate takes the 30-hour general health and safety on construction sites course offered through school boards 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...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Commission de la construction du Québec

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

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.

Attestation of recognition of a health and safety equivalence: $10 (for attestation of recognition of a health and safety equivalence)
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-...
Exemption from holding a competency certificate: $100
Source
“Pay the $100 fee required (cheque, money order, credit card, debit card, or cash)”
ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/exterieur-quebec/ententes-...

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Experience

Candidates outside the apprenticeship route must demonstrate, with supporting documents, that they have practised the trade and acquired experience in hours worked, and if applicable 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...

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 exam 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

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

Provincial qualification examination

Source
“Apprentices are informed by the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) that they are eligible for the provincial qualification examination in their trade when they have completed 85% of their apprenticeship.”
ccq.org/en/qualification-acces-industrie/examen-qualification-2/adm...

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 72401, Heavy-duty equipment mechanics. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in Quebec and Canada
Where	Low	Median	High	Outlook
Quebec	$24.00	$33.00	$47.00	Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada	$23.87	$37.12	$55.00	—

Wages by region and job outlook in Quebec

Wages in every province and territory

Heavy duty equipment technicians in other provinces and territories

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

British Columbia Voluntary certification
Alberta Certification required
Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
Manitoba Voluntary certification
Ontario Voluntary certification
New Brunswick Voluntary certification
Nova Scotia Voluntary certification
Prince Edward Island Voluntary certification
Newfoundland and Labrador Voluntary certification
Yukon Voluntary certification
Northwest Territories Certification required
Nunavut Voluntary certification

Compare heavy duty equipment technician licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

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

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a licence to work as a heavy duty equipment technician 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.

Getting Licensed? Get Your Resume Ready Too

Nainly pairs expert resume assessment with a done-for-you career marketing campaign, so your profile keeps reaching decision-makers while you work through the licensing steps.

Schedule a Call

Free consultation. No commitment.