What are the prerequisites and process to get an RBQ electrician license?
An RBQ electrician licence is a business licence (subclass 16 – electrical contractor): it belongs to the business, and its guarantor (répondant) is the one assessed. The worker's pathway goes through the CCQ.
Worker pathway (CCQ):
- DEP in electricity (program 5295): 1,800 hours (CCQ trade brochure "Électricien")
- Apprentice competency certificate: after passing the DEP, on presentation of a job guarantee from an employer registered with the CCQ covering at least 150 hours over 3 consecutive months
- Apprenticeship: 4 periods of 2,000 hours (8,000 hours in total)
- CCQ qualification exam (Electrician, trade 220): 3 hours, 60 questions, 60% passing grade — it leads to the journeyman competency certificate
Business licence (subclass 16): the application goes to the CMEQ, which administers the five qualification exams (administration, project and site management, job-site safety management, execution of work) — CMEQ, "Exams administered by the CMEQ", consulted October 18, 2026. The RBQ publishes the framework: a 60% passing grade and a 3-hour execution exam per subclass (RBQ, "Information sheet on the exam — general information"). Amounts payable are set by the CMEQ fee schedule, not by a general range.
Hourly rates in construction (CCQ, trade 220, institutional and commercial sector, day shift, regular rate, query of October 18, 2026):
- 1st-period apprentice: $25.40/h
- 2nd-period apprentice: $30.47/h
- 3rd-period apprentice: $35.55/h
- 4th-period apprentice: $43.17/h
- Journeyman: $50.79/h
Rates vary by sector and by shift; the CCQ publishes them in its "Wage rates" tool.