Candidates' career development

Career development flow chart

Candidates' registration with the CPA Montréal

Before entering the industry, candidates must register with the CPA Montréal as apprentices. According to section 1.01 1 of the Decree, an apprentice is an employee who learns one of the trades for which the parity committee issues a qualification certificate. The CPA Montréal will then compile the different stages of the candidates training and evaluate their experience. This step is essential since the employer cannot hire a candidate who has not complied with this clause.

Before visiting our offices, we invite candidates to refer to the document titled Admission Requirements for Qualification, which provides details regarding the required documentation that must accompany their request based on their current situation.

Apprenticeship credits

Students obtaining a Diploma of Vocational Studies (D.E.P.) in automobile mechanics or in truck mechanics receive a 1,700-hour apprenticeship credit for their qualification record upon registering their request at the CPA Montréal office. Students obtaining a Diploma of Vocational Studies in bodywork receive a 1,500-hour credit.

These hours are counted when computing the total hours required for obtaining a new competency card or for eligibility for the professional qualification exam.

Credits for hours worked

Candidates having acquired experience in an establishment that is not governed or that is located outside the CPA Montréal's jurisdiction will have to supply proof of that experience by providing a statement from their employer. We invite candidates to refer to the document titled Admission Requirements for Qualification to obtain further information on this subject.

Once the Qualification Department has evaluated their request, candidates may be granted credits for hours worked. Candidates who provide proof of less than 2,000 hours of experience in their trade will be granted a 1st-year apprentice competency card. Those who have accumulated between 2,000 and 4,000 hours of experience will be granted a 2nd-year apprentice competency card. Finally, those who have accumulated between 4,000 and 6,000 hours of experience will be granted a 3rd-year apprentice competency card.

Candidates who do not hold a competency card but who can provide proof of having over 6,000 hours of experience in their trade will be eligible for the professional qualification exam. The employer will receive a temporary work permit from the CPA Montréal. After passing the exam, candidates will receive a 1st-, 2nd- or 3rd-year apprentice card or a 1st-, 2nd- or 3rd-class journeyman card according to their exam results. They will then have to carry on with their apprenticeship according to their situation.

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Obtaining a first competency card as an apprentice

Whether they hold a D.E.P. in automobile mechanics, truck mechanics or bodywork, or whether they practise one of these trades without professional training in that field, the procedure for obtaining a competency card is an important step in candidates' professional careers. Indeed, the competency card is used to measure the competency and knowledge necessary for performing high-quality work. Besides officially certifying their competency, the competency card allows candidates to be paid at a rate appropriate to their total years of experience.

The CPA Montréal issues competency cards for various automobile trades: automobile mechanic, truck mechanic, painter, bodyman, alignment and suspension specialist, trim man, radiator repair specialist, electrician and add-on electrical and electronic systems installer.

We invite candidates to refer to the document titled List of subjected trades to obtain further information on the subject.

We also invite candidates to click on the following links for more information regarding apprenticeship credits or credits for hours worked.

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Apprenticeship period

The apprenticeship period is essential to candidates' professional careers. As in any other trade, students who have just obtained their Diploma of Vocational Studies (D.E.P.) in automobile mechanics, truck mechanics or bodywork must keep improving their skills in a working environment where they can interact with qualified professionals, i.e. journeymen. The same applies to apprentices having no prior training, as they also need to work with a journeyman in order to learn the basics of their trade. According to section 1.01 5 of the Decree, a journeyman is an employee whose duties are related mainly to maintenance, tests, inspections, repairs, alterations or other work of the same type, necessary or useful to keep a vehicle in good working order, and who has been qualified by the parity committee.

During the apprenticeship period, apprentices are supervised by qualified journeymen who share their knowledge and techniques, and help them acquire specific abilities for the trade. They will also learn good working habits and be corrected when appropriate.

Although the apprenticeship period can at first seem to reduce employee productivity and appear costly in terms of time and money (time spent by the journeyman to integrate the apprentice and offer advice and guidance in the trade, as well as money spent on the apprentice's extra training when needed), it is beneficial in the long term. Indeed, besides developing their competence and verifying their professional progress, the apprenticeship period helps apprentices to identify their strengths and find solutions for their weaknesses. Furthermore, by designating one or more journeymen as responsible for apprentices' development, employers show confidence in them. Supervising an apprentice requires journeymen who are experienced, competent and effective in sharing their knowledge. Consequently, being given such a task is very satisfying! Finally, in the long term, employers will enjoy an even more productive and competent workforce that will offer high quality services in order to satisfy and expand their clientele.

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Obtaining a 2nd- or 3rd-year competency card as an apprentice

Whether they hold a D.E.P. in automobile mechanics, truck mechanics or bodywork, or whether they practise one of these trades without professional training in that field, apprentices wanting to obtain a new competency card must accumulate 2,000 working hours before requesting a 2nd-year competency card or 4,000 working hours before requesting a 3rd-year competency card. For each accumulated block, candidates will have to complete the Competency card replacement form and send it to the CPA Montréal; they may also register in person at the CPA Montréal office. A candidate who does not hold the new competency card issued by the CPA Montréal, i.e. the digitized competency card, must obtain one in person at the CPA Montréal office.

Note : Candidates must not consider the issuing date of their last competency card when calculating their working hours, since they may have received their competency card years ago without having accumulated the total of working hours required for obtaining a new competency card or to be eligible for the professional qualification exam.

We also invite candidates to click on the following links for more information regarding apprenticeship credits or credits for hours worked.

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Candidate preparation for the professional qualification exam

Self-evaluation tests

Candidates wishing to prepare for the professional qualification exam may complete the self-evaluation test in automobile mechanics, truck mechanics and body repair. Shortly, he may also fill out the new self-evaluation test in painting.

Self-evaluation tests have been developed by the CPA Montréal in collaboration with Emploi-Québec, in order to avoid the candidates being disappointed when they receive the results of their qualification exam. The goal of these tests is to help assess the knowledge of candidates. These tests will also help them determine what level they have reached in the learning process.

• Automobile mechanics
• Truck mechanics
• Body repair
• Painting: new self-evaluation test available soon

Self-training guides and courses

As well as documents such as technical manuals, course notes, and shop manuals, candidates may obtain self-training guides from the CPA Montréal, in automobile mechanics, truck mechanics, and bodywork (body repair and painting). These will help candidates to prepare to take the exam. Candidates can also brush up their training with courses in these same subjects.

Candidates should refer to the qualifications section for more information on self-training guides in:

• Automobile mechanics
• Truck mechanics
• Body repair
• Painting: new self-training guides available soon

Candidates who would like more information on courses offered should refer to the section on training in:

• Automobile mechanics
• Truck mechanics
• Body repair
• Painting

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Professional qualification exam

A professional qualification exam is a collection of written and practical evaluations concerning a specific trade. It measures the knowledge and abilities of individuals in order to determine their capacity to independently accomplish everyday duties in their trade.

Principles that govern the administering and content of professional qualification exams

The development of exam content and the validation of exams follow a proven methodological method as well as being uniform and obeying the rules for exam administration. These principles have three important objectives:

• Credibility among all concerned parties;
• Equity for all candidates, as well as rigour and uniformity in the application of standards;
• Content quality and strong connection to actual industry needs.

Admission requirements and registration for professional qualification exams

Candidates wishing to obtain a qualification certificate (competency card: 1st-, 2nd- or 3rd-class journeyman) in their trade must have accumulated 6,000 working hours prior to registering for the professional qualification exam.

Candidates who have accumulated the required total of working hours may complete the document entitled Application form for the professional qualification exam and send it to the CPA Montréal, which will then invite them to take the exam.

We invite candidates to follow the following links for information on apprenticeship credits or credits for hours worked.

The following table lists the trades in which candidates should perform their apprenticeship in order to take the various professional qualification exams:

Apprenticeship Period	Qualification Certificate
Automobile mechanics:	Automobile Mechanic Alignment and Suspension Specialist Trim Man
Automobile mechanics or automobile electricity:	Electrician Add-on electrical and electronic systems installer
Truck Mechanics:	Truck Mechanic
Painting:	Painter
Body repair:	Bodyman Trim Man

Exam location

Candidates that are invited by the CPA Montréal to take the professional qualification exam, must report to:

• the École des métiers de l'équipement motorisé de Montréal, located at 5455 Saint-Denis Street in Montréal (Google Maps) to take the body repair and painting exam.
• the CPA Montréal offices, located at 509 Bélanger Street in Montréal (Google Maps) to take the automobile mechanics, automobile electricity, brake mechanics, add-on electrical and electronic systems installation and truck mechanics exam.

Exam procedures

During the exam, candidates will interact with an examining panel consisting of a supervisor and with evaluators who are active in the automobile services industry and who hold a 1st-class qualification certificate in the trade of the exam they are supervising.

The supervisor greets candidates, explains the exam procedures and gives them directives to follow. He or she then ensures that all material and equipment are compliant and readily available to candidates. He or she also assigns a module to each one of the evaluators, who become responsible for it.

Evaluators are responsible for administering the exams in compliance with all current administrative directives.

Exam results and eligibility for retaking the exam

Candidate who pass the exam will receive a 1st-, 2nd- or 3rd-class qualification certificate according to their exam results. This certificate is issued by the CPA Montréal and attests to the candidate's trade or specialization along with the class obtained.

Journeymen who qualify for 1st class have attained the highest level and, therefore, will only have to keep their knowledge up to date in order to progress in their professional career.

A journeyman who has received Class 2 or 3 Certification and who wishes to retake the exam to obtain higher certification must, in general, work for twelve months in the corresponding trade before exercising his right to be reexamined by the CPA Montréal. This period is calculated from the date of the last certificate received. Candidates may retake the exam once a year, as many times as desired, until they reach the desired class.

A candidate who fails the exam and who has a 3rd year apprentice competency card, must also, in general, work for twelve months in the corresponding trade before exercising his right to be reexamined by the CPA Montréal. The candidate may also retake the exam once a year until he has obtained the class desired.

As retake periods vary, candidates are advised to contact the Qualification Department at 514 288-3003.

Note: Candidates who fail the exam do not lose competency cards that they already hold.

Prior Learning Assessment Program

Third-year apprentices who do not obtain the required passing grade in their exams in automobile mechanics, truck mechanics, body repair, or painting, but who nevertheless pass in one or more modules, may register for the Prior Learning Assessment Program, created especially for them. This program is offered by the CPA Montréal to encourage these apprentices to attempt the exam again once they are eligible to do so. The apprentices will concentrate exclusively on developing those skills relating to the module or modules on which they failed during the exam, with a view to obtaining a maximum card level of journeyman 3rd class. Third year apprentices wishing to obtain a 1st- or 2nd-class journeyman card must retake the exam entirely, and normally must work for twelve months in the corresponding trade before exercising his right to be reexamined by the CPA Montréal.

Third-year apprentices eligible for the Prior Learning Assessment Program will be informed by letter. They will then receive the result they would have gotten on the exam, and will be sent the registration form for the program. They must fill in and return the form within one year of the previous exam, or they will have to retake the entire exam.

For more information, please call the Qualification Department at
514 288-3003.

To save the career development flow chart.

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