Certification - Brokers

A complete application will be processed as soon as possible. In some cases, there may be a delay of 7 to 10 working days.

If your application is incomplete, you will receive a notice indicating the missing documentation or information and the deadline by which it must be received. Where this is the case, your application will be processed only once all documentation and information is received. If you fail to complete your application within the deadline indicated, your application will not be processed and a refund will be issued to you. However, administrative fees may apply. 

In the majority of cases you will receive a document confirming that your application has been processed. You may also check directly in the OACIQ’s Register of licence holders or in My record on synbad.com, depending on the type of application.

It is important to know what if you have specified an effective date in your application, the change is considered to be in effect once it appears in the Register of licence holders. Depending on the date and time your application was received, as well as the type of request, it may not be processed at the exact desired date (for example if your application was received outside of business hours or if it is incomplete).

No, an application may not be processed retroactively. Applications are processed within the normal period (see question 1).

Yes, an application may be processed at a later date. In this case, it is important to indicate the desired date and time in your application and to send it reasonably ahead of that date. For example, on July 28 you could send a notice of change of agency applicable as of August 1.

Real estate broker’s licence holders with a restricted licence cannot engage in a transaction that is outside their field of practice. For example, a residential real estate broker’s licence holder cannot take part in a co-listing brokerage contract for a commercial immovable.

Full-service licence holders may engage in all brokerage activities set out in the Real Estate Brokerage Act, i.e., the residential real estate brokerage and the commercial real estate brokerage.

The Regulation respecting broker’s and agency licences stipulates that each right to practice may be obtained by successfully taking an OACIQ certification examination. Once you pass such an exam, you may add a field of practice to your licence by applying for a licence modification (see question 6).Based on the current regulation respecting broker’s and agency licences, you may hold a licence in:

• residential real estate brokerage;
• commercial real estate brokerage;
• residential and commercial real estate brokerage (full-service licence).

You simply need to complete and send an Application for licence modification • Real estate broker, along with the applicable fees. Once your application has been processed, you will receive an email confirming that a new licence showing the addition of this field of practice was issued (see question 5). You will find your new licence in My record on synbad.com.

Yes. It was possible to keep your acquired rights with the OACIQ in this context. If, at the time of your transfer to the AMF, you chose not to maintain your real estate broker’s licence with the OACIQ, your licence would be revoked, and you could benefit from a 12-month acquired rights period. Note that during the revocation period, you may not carry out any real estate brokerage transactions. For more information on the implications of acquired rights, see questions 24 and 25 above. 

Yes. To practise mortgage brokerage after May 1, 2020, you also had to be registered with the AMF. For agencies, a legal person was allowed to hold an OACIQ licence and be registered with the AMF. 

For more details, see the AMF’s information page.

Note that an agency licence holder may carry on his real estate brokerage activities under only one name and must comply with section 15 of the Regulation respecting brokerage requirements, professional conduct of brokers and advertising.
 

Since the amendment made to the Real Estate Brokerage Act in 2018, a broker may act on his own account as soon as he obtains his licence from the OACIQ (the concept of beginner broker has been removed).

To change your method of practice to act on your own account, you must complete the form Application for licence modification – Real estate broker, taking care to indicate the address of your establishment, even if it is your residence, and to include the applicable fees (see List of fees).

You may act on your own account if you meet the following conditions:

For holders who obtained their licence after passing a skills-based certification examination after May 1, 2010:

• Be holder of a valid broker licence.

For brokers who obtained their licence before May 1, 2010 (former affiliated real estate agents): 

• Be holder of a valid broker licence;
• Having passed the certification examination “Former affiliated agents wishing to act on their own account” OR having completed the continuing education program to act on your own account (8 training activities) in 18 months (for more information in this regard, see the Mandatory basic training: Becoming agency executive officers or acting on your own account) page OR having successfully completed a basic training program for agency executive officers recognized by the OACIQ and passed the OACIQ agency executive officer examination.

Within 10 days following your licence  modification or issuance, you must open a trust account, failing which your licence will be suspended (on this topic see IMPORTANT NOTICE — Opening and maintaining a trust account).

Note that brokers are exempt from this obligation if they receive no deposit, advance on remuneration or costs from their clients or any other sum for others. When they are no longer in this situation, they must immediately notify the OACIQ in writing and comply with the obligations relating to trust accounts.¹ Read this article for more information.

Please note that when acting on your own account, you may not use a pseudonym, hire broker licence holders or act through a business corporation.

S. 24 of the Regulation respecting brokerage requirements, professional conduct of brokers and advertising.

You must complete the form Application for licence modification – Real estate broker and send it to the OACIQ along with the applicable fees (see List of administrative fees).

As you no longer have the qualification “Certified AEO”, the number of CEUs you must earn for the current cycle of the Mandatory Continuing Education Program (MCEP) will be reduced to match that of real estate brokers (check the FAQ MCEP for more details).

In addition, this licence modification must be reflected in your ads. Refer to the Advertising guide for real estate agencies and brokers.

In the future, if you wish to act as agency executive officer, you will have to complete a basic training for AEOs accredited by the OACIQ and pass the certification exam of the Organization.

For the steps to follow according to your situation, please read the following article: Mandatory basic training: Becoming agency executive officers.

The OACIQ has decided to authorize the use of the title “certified AEO” for a broker licence holder who was already qualified to act as agency executive officer and has maintained this qualification, including by completing the mandatory continuing education activity entitled Agency executive officer, more than a director.

A real estate broker licence holder whose licence is marked “certified AEO” has all the management skills required to act as agency executive officer, in addition to meeting the requirements of the Real Estate Brokerage Act to maintain this qualification. However, this statement does not mean that this broker is actually working as an agency executive officer.

A real estate broker licence holder whose licence simply indicates “certified” has acquired the management skills required to act as agency executive officer in the past, but has not maintained the qualifications to act as such. This broker licence holder may not act as agency executive officer.

Finally, an agency executive officer is a certified real estate broker licence holder AEO who currently works as an executive officer in an agency. To find out who is an agency’s executive officer, see the agency’s information sheet in the Register of licence holders.

You must complete and send the form Notice of change of real estate agency, along with the applicable fees (see the List of administrative fees). Please note that the form must be signed by the executive officer or an authorized person of the new agency.

If you are operating within a business corporation, you must also submit a new Application for authorization to practise within a business corporation signed by the executive officer or an authorized person to confirm the new agency’s consent. You must include in your application for authorization the applicable administrative fees.

For any question concerning your transactions in progress, please contact the information centre Info OACIQ.

You must send an Application for authorization to practise within a business corporation, along with all documents required and the applicable fees (see the List of administrative fees).

To be authorized to operate within a corporation, you must meet the following conditions:

• Your corporation must be registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec or incorporated under the Québec Companies Act;
• You must hold directly, and not through another natural or legal person, at least 90% of voting rights attached to the shares;
• You must be the president of your corporation;
• You must act on behalf of the agency exclusively through your corporation;
• The name of your corporation must include your full usual name as it appears on your licence and must not include the name of a third party.

If authorization is granted, you will receive a confirmation letter and a new licence stating that you are carrying out your activities within a business corporation.

For more information on operating within a business corporation, see the article PRIOR conditions and verifications required for brokers to operate within a business corporation and remuneration to be paid to the corporation by the broker’s agency on synbad.com.

The name of your company must include your full usual name as it appears on your licence, and not only your initials. In addition, this name must not include the name of a third party, contain the word “agency” or be misleading. For example, it must not be identical to that of an existing company, be easily confused with the name of an existing company, or be misleading as to the company’s activities.

If you change the name of your business corporation, you must submit an Application for authorization to practise within a business corporation with the new information, along with the fees applicable to a licence modification (see the List of administrative fees).

You must submit, together with your notice of agency change, an Application for authorization to practise within a  business  corporation signed by the agency executive officer or an authorized person of the new agency (see also question 10). In addition, you must include in your application for authorization the applicable administrative fees.

If your licence is suspended or revoked, you and your business corporation cannot engage in any brokerage activities.

To resume your real estate brokerage activities:

If your licence is suspended, you must submit a Request for lifting of licence suspension. Unless you make changes to your authorization to practise within a business corporation (e.g. change of agency), you do not have to provide a new Application for authorization to practise within a business corporation. In the case of a change of agency, see question 14.

If your license is revoked, given that you no longer hold a licence, you must submit an Application for licence issuance and an Application for authorization to practise within a business corporation along with the applicable administrative fees,  while respecting the other conditions required, if applicable (see question 23).    

You must send a signed letter to the Certification Department asking to remove your authorization to operate within a business corporation. You must also pay the applicable fee to remove this authorization by sending this duly completed payment form with your letter. You may scan these documents and send them by email.

Once your request has been processed, you will receive a confirmation notice and your electronic licence will be updated.

It depends on your situation and the duration of your hiatus. Here is some information to help you make the right decision.

Licence suspension

A suspended licence is one for which the fees have been paid but which is inactive. In this case, the broker is the holder of a licence with a suspended status and may not carry out real estate brokerage activities.

Once the reason which led to the licence suspension no longer exists, a lifting of suspension may be requested (see question 19). In this case, the fees for lifting a suspension apply. In addition, the holder of the suspended licence must have completed any training activities required under the Continuing Education Program before obtaining a lifting of suspension.

As for your registration for a prescription drug insurance plan, please read the article Are you covered by the right prescription drug insurance plan? on synbad.com.

If the broker wishes to maintain his suspended status, he must pay the applicable fees on April 30 of each year.

Licence revocation

A revoked licence is one for which the fees were not paid as of the annual maintenance date (April 30) or which was revoked in the course of the year at the broker’s request or for other reasons pursuant to section 19 of the Regulation respecting broker’s and agency licences. In this case, the person is no longer a licence holder and may not carry out real estate brokerage activities.

It is possible to obtain a new licence by submitting an application for issuance within 12 months following the revocation, without having to complete a recognized basic training program and successfully taking an OACIQ certification examination (see Application for licence issuance page in the Becoming a broker section). In this case, licence application fees will apply and your file will be reviewed. Note that if you have already paid your licence maintenance fees for the current year, you will not have to pay them again. In addition, the person whose licence is revoked must have completed the required training activities under the Mandatory Continuing Education Program to apply for a licence.

As for your registration for a prescription drug insurance plan, please read the article Are you covered by the right prescription drug insurance plan? on synbad.com.

You also have the possibility of “maintaining your acquired rights” for an additional year by following the procedure outlined in question 24.

The following table illustrates the difference in costs between a licence suspension and a licence revocation:

You must complete and submit the Licence suspension or revocation request • Real estate broker form (PDF) and include the administrative processing fees.

If you do not wish to renew your licence on the annual licence maintenance date, please check out question 30 of the FAQ - Licence maintenance.

Following your licence revocation, you will benefit from a 12-month acquired rights period during which you may apply again for the issuance of a licence in the same category without having to complete a recognized basic training program and successfully take an OACIQ certification examination. The deadline for this acquired rights period will be indicated in the letter confirming the revocation of your licence. See also questions 26 and 27 in this regard.

No. There is no refund of fees in case of suspension or revocation. However, following revocation, you will receive a refund representing the professional liability insurance premium, of which the amount will be established based on the months remaining until May 1. The refund will be calculated from the month following the revocation.

For fees paid to your real estate board, contact the board to find out about their refund policy.

During the suspension or revocation period, you may not carry out brokerage transactions. For more information on this topic, read the article entitled A suspended or revoked licence bars the holder from practicing on synbad.com and the article titled 
Consequences for the broker who fails to meet his obligations.

However, if you wish to reactivate your licence, you must comply with the Continuing Education Program. For more information on that topic, see the FAQ on the Continuing Education Program.

In addition, you will retain your access to synbad.com and continue to receive the weekly Pro@ctive newsletter, which you must read regularly to keep abreast of important information issued by the OACIQ. You must also notify us of any change in your contact information (home address or email) in order to continue receiving OACIQ communications. 

The licence must be in effect at all times during the disciplinary suspension period in order for the suspension to be applied.

The suspension period will begin 30 days after receipt of the decision (if there is no appeal) or at another time determined by the Discipline Committee or other tribunal. Once the suspension period is over, you may request that this measure be lifted by paying the related fees and completing the Request for lifting of licence suspension form.

Conversely, if you do not maintain your licence in force during this period, then the suspension will begin or resume, as the case may be, when your licence is reinstated.

Example: If a disciplinary decision is rendered on January 15, 2020 ordering a 6-month suspension period, this period will normally become active 30 days later, unless otherwise instructed by the Discipline Committee, i. e. on February 15, 2020. Since the suspension period will straddle the April 30 date (annual licence renewal date), if you do not pay your licence renewal fees, you will be automatically revoked with acquired rights (without a valid licence) and the suspension will not continue to run during your licence revocation period. To return to practice, you must:

1) Pay the applicable fees and fulfil the other conditions to get a broker's licence;

2) Continue and complete the suspension period as stipulated in the disciplinary sanction, following the issuance of your broker's licence;

3) Once the suspension period is over, you can request the lifting of the suspension by filling out the form designed for this purpose and pay the related fees.

If your licence is revoked (with acquired rights) at the time the decision comes into force, the suspension will start when you apply for a licence. You may then request that the suspension be lifted at the end of the suspension period. To do so, you will need to pay the related fees and complete the Request for lifting of licence suspension form.

Example: If a disciplinary decision is rendered on January 15, 2020 ordering a 6-month suspension period, this period will normally become active 30 days later, unless otherwise instructed by the Discipline Committee, i. e. on February 15, 2020. However, as your licence has been revoked with acquired rights for non-renewal since April 30, 2019, the suspension period will not begin until your licence is reinstated. To return to practice, you must:

1) Pay the applicable fees to get a broker's licence;

2) Complete the suspension period as stipulated in the disciplinary sanction, following the issuance of your broker's licence;

3) Once the suspension period is over, you can request the lifting of the suspension. To do so, you will need to pay the related fees and complete the Request for lifting of licence suspension form.

You must complete and send the form Request for lifting of licence suspension to the Certification Department, along with the applicable fees (see the List of administrative fees).

You must also comply with any other obligation, including:

• Having completed any mandatory continuing education activity, for example pursuant to a commitment required by the OACIQ or to the Continuing Education Program;
• Having paid any sum due to the OACIQ;
• If applicable, have remedied the situation which resulted in the licence suspension;
• Having carried out completed your annual information update.

For more information on the Continuing Education Program, see the FAQ on the Continuing Education Program.

If your licence was revoked less than 12 months ago, you must follow the steps outlined in the Application for licence issuance page in the Becoming a broker section.

If you operate within a business corporation, please see question 15.

If your licence was revoked more than 12 months ago, you must successfully complete a recognized basic training program and pass an OACIQ certification examination before you can apply for a licence.

Acquired rights consist in the possibility of being issued a same-category licence without having to complete a recognized basic training program and successfully taking an OACIQ certification examination.

Following a revocation of your licence, you will benefit from a 12-month acquired rights period. Until the end of this period, you may apply for a licence (see Application for licence issuance page in the Becoming a broker section) or for maintenance of your acquired rights for an additional year by following the applicable procedure (see question 25).

If you do not avail yourself of one of these options, you will lose your acquired rights. In this case, if you wish to resume your real estate brokerage activities, you must demonstrate that you have successfully completed one of the basic training programs recognized by the OACIQ and pass an OACIQ certificate examination before applying for a new licence.

Please note that you may also be required to attend a mandatory continuing education activity to avail yourself of the above options. In addition, during your acquired rights period, you are subject to the OACIQ Mandatory Continuing Education Program. For more information in this regard, please read the FAQ on the Continuing Education Program.

Yes, it is possible to maintain your acquired rights on a yearly basis directly online through My record section on synbad.com or by sending a Licence application for the maintenance of acquired rights before your deadline, which is 12 months following your licence revocation date (e.g. if your licence was revoked on April 30, 2015, your deadline is April 30, 2016).

In order to maintain your acquired rights, you must meet the conditions set out in paragraphs 1, 3 and 5 to 9 of section 1 of the Regulation respecting broker’s and  agency licences, including:

• Completing any training imposed by the inspection or discipline committee or taken as a consequence of a voluntary commitment on the holder’s part;
• Reimbursing the OACIQ for any indemnity amount paid pursuant to a decision of the indemnity committee;
• Not failing to respect an order of the discipline committee or court or not failing to pay any fine and any interest, costs and charges owing to the OACIQ pursuant to a decision of the discipline committee or a judgment.

The fees for maintaining acquired rights vary based on the month in which you need to apply for maintenance. Since these fees are calculated based on the remaining months until April (April 30 being the annual licence maintenance date), it will be more expensive to maintain your acquired rights if you apply in June than in March. To find out the exact amount payable depending on the month, see the chart Chargeable fees for the issuance of a licence (acquired rights maintenance) on the Chargeable fees and administrative fees page.

It is recommended to apply for maintenance of your acquired rights on April 30 in order to benefit from the most advantageous rate. Depending on your situation, you may need to move your date ahead or reapply for maintenance of your acquired rights for April 30. For example, if your deadline is in June, it is preferable to apply in April. If your deadline is in January, it is preferable to reapply in April.

If your deadline is April 30, or if you chose that date to apply for maintenance of your acquired rights, we urge you to do so at the beginning of April, as this is the busiest period of the year for the OACIQ.

No. Currently, you cannot change your home address online, but you can change your email address directly in My Record on synbad.com. Be assured that we are working to make it possible to make a change of address online in the near future.

In the interim, to change your home address, simply email at [email protected]. Please note that the identity of the person who wishes to make a change of address will be verified.

In addition to updating your personal contact information, including your email address, you must notify the Certification Department without delay of any change to the information provided in your licence application or your last information update. Among other things, you must inform us of any criminal act or criminal, penal or ethical offence for which you have been found or have pleaded guilty, as well as any bankruptcy situation, whether or not you have been discharged of this bankruptcy.

Your file will then be reviewed to determine if it needs to be submitted to the Licence Issue and Maintenance Committee (LIMC). If public protection warrants, the LIMC could decide to impose one of the measures provided under the Act. If applicable, pursuant to section 38 of the Real Estate Brokerage Act, the OACIQ may suspend, revoke or impose restrictions or conditions on a licence. 

If you need to make changes to your record, you must immediately update your information by using the Statements link in the Personal Information section in My record on synbad.com, without waiting for the annual information updating date.

If the OACIQ finds that you have omitted to provide information (for example if you declared bankruptcy) or update a document (e.g. your photo) required under the Real Estate Brokerage Act or the Regulation respecting of broker’s and agency licences, you will receive a letter requesting that you do so by a specific date.

If you fail to respond to this request within the period specified, your licence will be suspended, as stipulated in section 15 of the Regulation respecting broker’s and agency licences. 

Read this article for more information.

No. The Regulation respecting the issue of broker’s and agency licences provides in particular that in order to be qualified as a real estate agency executive officer, the individual must not be holder of a real estate broker’s licence that was suspended or subjected to restrictions or conditions.

If the Committee suspends your licence or imposes restrictions or conditions thereon, you will not be able to act as executive officer of a real estate agency for the duration of suspension or imposition of restrictions or conditions. 

Suivant un non-paiement des frais exigibles annuels, votre permis sera révoqué à l’état de « Révoqué avec droits acquis » et vous devrez arrêter toute activité de courtage immobilier après le 30 avril. Pour plus d’informations concernant le maintien des droits acquis veuillez vous référer aux questions 26 et 27 ci-haut. 

Bon à savoir :  Seulement durant la période de renouvellement de permis vous pouvez

CLIQUER ICI pour nous informer lorsque vous ne prévoyez pas maintenir votre permis.
 

Yes, you must inform the Organization about it immediately, regardless of the nature and circumstances of the offence or act (except for an offence related to the Highway Safety Code (CQLR, c. C-24.2) and municipal by-laws), even those for which you received a discharge (whether conditional or unconditional) or a record suspension (formerly called “pardon”).

It is up to the Licence Issue and Maintenance Committee to determine whether or not the criminal offence or act is related to the performance of agency or broker’s activities, whether or not it was committed in the performance of these functions. For more information, read the article on the Licence Issue and Maintenance Committee.

If the Committee believes that there is a link, it shall decide if it is appropriate to suspend or revoke your licence or impose restrictions or conditions thereon. This decision remains valid until the decision of the syndic or assistant syndic not to file a complaint before the OACIQ Discipline Committee or until the final and enforceable decision of the Discipline Committee on the complaint made by the syndic or assistant syndic.

If you or your business corporation declare bankruptcy or you or your business corporation make an assignment of property or you or your business corporation are placed under a receiving order pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (RSC (1985), c.B-3), you must inform the Organization about it immediately and provide all the documents required.

Here's how to find your licence renewal or acquired rights receipts:

• Step 1: Go to synbad.com
• Step 2: Enter your licence number and your usual password
• Step 3: Click on My record
• Step 4: Click on "See more" in the purple section "Licence maintenance and information update" or "Acquired rights"
• Step 5: Click on the "receipt" icon next to the tax year. The receipt can then be downloaded, and you will be able to print or save it.

For training purchase receipts, refer to the FAQ on self-study courses and webinars. 

For exam registration receipts, send an email to [email protected].

For any other receipts or documents, you must make a specific request (indicating your licence number and the exact receipt you wish to receive) by email to [email protected]. The processing time is 5 business days. Check your emails beforehand as these have already been sent to you electronically.

Note that steps will be taken to verify the identity of the person making the request. No document in a licence holder’s record will be sent to a third party.

A licence history contains in chronological order all the licence holder’s events since the issuance of the licence: suspension periods, revocation periods, places of work and modifications to the licence.

It is also possible to obtain a licence certificate, which confirms the licence holder’s status at a specific date.

To obtain your licence history or certificate, you must send us the Request for licence history or certificate form, along with the applicable fees (see the List of administrative fees). Following the processing of your request, you will receive a payment receipt along with a copy of your licence history or certificate. Processing time for this type of request is five business days.

In accordance with section 12 of the Regulation respecting broker’s and agency licences, you must provide us with a photo taken in the last six months every five years.

Since this photo will appear on your licence and in the OACIQ Register of licence holders, it must be current for purposes of identification and to protect members of the public doing business with a broker. 

If you update your photo on the expiry date or within 12 months prior to this date, no fees apply. Outside of this period, see the List of administrative fees for applicable fees.

You can check your photo’s expiry date in My record on synbad.com.

The fees applicable to a photo update cover the steps needed to add your photo to your record. As a photo change made online requires less handling, the fees are lower. 

Yes. You can update your photo online in your record on synbad.com by following these steps:

1. Access My record on synbad.com;
2. Click on Change my photo;
3. Select the digital photo you want. The photo must meet all requirements below:
   • dating no more than 6 months;
   • in JPEG format;
   • size of at least 345 px X 450 px (passport-size photo);
   • resolution between 72 dpi and 300 dpi;
   • colour;
   • white background;
   • full-face view, from the shoulders up, face uncovered.
4. Enter the date when the photo was taken;
5. Check the solemn affirmation;
6. Click on Continue: you will be redirected to the Desjardins site to make your payment.

Please note that your photo will not be automatically updated, as verifications must be made by the Certification Department to ensure that the photo meets all requirements.

You must allow at least 5 working days. During this period, your old photo will still be visible in My record. Once your new photo is published, go to My record on synbad.com and click on the "Your real estate broker's licence" icon under your professional information section.   The new licence can then be downloaded, printed or saved electronically. 

IMPORTANT: if your photo does not meet the criteria outlined in this article, the Certification Department will not be able to process it and will send you an email with the requirements to be respected. Your licence will not be suspended if you respect the instructions and deadlines given.

You can mail us your print photo, which must meet all the following requirements:

• Bear the date on which it was taken on the back; remember that your photo must have been taken in the last six months;
• Be submitted in paper format;
• Measure 2” X 2¾” (although this is passport size, you are allowed to smile, wear glasses, etc.);
• Be in colour;
• Be on a white background, a full-face view, including head and shoulders, face uncovered;
• Bear your licence number on the back.

If your photo does not meet all requirements, you will need to provide another one.

Please note that your photo will not be automatically updated, as verifications must be made by the Certification Department to ensure that the photo meets all requirements. You must allow a minimum delay of 5 working days. In addition, if we are not able to determine the exact date at which the photo was taken, an agent will contact you to confirm this date. Read this article for more information.

The photo will appear on your licence and in the Register of licence holders, for purposes of identification and public protection. For technical and legal reasons, it must meet very specific requirements.

Only an agency executive officer (AEO) can submit a request to the OACIQ to allow his agency director to obtain privileged access to synbad.com. The AEO must contact the Certification Department by email. This privileged access will allow you to access the Monitoring of my brokers section in My record and My AEO Space. In addition, you will receive the version of the weekly newsletter PRO@CTIVE intended for AEOs.