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Guideline

Licence Issue and Maintenance

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5 minutes

4 Licence qualifications: AEO, Certified AEO and Certified

Certain real estate brokerage duties require a specific licence qualification, as well as particular training and experience requirements.

4.1 – Real estate broker who wishes to hold the position of agency executive officer

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Role and responsibility of the agency executive officer

Each real estate agency must have only one qualified agency executive officer.

He is responsible1 for the selection, supervision, and oversight of all the agency’s real estate brokers.

1 Articles 19 et 20 de la Real Estate Brokerage Act.

Conditions for obtaining the agency executive officer qualification (Certified AEO).

To be able to act as agency executive officer2

A real estate broker must: 

  1. Complete the basic training program for agency executive officer recognized by the OACIQ
  2. Pass the skills-based examination for agency executive officers
  3. Have worked for a real estate agency for at least 3 of the last 5 years

2 Section 34 of the Regulation respecting the issue of broker’s and agency licences.

Licence issued before May 1, 2010

Former “affiliated real estate agent”

A real estate broker must: 

  1. Successfully complete an agency executive officer basic training program recognized by the OACIQ
  2. Pass the skills-based examination for agency executive officers, as indicated in section 2 of the article Mandatory basic training: Becoming agency executive officer or acting on your own account
  3. Have worked as a real estate broker for at least 3 of the last 5 years, either on his own account or within an agency
Former “certified real estate agent”

The real estate broker benefits from an acquired right

Therefore, he does not need to retake the basic training and the examination.

However, he must:

  1. Complete the mandatory continuing education program for agency executive officers, as indicated in section 3 of the article Mandatory basic training: Becoming agency executive officer or acting on your own account 
  2. Notify the Certification Department once completed
  3. Have acted on his own account or on behalf of an agency for at least 3 of the last 5 years

RECOMMENDED APPROACH

Once these requirements are met, he may request that the “Certified AEO” designation be added to his licence.

He must:

A confirmation email is sent once the change takes effect.

4.1.1 – Appointment of a new agency executive officer

When a real estate agency changes its executive officer, a proper transition must be carried out to ensure continuity of operations.

The real estate broker must:

  • Be qualified as a “Certified AEO”
  • Send the Appointment of agency executive officer (PDF) to the Certification Department
  • Have it signed by the current executive officer, the majority shareholder, or president of the legal person, as well as by the new agency executive officer
  • Pay the applicable fees 

Training requirements for appointing a new agency executive officer (AEO)

AEO’s situation

Required training activities

When to take the training activities

Has never run a real estate agency OR has not run an agency in the two years preceding the appointment

These self-study activities must have been completed within the two years preceding the appointment.

Otherwise, they must be completed to be able to act as agency executive officer.

Has ALERADY run a real estate agency in the two years preceding the appointment

 None

Compliance program

The compliance program must meet the requirements of the OACIQ.

MAXIMUM 30 DAYS

After his appointment, the new agency executive officer has 30 days to adjust or develop the COMPLIANCE PROGRAM. They must commit to adhering to it.

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To learn more

4.2 – Courtier immobilier « agréé DA »

The “Certified AEO” designation means that the broker is qualified to act as agency executive officer.

This qualification is maintained, in particular, by complying with the requirements of the mandatory continuing education program.

KEY POINT

Holding the “Certified AEO” designation does not automatically mean occupying the agency executive officer’s position. The agency executive officer is identified as such in the Register of licence holders.

Withdrawal or loss of qualification

A real estate broker who no longer wishes to keep this qualification as agency executive officer may request to have his licence modified. He must:

This modification must be reflected in the advertising.

Becoming a “Certified AEO” real estate broker again

To act as agency executive officer again, he must:

  • Complete a basic training program for agency executive officers accredited by the OACIQ
  • Pass the skills-based certification examination
  • Have acted on behalf of a real estate agency for at least 3 of the last 5 years when applying again for qualification

4.3 – “Certified” real estate broker

A real estate broker whose licence simply bears the mention “certified,” issued prior to May 1, 2010, under the former Real Estate Brokerage Act (former “certified real estate broker,” “certified real estate agent,” or “affiliated real estate broker”), has the management skills needed to act as agency executive officer, subject to:

  • Having worked as a real estate broker for at least 3 of the last 5 years, either on his own account or within an agency
  • Having previously completed the required training activities
Reference number
215164
Last update
May 27, 2026