Certification - Brokers

In general, our processing times can take up to 10 business days. However, depending on the type of application and the nature of the regulatory compliance verifications required, these processing times can be extended.

It is likely that an application submitted in April, i.e. during the annual licence renewal period, will need a longer processing time. 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, it 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 the Brokers’ Area, depending on the type of application.

It is important to know that if you have specified an effective date in your application, the change is considered to be in effect once it appears in the OACIQ’s 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, if it is incomplete or if further verifications are required).

No, an application may not be processed retroactively. Applications are processed within the normal period.

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

Real estate brokers with a restricted right to practise cannot engage in a transaction that is outside their area of practice. For example, a residential real estate broker cannot take part in a co-listing brokerage contract for a commercial immovable.

Real estate brokers with both practice rights may engage in all brokerage activities set out in the Real Estate Brokerage Act, i.e., residential real estate brokerage and commercial real estate brokerage.

The Regulation respecting broker’s and agency licences stipulates that each right to practise may be obtained by successfully taking an OACIQ certification examination. Once you pass such an exam, you may add a right to practise to your licence by applying for a licence modification. 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

You have 12 months from the date your results were sent to you to submit your application to have this practice right added to your licence.

You must complete and send an Application for licence modification – Real estate broker(PDF), along with the applicable fees. Once your application has been processed, you will receive an email confirming that you have been granted a new licence with the addition of this practice right. You will find your new licence in the Brokers' Area.

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

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

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

For real estate brokers who obtained their licence after successfully taking a skills-based certification examination after May 1, 2010:

• Be holder of a valid real estate broker’s licence.

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

• Be the holder of a valid broker’s licence
• Having successfully taken 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 OR having successfully completed an agency executive officer’s basic training program recognized by the OACIQ and passed the skills-based examination for agency executive officers (for more information, see the Mandatory basic training: Becoming agency executive officer or acting on your own account) OR having successfully completed an agency executive officer basic training program recognized by the OACIQ and passed the skills-based examination for agency executive officers.

Within 10 days following your licence modification or issuance, you must open a trust account, failing which your licence will be suspended (in this regard see the form Instructions concerning the obligations to open and maintain a trust account PDF).

The obligation to open a trust account does not apply to a real estate broker who files a declaration with the OACIQ indicating that he is in one of the following three situations:

1. He is employed by the Organisme d’autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec (OACIQ)
2. He is employed by a person who is not an agency and the broker engages, as such, in no brokerage transaction described in section 3.1 of the Real Estate Brokerage Act (chapter C-73.2).
3. He receives no deposit, advance on remuneration or costs from clients or any other sum for others. If a licence holder is no longer in this situation, he or she must immediately notify the OACIQ in writing and comply with the obligations related to trust accounts. 

See the Notice of delegation and declaration of exemptions form and read Notice of delegation and declaration of exemptions for more details.¹

¹ S. 24 of the Regulation respecting brokerage requirements, professional conduct of brokers and advertising

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

In addition, this licence modification must be reflected in your ads.

In the future, if you wish to act as an agency executive officer, you will have to complete a basic training for agency executive officers 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 officer.

The OACIQ has decided to authorize the use of the title “certified AEO” for a broker 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 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 List of administrative fees). Note that the form must be signed by the executive officer or an authorized signatory 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 (PDF) 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 questions 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.

To be authorized to operate within a business 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, read the article entitled Remuneration to be paid to the broker’s business corporation by the broker’s agency: Conditions and verifications.

You must submit, together with your notice of agency change, an Application for authorization to practise within a business corporation (PDF) signed by the agency executive officer or an authorized signatory of the new real estate agency, along with the applicable fees.

There is no form for this purpose.

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.

Once your application has been processed, you will receive a confirmation email, and your electronic licence will be updated in the Brokers’ Area.

In addition, this licence modification must be reflected in your ads.

You must complete and submit the Licence suspension or revocation request • Real estate broker form and include the applicable 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 successfully complete a recognized basic training program and pass an OACIQ certification examination. The deadline for this acquired rights period will be indicated in the email confirming the revocation of your licence.

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 issued 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:

• Pay your applicable fees and fulfil the other conditions to get a broker’s licence
• Continue and complete the suspension period as stipulated in the disciplinary sanction, following the issuance of your broker's licence
• Once the suspension period is over, 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:

• Pay your applicable fees to get a broker’s licence
• Complete the suspension period as stipulated in the disciplinary sanction, following the issuance of your broker's licence
• Once the suspension period is over, 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.

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 Mandatory Continuing Education Program
• Having paid any sum due to the OACIQ
• If applicable, having remedied the situation which resulted in the licence suspension
• Having carried out your annual information update

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

Acquired rights allow you to return to practice at a later date without having to retake a recognized basic training program, if applicable, and to pass an OACIQ certification exam. 

Following your licence revocation, you will benefit from a 12-month acquired rights period at no cost.

During this period, two options are available to you:

• Apply for a new licence; or
• Maintain your acquired rights for an additional year by following the established procedure
• In addition, during your acquired rights period, you are subject to the OACIQ Mandatory Continuing Education Program (MCEP).  For more information in this regard, see the FAQ-MCEP.

Once your acquired rights have been lost, to return to practice, you will need to:

• Demonstrate that you have completed a basic training program recognized by the OACIQ 
• Pass the OACIQ certification examination
• Complete and send an Application for licence issuance

Yes, it is possible to maintain your acquired rights on a yearly basis directly online through Brokers’ Area or by sending an 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 arising from a commitment
• 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.

It is recommended to apply for maintenance of your acquired rights on April 30 in order to benefit from the best 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.

In the Brokers' Area, real estate brokers can change:

• The home address
• The email address

Real estate brokers acting on their own behalf who wish to change their business address must send an email to [email protected] that includes:

• New physical address
• Phone and fax numbers, if applicable
• Email address, if any
• Desired effective date

Appointing an authorized representative

Real estate brokers acting on their own behalf must send an email to [email protected] that includes:

• Joint declaration by the licence holder and the authorized representative
• Desired effective date
• If the authorized representative is a legal person:
  • Name, physical and email addresses, and telephone number(s) of the authorized representative
  • Last name, first name, physical and email addresses, and telephone number(s) of the representative of the authorized agent
• If the authorized representative is a natural person:
  • Last name, first name, physical and email addresses, and telephone number(s) of the authorized representative

Once the application has been processed and approved, the OACIQ will send an email containing the authorization letter. This letter officially confirms the effective date of the authorized representative’s mandate.

If the OACIQ finds that you have not updated information (for example if you declared bankruptcy) or a document (e.g. your photo) required under the Real Estate Brokerage Act or the Regulation respecting 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 specified period, 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.

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

• Step 1: Go to Brokers' Area 

• Step 2: Enter your licence number and your usual password

• Step 3: Click on “Receipts and invoices” 

For training purchase receipts, download the procedure.  

For any other documents, you must make a specific request by email to [email protected], indicating your licence number and the exact document you wish to receive (e.g. suspension or revocation letter, etc.)  In general, the processing times can take up to 10 business days. Before submitting a request, check your emails as these documents have usually already been sent to you electronically. 

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

In accordance with section 12 of the Regulation respecting broker’s and agency licences, you must provide us with a new 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 will apply. Outside of this period, see the applicable fees.

You can check your photo’s expiry date in the Brokers' Area.

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

For more information , read this article.

Yes. You can update your photo online in your record in the Brokers’ Area by following these steps:

1. Go to the Brokers' Area
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
   • Be in JPEG format only
   • Size of at least 345 px X 450 px (passport-size photo)
   • Resolution between 72 dpi and 300 dpi
   • Be in 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 to pay, if applicable

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 time, your old photo will still be visible in the Brokers’ Area. Once your new photo is published, you will find your new licence in the Download my licence tab.

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.

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. In addition, if we are unable to determine exactly the date on which it was taken, an agent will contact you to confirm the 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 an agency collaborator's access. The AEO must complete and send the Authorizing or withdrawing a collaborator's access (PDF) form by email to the Certification Department This privileged access will allow you to access the Monitoring of my brokers section in the Brokers’ Area. In addition, you will receive the version of the weekly newsletter PRO@CTIVE intended for AEOs, access the InstanetForms^TM electronic forms, as well as the Professional Development Portal.