The real estate broker's licence is evolving

This initiative offers several concrete benefits to real estate brokers:

• It highlights their expertise by clarifying their primary right to practise.
• It reduces the risks associated with interventions outside their area of practice, thereby protecting their reputation and that of the profession.
• It strengthens public trust by ensuring that each broker operates within his or her area of expertise.
• It provides targeted training activities that enable participants to broaden their knowledge and stand out in the market.

This initiative helps strengthen brokers' credibility, the security of practices, and the quality of services offered. It also responds to increasingly high consumer expectations, the growing complexity of transactions, and the need for real estate brokers to maintain their knowledge and skills in the areas of practice in which they are authorized to practise.

The OACIQ proposes a gradual transition to two separate practice rights–residential and commercial–in accordance with applicable regulations. There will also be a strengthening of continuing education and oversight as of 2027.

This initiative also aims to simplify the licence concept for consumers, who will be able to better understand the obligations and responsibilities of real estate brokers. 

This evolution also helps raise practice standards, support excellence within the industry, reduce the risk of disputes, and ensures a more relevant and secure framework for your clients.

As part of the 2026 annual licence renewal process (from mid-March to the end of April), you will have to indicate in which area(s) of practice you wish to work–residential real estate brokerage, commercial real estate brokerage, or both.  The consequences mentioned in question 4, in relation to each option, will be pointed out in the annual information update form.

• Residential practice right: the sale, purchase, or rental of residential buildings containing less than five dwellings, vacant residential lots, and divided or undivided co-ownerships.
• Commercial area of practice: the sale, purchase, or rental of buildings containing five or more dwellings, vacant commercial lots, and enterprises where the immovable represents the majority of the enterprise's value.
• Residential and commercial practice right: the real estate broker can practise in both residential and commercial real estate brokerage areas.

It is permissible for a real estate broker whose right to practise is restricted to one area of practice (e.g. residential or commercial) to refer a client to a real estate broker whose licence is restricted to another area of practice and to receive referral compensation, in accordance with the current rules, which remain unchanged with regard to disclosure.

Important: each right to practise will require a specific training path under the MCEP 2027-2029 in order to maintain the skills related to this area of practice.

Maintaining both practice rights will have the following consequences:

• Applicable fees: no change to the current situation. As the OACIQ focuses on competence.  There will be a single fee for the real estate broker’s licence, whether or not it is restricted to a single right of practice.  The applicable fees must not hinder real estate brokers’ professional activities
• Training: The MCEP 2027-2029 will include two training paths to be completed by real estate brokers who hold both areas of practice, in order to keep their skills up to date in both residential and commercial areas. However, some training activities will be common to both training paths. The total number of CEUs required for the 2027-2029 cycle will be specified at a later date.
• Supervision: In cases where a failure to acquire or maintain the skills required for a licence-related right to practise is identified, the Inspection Department’s actions will be reinforced.
• Register of licence holders: As of May 2026, the Register of licence holders on the OACIQ website will display the practice rights chosen by the real estate broker.
• Advertising and signage: Current full-service real estate brokers who choose to keep only one practice right– residential OR commercial–will have until April 30, 2027, to make the necessary adjustments to their advertisements (signs, business cards, etc.). 

Yes. It is possible to retain both practice rights for 2026 and change your choice when renewing your licence in 2027, or before then.

However, this option does not provide access to a transition period for advertising. If you withdraw a practice right in April 2027, all your advertisements must comply with your new choice as of May 1, 2027.

Yes. The choice of a practice right is final and has an immediate impact on your practice as of May 1, 2026. 

For example, if you choose to retain only the right to practise residential real estate, you must cease all commercial brokerage activities as of that date. This may notably involve the termination of current brokerage contracts in this area of practice.

As of May 2026, the Register of licence holders on the OACIQ website will display the residential practice right you have chosen.

However, you will have a one-year transition period, until April 30, 2027, to remove any references to commercial brokerage from your representations, advertisements, tools, and communication materials.

If, after choosing to retain only the residential right to practise, you wish to add commercial real estate brokerage after May 1, 2026, you must: 

• Show that, as of September 1, 2013, you have successfully completed one of the training programs recognized by the OACIQ
• Pass the certification exam administered by the OACIQ in this field again
• Apply for the addition of the practice right to your real estate broker’s licence within 12 months after passing the exam using the Application for licence modification form
• Complete the continuing education activities required for the 2027-2029 cycle to practise in this area

Yes. Current regulations do not require agency executive officers to have both residential and commercial practice rights. They must complete the training and pass the agency executive officer exam.

The choice of the right to practise has no impact on the status of the executive officer within their real estate agency.  In a nutshell, an agency executive officer who only has the right to practise residential real estate brokerage can have commercial brokers within their agency and vice versa.

However, when it comes to continuing education, agency executive officers who hold a licence with a single right to practise, while the agency includes real estate brokers working in both fields, must complete the mandatory residential and commercial continuing education program. This requirement is intended to ensure that the executive officer has the necessary knowledge to adequately oversee all the agency's activities, without being required to complete basic training or pass the certification exam leading to obtaining both practice rights.

Also, an agency executive officer with a licence restricted to one field should be assisted by a real estate broker with the necessary practice right and skills to oversee real estate brokers working in a field outside his own area of practice.  This element could be highlighted in the real estate agency's compliance program, if applicable.

No. Once a real estate broker chooses to retain only one right to practise, they can practise only in that field, including in the context of a co-listing. This rule applies according to the same logic as that presented in question 17 of the FAQ 200433.

Yes, a real estate broker who does not hold a right to practise in one of the two areas of practice may refer a client to a real estate broker who does hold that right to practise. For instance, a residential real estate broker may refer a client to a commercial broker, and vice versa.

The real estate broker to whom the client was referred will then be able to share his remuneration with the real estate broker who referred the client to him.  In this case, the real estate broker to whom the client was referred must disclose this fact in writing to the party he represents and retain a copy of the notice given in this regard.

a) Before May 1, 2026, if, after completing your information update form as part of the 2026 annual licence renewal process, but before your choice takes effect on May 1, 2026, you change your mind about your practice right choice, you must submit your modification request to the Certification Department at certification@oaciq.com. No administrative fee will be charged in this situation.  Note that any modification request made after May 1, 2026, must meet the criteria listed below. 

b) After May 1, 2026 – addition of a practice right: if, after choosing to retain only one of your two rights to practise, you wish to add another one after May 1, 2026, you must:

Show that, as of September 1, 2013, you have successfully completed one of the training programs recognized by the OACIQ

Pass the certification exam administered by the OACIQ in this field

Apply for the addition of the practice right to your real estate broker’s licence within 12 months after passing the exam using the Application for licence modification form and pay the related fees

Complete the continuing education activities required for the 2027-2029 cycle to practise in this area of practice

c) If, after choosing to retain both of your practice rights, you wish to remove one of them after May 1, 2026, you must notify the Certification Department of your removal request by completing the Application for licence modification form sending it to certification@oaciq.com. No administrative fee will be charged in this situation until May 1, 2027. After this date, fees will apply for any addition or removal of a practice right using the Application for licence modification form.

You have a maximum period of 12 months to request the addition of a right to practise or the issuance of a corresponding licence.

If this period is exceeded,

• You will need to retake the (residential or commercial) certification exam if your basic training is still recognized.

If your basic training is no longer valid, you will need to retake the basic training and pass the certification exam for the relevant right to practise.

An agency executive officer who chooses to retain both practice rights, just like the real estate broker in the same situation, must complete both training courses specific to residential and commercial areas. However, some training activities will be common to both training paths. The parameters and number of CEUs to be earned in the 2027-2029 cycle will be announced at a later date.