Easier access to insurance licensing in Quebec for out-of-province representatives

Following the regulatory consultation held from June 13 to September 10, 2024, the amendments to the Regulation respecting the issuance and renewal of representatives' certificates have received ministerial approval, the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) revealed in its L’info-qualification bulletin, published on March 12, 2025. The regulation applies to representatives authorized to practice in the following fields: life insurance, group insurance of persons, property and casualty insurance, claims adjustment, financial planning, and mortgage brokerage. 

The objective of the consultation was to modernize career entry into the insurance sector. This consultation by the AMF sought, among other things, to facilitate the recruitment and support of trainees. 

Another objective was to make it easier for candidates from other provinces to obtain a license to practice in Quebec. "As of March 26, 2025, adjustments to Section 53 of the regulation will simplify the certification process with the Autorité des marchés financiers for representatives who have gained experience in a Canadian province other than Quebec," the bulletin states. 

Under certain conditions, a qualified candidate who has practiced for at least 24 months within the 36 months preceding their application for a Quebec certificate may be exempt from the probationary period. 

The regulator emphasizes that the candidate must successfully complete the minimum training and the examination prescribed by the AMF to demonstrate mastery of the required competencies, as required by the legislation governing representative activities. 

Promoting mobility, reducing delays 

"This will promote workforce mobility and accessibility to the representative certificate in financial product and service distribution disciplines," the AMF writes in its bulletin. 

The regulator also announced that, starting September 14, 2026, the new regulation will introduce greater flexibility to the probationary period, particularly concerning its duration, the weekly hours to be completed, and the maximum number of trainees who can be supervised by representatives primarily dedicated to this task. 

Currently, Section 34 of the regulation stipulates that the probationary period lasts 12 weeks for a single discipline. It must be completed at a minimum of 28 hours per week over a maximum period of 14 weeks. 

For a category of discipline, Section 35 of the regulation prescribes a six-week probationary period, also at a minimum of 28 hours per week, over a maximum period of seven weeks.