How to Leverage Non-Construction Experience

Is your work experience deemed non-construction, yet are hoping to leverage your know-how, log hours in your apprentice record book, and break into the industry? Come along as we take a deep dive into this subject matter, detailing how best to shoot your shot while showcasing your relevant work experience. 

What Is Non-Construction Experience?

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Non-construction experience is defined as all relevant building work experience that isn’t subject to Act R-20.

The Act respecting labour relations, vocational training and workforce management in the construction industry (Act R-20), regulates all construction work, including a part of the CCQ’s requirements, such as mandatory trade union membership and enforcing working conditions for all workers and employers. 

Section 19 of said Act details the job types excluded from Act R-20, including, among others, the following:

• maintenance and repair work carried out by permanent employees and temporary employees, acting as their replacements, hired directly by an employer other than a professional employer;

• maintenance, repair, renovation, and alteration work done in a dwelling by a resident of said building; and

• pavement marking done on public or private roadways.

If you’re hoping to leverage your non-construction experience, note that there are ways to declare relevant work hours accrued and have them assessed by the CCQ.

Submitting a Request: How Non-Construction Experience Can Be CCQ Recognized

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As you may already know, the number of hours worked in a construction industry-specific trade shapes a great deal, from your status (apprentice, journeyperson, etc.) to your wage, with a certificate of competency in between. 

Hence, if you have relevant work experience, leveraging as many recognizable work hours as possible can fast-track your career in the construction industry. 

First, understanding the two different types of relevant work experience is paramount:

• Training recognition

• Work experience recognition

Recognition of Training

Vocational training recognition lets you submit a request with the CCQ for recognition of one or more training programs completed, relating to the targeted trade to receive work-hour credits in your apprentice record book.

A construction industry-recognized Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS/DEP) converts to work hours based on the following: one hour worked equals one hour of training, multiplied by 50%.

Example: DVS in Electricity

You can become a certified electrician after completing 1,800 hours of training. Therefore, if you were to get training credits for this program, then you’d be getting 1,800 work hours, plus half of those hours as a bonus, making for a whopping 900 additional hours! The 1,800 hours of training are equivalent to 2,700 hours worked and logged in your apprentice record book.

Upgrading activities or study programs can also be included as part of training recognition. However, every trade has a credit ceiling—a limit of training hours that can be credited. This may differ from one trade to another, so be sure to inquire beforehand.  

Recognition of Work Experience

As for work experience recognition, it comes down to recognition of paid hours worked, and carrying out tasks recognized for apprenticeship in your targeted trade, yet can’t have been declared by an employer in a monthly report. 

The recognition of work experience declaration allows you to detail your relevant experience as well as the number of hours worked on each specific task. Your employer will have to sign a form attesting to the experience detailed in the declaration.

Should you notice that your hours worked are recorded under a trade other than the one in which you operate, then you’re entitled to request that a correction be made.

Example: Electrician Trade Training

In order to take the journeyperson exam, one must have accrued at least 8,000 hours of trade training. To validate your training, 5,600 hours must be credited—either as training credit, non-construction experience, or both. 

Q&A Section

What measures are taken to offset labour shortage?

As of March 2021, the government has introduced a series of measures to encourage new workers to join the construction industry.

If you have acquired work experience by way of a competency certificate as an apprentice and meet the eligibility requirements, you may be able to leverage said work experience.

Besides being 16 years of age and having a social insurance number, you must have completed a number of paid work hours in the trade for which you seek training recognition. As for the number of hours required, you must have completed a minimum of 35% of those required for apprenticeship in the trade in question. On average, this comes out to 2,100 hours.

Note that certain academic prerequisites may apply and differ based on the trade for which you’re submitting a request. Moreover, you must have completed general health and safety training for construction worksite-specific needs (cours Santé et sécurité générale). Lastly, one must obtain a guarantee of employment from an employer, which must account for at least 150 hours of work spread out over a three-month period.

How do I apply for a CCQ card?

Apprentice Competency Certificate (ACC)

For trade apprentices, this can include completing between one and five apprenticeships, each lasting 2,000 hours.

Journeyperson Competency Certificate (JCC)

Eligible individuals have successfully completed construction trade training.

Occupation Certificate of Competency (OCC)

For those working on construction sites as labourers or specialized labourers.

Leveraging Your Non-Construction Experience: In a Nutshell

You can always seek an assessment by the Commission de la Construction du Québec to get hours credited in your apprenticeship record book if you have work experience labelled as non-construction.