Welding qualification founds
Fonds de soudage
Welding qualification founds

 

Depending on the nature of the welding work to be done, there are two possible certifications: 

  • Certificate issued pursuant to the Act respecting pressure vessels
  • Certificate issued by the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB)

Because of the demands of the work involved, an employer may ask a worker to take the welding test to obtain or renew either of these two certifications. 

For certain trades, employers are required to remit an amount for each hour worked by each of their employees to the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ). This money is used to constitute the welding qualification funds, for which the CCQ is the fiduciary. The CCQ administers these funds in compliance with the provisions of the collective agreements (except in the residential sector, for which no provisions apply), as well as the terms and conditions decreed by the professional subcommittees created pursuant to section 18.12 of the Act Respecting Labour Relations, Vocational Training and Workforce Management in the Construction Industry (Act R-20). 

The welding qualification funds serve solely to compensate the employees, sponsors, or accredited organizations for registration fees, time needed, and travel costs related to obtaining or renewing a welding certificate issued by the CWB, or for a high-pressure welding test administered by the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MESS) (for pipe fitters [high pressure] and boiler makers). 

  • Who is eligible for the welding qualification funds?
    To be eligible, an individual must hold a journeyman, apprentice, or occupation competency certificate, active on the date that the welding certificate is issued, or hold an exemption.  

    He or she must also have declared a minimum of hours worked preceding the date that the welding certificate is issued. These hours must be associated with a trade or occupation eligible for the welding qualification funds. 
  • Which expenses may be reimbursed by the welding qualification funds?
    The welding qualification funds reimburse expenses for meals, lodging, travel (kilometrage), ferry tickets, and highway tolls if required. These expenses must be associated directly with a test intended to obtain or renew a welding certificate issued by the CWB or a high-pressure welding certificate issued by the MESS.

    The table below shows which trades may present a request for reimbursement for a test to the welding qualification funds and the type of competency certificate required: 

    Trade or occupation code eligible for funds Welding qualification funds  Type of competency certificate required
    160 
    168
    174
    500
    793
    Carpenter-joiner
    • Journeyman 
    • Apprentice
    • Exemption
    190 
    769
    Boiler maker and boiler-maker welder
    • Journeyman 
    • Apprentice
    • Occupation
    • Exemption
    220
    794
    Electrician
    • Journeyman 
    • Apprentice
    • Exemption
    230 Tinsmith
    • Journeyman 
    • Apprentice
    • Exemption
    240 Reinforcing steel erector  
    • Journeyman 
    • Apprentice
    • Exemption
    280 Milwright
    • Journeyman 
    • Apprentice
    304
    300
    400
    Ironworker 
    (includes structural steel erector and ornamental iron worker)
    • Journeyman 
    • Apprentice
    • Exemption
    410 
    412
    414
    765
    767
    771
    Pipe fitter
    Welder: pipe, pipeline, power supply, distribution 
    • Journeyman 
    • Apprentice
    • Occupation
    • Exemption
  • How do I register for a welding qualification test?

    CWB welding qualification test

    Individuals must register through their union association or their employer, if the employer is accredited by the CWB. The union association or the employer will be able to provide all the information concerning the qualification test.

    Individuals who have passed the CWB qualification test must fill out the form Demande de remboursement – épreuve de qualification CWB in order to obtain a reimbursement from the welding qualification funds.

    Welding (high pressure) qualification test from the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale

    Individuals must fill out the registration form available at www.emploiquebec.gouv.qc.ca. They must sign and date their registration application and  send it to the following address along with their payment:

    Centre administratif de la qualification professionnelle
    Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale
    Case postale 100
    Victoriaville (Québec)  G6P 6S4

    The Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MESS) will issue the certification. For more information, visit the following websites (in French only):

    Certificat en soudage sur appareils sous pression, classe A (SOUDA) > Emploi-Québec (gouv.qc.ca)

    Certificat en soudage sur appareils sous pression, classe B (SOUDB) > Emploi-Québec (gouv.qc.ca)

    Individuals who have completed the welding (high pressure) qualification test must fill out the form Demande de remboursement – épreuve haute pression in order to obtain a reimbursement from the welding qualification fund.

    They must ensure that their request for reimbursement is properly filled out, signed, and accompanied by a copy of the certification obtained (MESS or CWB), as well as documentation related to the expenses that they are claiming.

    They can submit their reimbursement request and the documentation required by email to [email protected] or by mail to:

    Commission de la construction du Québec
    Direction de la formation professionnelle
    8485, avenue Christophe-Colomb
    Montréal (Québec)  H2M 0A7

  • Can expenses for the plumbing or heating qualification examination for apprentice pipe fitters in the civil engineering and roads sector be reimbursed?
    Yes, the Pipe Fitter welding qualification fund compensates apprentice pipe fitters when they pass the qualification exams for plumbing or heating.

    For the plumbing or heating qualification examinations, a lump-sum reimbursement of $100 will be issued automatically by the CCQ following successful completion of the exam. Apprentices do not have to submit a request. The reimbursement will take account of qualification examinations passed since October 24, 2022. The reimbursement period begins on November 1, 2023. 
  • Can the fees for issuing or renewing ITG or TAG natural gas certification be reimbursed for the civil engineering and roads sector?
    Yes, the Pipe Fitter welding qualification fund compensates apprentice pipe fitters for issuance or renewal of ITG, TAG-1, TAG-2, or TAG-3 natural gas certification.

    For natural gas (ITG or TAG) certification fees, individuals must submit a request for reimbursement by filling out the form Demande de remboursement – épreuve haute pression. They must attach the invoice with the amount paid for the issuance or renewal, as well as a copy of the natural gas qualification issued by the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MESS). A request may be submitted as of now by email to [email protected] or by mail to:

    Commission de la construction du Québec
    Direction de la formation professionnelle
    8485, avenue Christophe-Colomb
    Montréal (Québec)  H2M 0A7
  • What happens if a request for reimbursement is incomplete?
    If a request for reimbursement is incomplete, the CCQ’s Direction de la formation professionnelle will contact the person by phone or email to inform him or her. If it is impossible to reach the person by one of these means, a letter will be sent. The person will have 90 days to respond; otherwise, the request for reimbursement will be rejected.

    If a request for reimbursement is rejected, the individual has 60 days from the date of rejection to appeal the decision by letter to the CCQ’s Direction de la formation professionnelle.

    For more information, you can contact the CCQ’s Customer Service at 1 888 842-8282.

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