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. 

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

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

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. 

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

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.