Upon completion of your probationary period, a number of factors will determine the next steps on your path to obtaining a representative’s certificate.
Below you will find the information you need to know in order to navigate the bridge between your time as a trainee and your career as a certified representative.
This page explains what happens after the probationary period, how the supervisor’s recommendation works, what the administrative period is, when to apply for your representative’s certificate and what to do if you do not successfully complete your probationary period.
After your probationary period:
- your supervisor will assess your competency development;
- your supervisor will submit their recommendation to the AMF;
- the employer’s management will approve the recommendation;
- you will receive a communication on how well you performed during your probationary period;
- if you have successfully completed your probationary period, you will be able to apply for a representative’s certificate;
- until you have received your representative’s certificate, you will remain under supervision and continue to hold the title of trainee; and
- if you do not successfully complete your probationary period, you will be able to repeat it.
Supervisor’s recommendation
At the end of the probationary period, your supervisor will assess your competency development.
Your supervisor will then submit their recommendation to the AMF within 10 days following the end of the probationary period.
The recommendation may pertain to either:
- a complete sector, or
- a sector class.
The recommendation may be submitted once you have reached the required minimum duration of your probationary period.
After the supervisor submits the recommendation, the employer’s management will have to approve it.
Your probationary certificate will remain valid for an additional period beginning on the date the recommendation is submitted or the maximum duration of the probationary period is reached. This additional period is called the administrative period.
Supervisor’s feedback
Your supervisor should also provide you with feedback so that you can:
- know how you are progressing,
- recognize your strengths,
- identify areas for improvement, and
- be better prepared to enter the profession.
A positive recommendation does not mean that the employer will offer you a job.
Moreover, the AMF may override a recommendation of successful completion of your probationary period on substantiated grounds.
Administrative period
Your probationary certificate will remain valid for an additional period, called the administrative period, which will begin upon completion of your probationary period.
The probationary period will be considered completed when your supervisor submits a recommendation or the maximum duration of the probationary period is reached.
During the additional period, you will remain under the same supervisor(s).
One of your supervisors will need to submit the recommendation, which will then have to be approved by the employer.
After the AMF has received the employer’s approval, you will receive a communication regarding your probationary period results.
The administrative period will last 30 days after the end of your probationary period where:
- the employer’s approval is not granted within the specified time period, or
- your application for a representative’s certificate is not received during that period.
If your supervision changes during the administrative period
If a change in supervision is necessary during the administrative period, your employer will have to send a Request to add or remove a supervisor before making the change.
The new supervisor will have to:
- satisfy regulatory requirements; and
- be authorized before they begin supervising you.
If you successfully complete your probationary period
If the AMF confirms that you have successfully completed your probationary period, you will be able to submit an Application for a representative’s certificate.
If you apply for a certificate before the end of the 30-day administrative period, your probationary period will remain in effect until the AMF makes a decision regarding issuance of the certificate.
During that time, you will have to continue to act under supervision.
If you do not apply for a certificate during the 30-day administrative period, you will be able to apply for a certificate so long as your examinations are still valid. If the examination validity period has expired, you will have to go through the entire qualification process over again.
Apply for a representative’s certificate
Once you have successfully completed your probationary period, you will need to submit your Application for a representative’s certificate within the prescribed time period.
You must submit your application:
- before the validity periods of your examinations expire; or
- if the validity period(s) of one or more of your examinations expire(s) during your probationary period, within 30 days following the end of the probationary period.
If you apply for a certificate before the end of the 30-day administrative period, your probationary period will remain in effect until the AMF makes a decision regarding issuance of the certificate.
During this time, you will need to continue to act under supervision.
Choose the employer you will work for
You will need to indicate the independent partnership or firm you will be working for in your application for a representative’s certificate.
The employer does not have to be the same one you worked for as a trainee during your probationary period.
If you want to become an independent representative
If you wish to act as an independent representative, you will need to apply to register as an independent representative before you can apply for your representative’s certificate.
You must wait until you receive your representative’s certificate
You will not be able to act as a representative until you receive your representative’s certificate.
This rule applies whether you:
- change employers,
- stay with the same employer, or
- wish to act as an independent representative.
What will happen if you do not successfully complete your probationary period?
Your supervisor may decide not to recommend successful completion of the probationary period if you did not demonstrate the expected competencies or behaviours.
For example, a probationary period may be unsuccessful if you did not:
- complete the required hours within the prescribed time frame
- gradually take on reserved professional acts
- demonstrate the autonomy expected to perform your future role
- handle files usually assigned to early-career representatives
- comply with applicable legislation and the rules of ethics and professional conduct
- demonstrate the competencies required for professional practice
- demonstrate the required soft skills
- demonstrably ensure the protection of clients and demonstrate that you do not pose a risk to the public
For the group insurance plans and group annuity plans sector classes, you may also be unsuccessful in completing your probationary period because you did not successfully complete the recommendation preparation case study.
If you do not successfully complete your probationary period, the supervisor will need to include the reasons for their decision in the Supervisor’s Recommendation related to Representative’s Certificate form.
Failing to meet an employer’s sales targets is not sufficient reason for a supervisor to refuse to recommend successful completion of the probationary period.
The AMF may also override the recommendation of successful completion of your probationary period on substantiated grounds.
Repeating the probationary period
You may obtain a second probationary certificate only if you did not successfully complete your first probationary period.
In order for you to repeat a probationary period, your employer will need to submit a new Application for authorization of probationary period.
The instructions are available on the How to apply for authorization of a probationary period page.
Document to be provided in order to repeat the probationary period
To obtain a second probationary certificate, you will need to provide a written document to the AMF.
The document should set out what actions you intend to take to address the deficiencies noted:
- in the supervisor’s report, or
- by the AMF.
The document will need to be signed by you and your supervisor.
It will need to be submitted by your employer with the new Application for authorization of probationary period.
In addition, your examinations will need to be valid at the time you begin your second probationary period..
Third probationary period
Third probationary periods are permitted by the AMF only in exceptional circumstances.
In such cases, the trainee must act under a different supervisor.
The AMF may also require that the new probationary period be carried out in another context. It may, for example, ask that it be completed under the supervision of a different employer.
Post-probationary period checklist
After successfully completing your probationary period, make sure that:
- your supervisor has submitted their recommendation to the AMF;
- your employer’s management has approved the recommendation;
- you have received the results of your successful probationary period;
- you observe the administrative period rules;
- you continue to act under supervision until you have received your representative’s certificate;
- you apply for a certificate within the prescribed time period; and
- you do not act as a representative until you have received your certificate.
FAQs
Who will submit the recommendation to the AMF?
Your supervisor will submit their recommendation to the AMF. The employer’s management will then have to approve it.
When may the supervisor’s recommendation be submitted?
It may be submitted when the maximum duration of your probationary period is reached.
Does a positive recommendation guarantee a job?
No. A positive recommendation does not mean that the employer will offer you a job.
What is the administrative period?
The administrative period is an additional period that follows the end of your probationary period. Your probationary certificate can remain valid during the administrative period provided you continue to act under supervision.
When should I apply for my representative’s certificate?
You should apply for your certificate before the validity period(s) of your examination(s) expire(s). If the validity period(s) of one or more of your examinations expire(s) during your probationary period, you should submit your application within 30 days following the end of the probationary period.
Will I be able to act as a representative as soon as I successfully complete my probationary period?
No. You will have to wait until you have received your representative’s certificate before you can act as a representative.
Do I have to stay with the same employer after my probationary period?
No. The employer shown on your application for a representative’s certificate does not have to be the same one you worked for while completing your probationary period. If you change employers, you will have to stop acting as a trainee and wait until your representative’s certificate has been issued before performing reserved professional acts in that sector or sector class.
What happens if I’m not successful in my probationary period?
You will have to stop acting as a trainee in the relevant sector or sector class. Your employer will need to submit a new application if you wish to complete a new probationary period.
Can not meeting sales targets constitute grounds for not recommending successful completion?
No. Failing to meet an employer’s sales targets is not considered a valid reason for a supervisor to refuse to recommend successful completion of the probationary period.
Will I be allowed to undertake a third probationary period?
The AMF permits a third probationary period only in exceptional circumstances. In such cases, the trainee must be under the responsibility of a different supervisor, and the AMF may require a different context.