During your probationary period, you will work as a trainee under the supervision of an AMF-authorized representative.

This page explains what you will be required to do during the period, including the rules you will need to follow, the professional acts you will be allowed to perform, the information you will have to provide to clients and the situations that may affect the amount of time you devote to your probationary period or supervision

During your probationary period:

  • you will be required to always present yourself as a trainee;
  • you will be required to act under the supervision of an authorized supervisor;
  • you will be able to perform only the professional acts authorized under your probationary certificate;
  • only hours worked under supervision will be able to be included in the time count;
  • you will have to inform the AMF of any changes to any information or document that you have furnished; and
  • you will have to refrain from performing reserved professional acts whenever you are not under supervision.

The probationary period may start with an observation, product and system training and work familiarization phase (onboarding). You will then be required to progressively assume tasks reserved for representatives.

By the end of the probationary period, you should be able to competently and independently handle files normally assigned to early-career representatives.

Your supervisor will guide and support you in acquiring and consolidating the competencies specific to your sector or sector class, along with soft skills such as:

  • social skills,
  • behaviours, and
  • attitudes to adopt in your interactions with clients.

On this page:

Using the title of trainee

During the probationary period, you will be required to always present yourself publicly as a trainee.

You will not be able to present yourself publicly as a certified representative until you receive your representative’s certificate.

Your obligations as a trainee

Comply with the rules of your future profession

During your probationary period, you will be required to comply with the laws, regulations and rules of conduct governing your future profession.

Disclose any situation that could affect your authorization

You will also have to disclose any situation to the AMF that could affect your authorization, including, but not limited to, those set out in section 56 of the Regulation respecting the issuance and renewal of representatives’ certificates and in sections 219 and 220 of the Act respecting the distribution of financial products and services.

Such situations may include:

Your supervisor will also have responsibilities during your probationary period. They will have to supervise you, track your progress and ensure that your activities are carried out in a manner consistent with the AMF’s requirements.

To learn more about the supervisor’s responsibilities, see the Supervisor section.

Complete a case study in the group insurance of persons sector

You will be required to complete a case study on preparing a recommendation if your probationary period pertains to:

  • the group insurance plans sector class, or;
  • the group annuity plans sector class.

The case study will be used to verify your understanding of the steps involved in analyzing a situation and making a suitable recommendation.

Develop competencies specific to your sector

During your probationary period, you will need to develop the competencies specific to the sector or sector class indicated on your probationary certificate.

These competencies must be applied progressively in an actual work setting and under supervision.

See the competencies you will need to acquire for your sector:

Perform authorized professional acts during the probationary period

You will need to complete a maximum of 40 hours of work per week during your probationary period and meet the prescribed minimum duration of the probationary period.

The probationary certificate will allow you to perform professional acts during your probationary period that are specific to the sector or sector class indicated on the certificate. All such acts will have to be performed under supervision and in compliance with the conditions determined by the AMF.

The acts you may perform will vary depending on your sector or sector class:

  • Insurance of persons or group insurance of persons

    You will have to inquire into a client’s situation in order to assess their needs and then propose suitable products or services to your supervisor.

    After your proposal is approved and countersigned by your supervisor, you will be able to propose and sell the products or services to the client.

  • Personal-lines damage insurance

    You will have to inquire into a client’s situation in order to assess their needs and then propose and sell suitable products, coverages or guarantees to them.

  • Commercial-lines damage insurance

    You will have to inquire into your client’s situation in order to assess their needs and then propose suitable products, coverages or guarantees to your supervisor.

    After your proposal is approved and countersigned by your supervisor, you will be able to offer and sell them to the client.

  • Claims adjustment

    You will have to collect the information required to process a claim and then present the items related to the claim investigation, damage assessment or settlement negotiations to your supervisor.

    After the items are approved and countersigned by your supervisor in the client’s file, you will be able to present them to the insured. You will subsequently be able to assist your supervisor during settlement negotiations.

  • Mortgage brokerage

    You will have to inquire into a client’s situation in order to understand their needs and then present the recommended loan, along with any other recommendations pertaining to the mortgage brokerage transaction, to your supervisor.

    After your recommendation is approved by your supervisor, you will be able to present it to the client. You will also be able to forward the mortgage loan application to the lender after it is approved by your supervisor.

Sign contracts or notices

Since you will not have a probationary certificate number, you will be allowed to use your AMF client file number when signing contracts or notices.

Provide your business contact information to clients

During your probationary period, you will be required to always present yourself as a trainee. The first time you meet with a client, you will need to give them a document, such as a business card, containing the following information:

  • your name*; 
  • your title of trainee*; 
  • the sectors or sector classes in which you are authorized to act;
  • your business address and business telephone number;
  • your e-mail address, if any; and
  • •the name of the firm, independent partnership or independent representative on whose behalf you are acting.*

If you deal with clients other than in person, you will need to provide them with the information indicated by an asterisk (*) in the above list immediately upon first contact. If they request it, you will also have to send the aforementioned document when you initially send them other documents.

Situations that may arise during your probationary period

Certain situations may arise during your probationary period that could affect your time count, supervision or right to perform reserved professional acts

Change in the start date of the probationary period

The start date shown on a probationary certificate cannot be changed after the certificate has been issued.

If you are unable to begin your probationary period on that date, the employer will have to:

  • specify your new starting date.
  • submit another application for authorization of a probationary period; and
  • cancel your probationary period;

You will need to complete the statement of applicant again and then wait until you receive a new probationary certificate from the AMF before starting. The certificate will confirm the new start date.

Important: You may not perform reserved professional acts before the date indicated on the probationary certificate.

Managing absences, vacation, sick days and statutory holidays

You will be able to take vacation or sick days during your probationary period without notifying the AMF.

However, such absences will not be included in the prescribed time count for successful completion of the probationary period. They include:

  • vacation,
  • sick days,
  • statutory holidays, or
  • any other absences.

You will not be permitted to perform reserved professional acts during the times you are absent.

If all your supervisors go on vacation or become temporarily unavailable, you will have to refrain from performing reserved professional acts.

To find out the time requirements, see the table Duration of the probationary period.

Insight

In all cases, keep the following in mind:

Only hours completed under supervision count toward the required number of hours.

You will be allowed to perform reserved professional acts only if:

  • your probationary certificate is valid; and
  • you are supervised by an authorized supervisor.
End of the insight

Comply with AMF disclosure rules

During your probationary period, you will need to notify the AMF any time there is a change to any information or document that you have furnished to the AMF.

The AMF will need to be notified within:

  • 5 days for most changes; or
  • 30 days for changes pertaining to an outside activity.

Change in supervisor

The employer may appoint up to four supervisors to ensure continuity of supervision during your probationary period.

If a supervisor needs to be added or removed, the employer will have to send the AMF a Request to add or remove a supervisor before making the change.

You may continue your probationary period only if you remain under the supervision of an authorized supervisor

If you reach the maximum duration of your probationary period and have not completed the required number of hours owing to a lack of supervision, the employer will have to submit an Application to cancel or interrupt a probationary period. In such an event, it will not be possible to extend the probationary period beyond the maximum duration, and you will need to successfully complete a new probationary period.

For more information, refer to How to apply for authorization of a probationary period.

Interruption of your probationary period

Certain situations may prevent a person from continuing their probationary period for some time, including:

  • a disability,
  • preventive withdrawal,
  • parental leave,
  • exceptional circumstances, or
  • loss of supervision.

If you find yourself in any of these situations, you will not be permitted to perform reserved professional acts.

If you reach the maximum duration of your probationary period and you are unable to complete the required number of hours, your employer will have to submit an Application to cancel or interrupt a probationary period.

A probationary period may not be extended beyond the maximum duration. If your probationary period is cancelled, you will have to successfully complete a new probationary period.

For more information, refer to the How to apply for authorization of a probationary period.

Your probationary period has ended? To find out how to apply for your certificate, see the After the probationary period.

FAQs

Will I be able to perform professional acts without a supervisor? 

No. To perform reserved professional acts, you will need to be supervised by an authorized supervisor. 

Will my vacation days count toward the required number of hours? 

No. Vacation days, sick days and statutory holidays will not count toward the required number of hours. 

What should I do if my supervisor becomes unavailable? 

You should stop performing reserved professional acts until an authorized supervisor is appointed. 

Will I be able to change the start date of my probationary period? 

No. The date shown on the probationary certificate cannot be changed. If the date needs to be changed, the employer will need to cancel the probationary period and submit a new application. 

What title should I use during the probationary period? 

You should always present yourself as a trainee.