This section is intended for individuals who are pursuing or wish to pursue activities as certified representatives or independent representatives in the distribution of financial products and services.

To be authorized to advise consumers and to sell financial products and services, you must obtain the right to practice pursuant to An Act respecting the distribution of financial products and services This link will open in a new window.

Issuance of certificate

The AMF will issue a representative's certificate in your name if you comply with the following requirements:

• Meet the minimum training requirements;
• Pass the examinations;
• Complete a probationary period;
• Meet the conditions for the issuance of a certificate, as provided by the Act respecting the distribution of financial products and services;
• Pay the annual fees and other fees payable for the issuance of the certificate.

The certificate is valid for a one-year period and entitles you to pursue your activities.

Right to practise

For an individual, the right to practise means obtaining a representative's certificate and being authorized to carry on professional activities in one of the following manners:

An individual may carry on activities:

• on behalf of one or more firms as an attached representative; or
• on behalf of an independent partnership as an employee or partner of the partnership; or
• as an independent representative.

Carrying on activities on behalf of a firm

A certified representative who carries on activities on behalf of a firm is referred to as an "attached representative." Except for the securities sector, a representative may be attached to more than one firm.

To obtain a right to practise, an individual must:

• file an Application for a representative's certificate (pdf - 496 KB)This link will open in a new windowUpdated on May 27, 2024Application for a representative’s certificate;
• confirm that he or she is attached to one or more firms, using the declaration included with the application for a certificate (pdf - 496 KB)This link will open in a new windowUpdated on May 27, 2024Application for a representative’s certificate. The firm is responsible for registering with the AMF.

Carrying on activities on behalf of an independent partnership

A certified representative who carries on activities on behalf of an independent partnership acts as an employee or partner of the partnership.

To obtain a right to practise, an individual must:

• file an Application for a representative's certificate (pdf - 496 KB)This link will open in a new windowUpdated on May 27, 2024Application for a representative’s certificate;
• confirm that he or she is acting on behalf of an independent partnership, using the declaration included with the application for a certificate (pdf - 496 KB)This link will open in a new windowUpdated on May 27, 2024Application for a representative’s certificate. The independent partnership is responsible for registering with the AMF.

Carrying on activities as an independent representative

An independent representative carries on activities without being attached to a firm or without being a partner or employee of an independent partnership.

To obtain a right to practise, an individual must:

• submit the Registration of independent representative application (pdf - 585 KB)This link will open in a new windowUpdated on January 27, 2024 and wait until you have received a client number;
  and
• file an Application for a representative's certificate (pdf - 496 KB)This link will open in a new windowUpdated on May 27, 2024Application for a representative’s certificate.