How long does it take?

About 1.5 years, first real paycheque in about 2 years.

Apprenticeship

Electrician

Q: How much does a electrician earn in Quebec?

Roughly $48,600 in the first years and $81,100 by year five (Quebec median, before tax). Source: Inforoute FPT DEP 5295 fees 2025-26; CCQ rates (SQI table, Jan 2026: compagnon $50.67, apprentice period 2 $30.40); IMT median $42/h; MESS Diagnostic 2025-2029: léger déficit.

Q: What does it cost in Quebec?

About $2,100 in tuition and fees; typical debt if you borrow $0. DEP hours count 1.5x, so DEP grads enter at apprentice period 2 (60% of compagnon). Earnings assume 1,600 seasonal hours. DEP fees ~$900 plus ~$1,200 tools.

DEP Électricité (1,800 h) + CCQ apprenticeship, 4 periods of 2,000 h, then compagnon

Numbers for 22 of 30 verified for Quebec; "start something" routes use national figures · How we verify

Quebec works differently: trades are a nearly free DEP then a CCQ apprenticeship; college is a 3-year DEC at a cégep (tuition-free for residents); university is 3 years after a 2-year pre-university DEC. Numbers from IMT en ligne, CCQ, FIQ scales and the Relance surveys.

Years to credential1.5

First real paycheque~2 year

Time in a classroom15%

Total cost$2,100

Typical debt after$0

Demand in QuebecHigh

The first ten years

schoolschoolearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearn

Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

Quebec median before tax. Overtime, location and specialisation change this a lot. Net by year 10 after program cost: $647k, low to high $549k to $744k.

What's in "net by year 10"

Earnings, years 1 to 10	$649k	1 year at $0 while in school, then $48,600 rising to $81,100 by year five, flat after
Program cost	−$2k	tuition and fees
Typical (medians)	$647k	the number on the card
Low to high	$549k to $744k	pay 15% under or over the median, cost 15% more or 10% less

Not counted: income tax, rent, food, loan interest, inflation, and unemployment gaps. They apply to every route, so they change the size of each number more than the order. Pay is the Quebec median before tax from the sources on this page.

The picture

What the day-to-day isYou spend roughly four days a week on site with a journeyperson and eight weeks a year in trade school, paid throughout. Work ranges from wiring new houses to industrial panels.

What actually stops peopleFinding an employer to sponsor you. The schooling is the easy part.

The downsideTwo to six months of job-hunting before you start is normal. Construction work is cyclical and the first year is a lot of carrying things.

If you're the parentYour child would be earning from month one, finish with no debt, and hold a licence that is in demand across Canada. The risk is the first job hunt, not the exam.

Local opportunities in Quebec

Ready to explore this for real?

Eight quick questions about whether this route fits your life, not just your grades. You'll get a readiness check, and if you want, we'll introduce you to employers, unions or programs in your region.

Check my readiness

How to enter

What you need

No specific courses or average; Grade 12 (or equivalent) and a willingness to show up

Deadlines in Quebec

DEP (diplôme d'études professionnelles) through your school board, intakes in fall and winter; then CCQ for construction trades
Secondary 4 or 5 can start a DEP

Next steps in Quebec

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In QuebecDEP hours count 1.5x, so DEP grads enter at apprentice period 2 (60% of compagnon). Earnings assume 1,600 seasonal hours. DEP fees ~$900 plus ~$1,200 tools.

inforoutefpt.org · www.quebec.ca

✓ Verified 2026-10-09 for Quebec Sources: Inforoute FPT DEP 5295 fees 2025-26; CCQ rates (SQI table, Jan 2026: compagnon $50.67, apprentice period 2 $30.40); IMT median $42/h; MESS Diagnostic 2025-2029: léger déficit

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