Three Routes Start
Apprenticeship

HVAC / refrigeration mechanic

DEP Réfrigération (1,800 h) + CCQ frigoriste apprenticeship, 4 periods

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$2,300
Typical debt after$0
Demand in QuebecHigh

The first ten years

schoolschoolearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearn
Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

What's in "net by year 10"
Earnings, years 1 to 10$649k1 year at $0 while in school, then $48,600 rising to $81,100 by year five, flat after
Program cost−$2ktuition and fees
Typical (medians)$646kthe number on the card
Low to high$549k to $744kpay 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 isInstalling and servicing heating, cooling and refrigeration systems. Increasingly technical as heat pumps and controls become standard.
What actually stops peopleSponsoring employer.
The downsideAttics in July and rooftops in January. Demand is high partly because the work is uncomfortable.
If you're the parentOne of the fastest-growing trades because of electrification. Your child would earn while training and finish debt-free.
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.

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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

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

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In QuebecNon-CCQ service and maintenance employers also hire DEP grads directly.
www.quebec.ca

✓ Verified 2026-10-09 for Quebec Sources: CCQ frigoriste rates (SQI table, Jan 2026); IMT 72402 median $40/h; MESS Diagnostic 2025-2029: léger déficit

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