This section allows you to learn more about the pathway to the notarial profession. Here is a graphic overview (in French) of the main steps of the pathway to the profession, shown in more detail below.
Steps of the pathway to the profession
Individuals registered in the Master of Laws in Notarial Law program will receive an invitation from the Order in January to register for the Professional Training Program.
This program, which is a prerequisite to practice the notarial profession, is aimed at achieving the following objectives:
- Integration of knowledge and development of skills in professional law;
- Acquisition of skills and knowledge in nonlegal fields related to the exercise of the notarial profession.
The first part of the training program deals with the following topics:
- Notarial environment
- Professional and administrative obligations
- Skills maintenance and development
- Various modes of practice
- The notary’s professional liability and insurance
- Ethics and the role of the public officer
- Inspection and standards of practice
- Conciliation, review, compensation, discipline and provisional custody
- Office management and marketing of professional services – Module 1
- Accounting and trust accounts
- Notarial formalities
- Formalities for technology-based notarial deeds
Conditions for admission: Have completed the training in Part 1.
Format: In-class or remote written exam on the training content of Part 1.
In the event of failure of the examination of the Order:
The candidate is entitled to two attempts, pursuant to article 11 of the Règlement sur les conditions et modalités de délivrance des permis de la Chambre des notaires du Québec (Regulation respecting terms and conditions for the issuance of permits by the Chambre des notaires du Québec) [in French]
Candidates who fail the exam at the second attempt have no further right to repeat and are disqualified from re-registering in the Professional Training Program.
What is disqualification?
Disqualification is the termination of a right. In other words, a disqualified candidate is expelled from the Professional Training Program and will not be allowed to re-register.
Request for review:
Candidates may submit a written request for review to the Order within 15 days following receipt of their evaluation results, along with payment of administration fees [in French].
Candidates must indicate their reasons for requesting a review.
The Order will render a decision within 30 days following receipt of the request.
The score given after review is final.
Individuals who are dissatisfied with a decision or experiencing difficulties or problems with obtaining a permit or becoming a member of the Order may file a complaint with the Commissaire à l’admission aux professions.
Professional internship with a notary acting as internship supervisor.
The second part of the training deals with the following topic:
Office management and marketing of professional services – Module 2
Conditions for admission:
- have successfully passed the Order’s examination
- have a Master of Laws in Notarial Law or a letter of accomplishment issued by the university
Format:
This evaluation comprises three steps: a written opinion on a case study in professional law followed by an oral test and, where applicable, the drafting of an addendum providing additional information.
The candidate must provide their written opinion to the Order within 30 days following the opening of the case study.
In the event of failure
The candidate may avail themselves of their right to a second attempt, pursuant to article 11 of the Règlement sur les conditions et modalités de délivrance des permis de la Chambre des notaires du Québec (Regulation respecting terms and conditions for the issuance of permits by the Chambre des notaires du Québec) [in French]
Candidates who fail the case study at the second attempt have no further right to repeat and are disqualified from re-registering in the Professional Training Program.
What is disqualification?
Disqualification is the termination of a right. In other words, a disqualified candidate is expelled from the Professional Training Program and will not be allowed to re-register.
Request for review:
Candidates may submit a written request for review to the Order within 15 days following receipt of their evaluation results, along with payment of administration fees [in French].
Candidates must indicate their reasons for requesting a review.
The Order will render a decision within 30 days following receipt of the request.
The score given after review is final.
Individuals who are dissatisfied with a decision or experiencing difficulties or problems with obtaining a permit or becoming a member of the Order may file a complaint with the Commissaire à l’admission aux professions.
The Order is responsible for verifying that candidates possess a knowledge of French that is appropriate to the practice of the profession.
This is a linguistic requirement pursuant to section 35 of the Charter of the French language
A person is deemed to have the appropriate knowledge if
(1) he has received, full time, no less than three years of secondary or post-secondary instruction provided in French;
(2) he has passed the fourth or fifth year secondary level examinations in French as the first language;
(3) from and after the school year 1985-86, he obtains a secondary school certificate in Québec.
In all other cases, a person must obtain a certificate issued by the Office québécois de la langue française or hold a certificate defined as equivalent by regulation of the Government.
Further information is provided in the following three links:
Information on the French exam [in French]
Information on obtaining the attestation of knowledge of French [in French]
Frequently asked questions about the French exam [in French]
Before issuing a license to practice and authorizing registration on the roll of the Order, the Chambre des notaires ensures that candidates possess the morals, conduct, competency and qualities required to exercise the notarial profession.
Private swearing-in ceremonies are possible for candidates who are not eligible for the swearing-in ceremony organized by the Chambre des notaires or who prefer not to attend.
Detailed notary training requirements [in French]
Professional Training Program policy [in French]
2023–2024 fee schedule [in French]
Chart of required skills [in French]
Procedural rules applicable when going before the Notarial Profession Governance Committee [in French]