In  Quebec, journeyperson painters and body repair technicians who hold a valid qualification card are now eligible to receive I-CAR equivalencies.

This decision is a direct result of the collaboration between I-CAR Canada and members of the I-CAR Quebec Committee, who came to a mutual agreement in regard to the pertinence of awarding CPA competency card equivalencies to journeypersons according to the same criteria that applies to workers holding a body repair trade school diploma (DEP).

I-CAR Canada has offered journeyperson equivalency in other provinces for the last five years and has now expanded the program to Quebec. Through this latest initiative, painters and body repair technicians in the province are required to successfully complete professional automotive sectorial qualification certificate exams as proof of their mastery of the same skills delivered through I-CAR courses.

In order to justify the emission of course credits, a detailed analysis of I-CAR training modules was performed to make sure that the content of the I-CAR training modules are covered in the sectorial qualification exams.

Journeyperson painters are now eligible to receive credits for the following courses: REF01, REF02, REF04, REF07, REF09, REF10, and WKR01.

Journeyperson body repair technicians are now eligible to receive credits for: MEA01, STS01, WCS06e and WKR01.

According to I-CAR Canada Director, Andrew Shepherd, the objective is to recognize collision repair skills, no matter where these skills were acquired. “This is a major step forward for Quebec shops,” proclaimed Shepherd.

I-CAR Quebec Committee President, Caroline Lacasse, is very pleased about the decision.  “The addition of I-CAR credits to the trade school diplomas and automotive sectorial qualification cards is a valuable asset for workers seeking to obtain I-CAR Platinum certification, as well as providing extra motivation to take more courses,” stated Lacasse.