A licensed builder or vendor must meet and maintain the competency requirements put in place under section 38 of the New Home Construction Licensing Act, 2017 (NHCLA).
The following technical and business competencies are prerequisites for licensing:
- Business Planning and Management
- Financial Planning and Management
- Project Management and Supervision
- Legal Issues in Housing
- Customer Service and Tarion Requirements
- Building Codes *
- Construction Technology *
*Not required for vendor-only licence applications
One person or a group of people such as principals, directors or officers, or senior employees within the organization may hold the required competencies.
Meeting Competency Requirements
Applicants seeking a licence from the HCRA must first demonstrate they meet all competency requirements. Applicants for renewal may also have to demonstrate they meet all competency requirements if a competency-holder leaves the organization.
There are three ways to meet the competency requirements (note that applicants only need to pursue one of the following options):
- Successfully completing HCRA-approved courses
- Successfully completing a challenge exam for a required course through Algonquin College or Training Ontario, or buildABILITY
- Successfully satisfying the equivalency process.
Completing Approved Courses or a Challenge Exam
A person or group of people (principals, directors, officers or senior employees) within the organization must successfully complete the HCRA-approved courses or complete a challenge exam by achieving a passing grade of at least 70% for each required competency. Before submitting the application for licensing, applicants need to contact the course provider(s) and formally request them to forward their statement of achievement (or similar verification of successful course completion) directly to the HCRA.
The Registrar approves the following courses and providers as meeting competency and qualification requirements under the NHCLA.
| Training Ontario | Algonquin College Corporate Training | buildABILITY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Planning & Management Demonstrate business planning and management acumen through either: Five or more years’ experience actively owning-operating or managing a business; Completed post-secondary courses related to business planning or management, or CPA designation. | |||
| Financial Planning & Management Demonstrate an understanding of accounting and finance principles through either: Five or more years’ experience actively managing a business; Completed post-secondary courses related to accounting and finance; or CPA designation. | |||
| Project Management & Supervision Demonstrate residential construction management experience through either: Five or more years’ experience in managing or site supervision on residential construction sector projects; completed post-secondary Project Management courses specialized in construction; or hold a Canadian Construction Association- Gold Seal Certification. | |||
| Legal Issues in Housing Demonstrate legal knowledge in the residential construction sector through either: Five or more years of experience in writing and managing legal contracts in the residential construction sector; completed post-secondary degree or courses related to residential construction law; or Law Society of Ontario licence. | |||
| Building Codes in Ontario Demonstrate knowledge of the Ontario Building Code for residential homes through either: Five or more years of current experience designing structures for residential occupancy; Completion of Ontario Building Code course related to residential buildings in the last five years hold designations, such as BCIN, P. Eng in Structural engineering, Ontario Architects’ Association, Red SealCarpenter (issued in Ontario). | |||
| Construction Technology Demonstrate knowledge and practice in the design, construction and quality of high-performance housing through either: Five or more years of experience; Completion of post-secondary degree or courses on building science in residential structures; or hold designations, such as P. Eng in Structural engineering, Ontario Architects’ Association licence holder, or Certified Engineering Technologist. | |||
| Customer Service & Tarion Requirements Demonstrate knowledge of currency and clean claims history. Generally speaking, applicants will be required to complete this course. However, if an applicant can show a lengthy, recent history of registration with Tarion without events of significant concern, the Registrar may consider granting this equivalency. |
*Click the help icon for more information on education, experience and professional designations substantially equivalent to approved courses.
Course Equivalencies
The Registrar may grant recognition when an applicant successfully demonstrates they already have sufficient knowledge in one or more competencies through previous experience in the industry, a professional designation, or completion of similar education courses that are substantially equivalent to the approved courses.
If an applicant chooses to proceed with the course equivalency process, they should not submit an application for a licence until the Registrar makes a determination about the equivalencies. Providing adequate evidence and documentation to demonstrate equivalency (detailed below) will aid the Registrar in making a timely determination. If an applicant does submit an application for licence, the HCRA will consider the application after the Registrar makes a determination about the equivalencies.
Evidence of Equivalency
To receive an equivalency, the applicant must satisfy the Registrar that their education, experience, or field of practice (or combination thereof) is comparable to the technical aspects of Ontario’s new home construction industry. While the exact combination of evidence required will be different for each applicant, the HCRA requires applicants to provide certain specific and sufficient information/documentation to consider the application for equivalency.
For evidence of education or technical expertise, an applicant could provide copies of:
- Relevant transcripts
- Diplomas
- Degrees
- Professional certifications
- Other relevant third-party supporting information.
For evidence of experience, an applicant could provide:
- Reference letters (note that the letter must also include the referee’s full name, job title, email address, and telephone number) detailing the types of tasks performed, projects undertaken, positions held, and start and end dates from:
- Previous or current clients
- Previous or current employers
- Previous or current professional associates (e.g. trades or other businesses with whom the applicant has worked)
- Evidence of the business (e.g. business number, Articles of Incorporation, Master Business Licence)
Pre-qualification Survey
To apply for an equivalency, applicants must complete the Pre-qualification Survey, attach all appropriate documentation and submit it to the HCRA, by email or by mail, along with the applicant’s resume. There is no fee for this service.
- Email
competency_info@hcraontario.ca - Mail
Home Construction Regulatory Authority
Licensing and Customer Service Department
40 Sheppard Ave. W, Suite 400
Toronto, ON M2N 6K9
HCRA staff will advise the potential applicant if they require additional information to assess experience or course equivalencies.