How does starting without a DEP change the apprenticeship?

Without a DEP, you do not receive the hour credit usually granted to graduates. DEP 5330 is an 1,800-hour program, about 17 months, and it typically credits 1,800 hours toward the apprenticeship. If you start straight in a shop, those hours still have to be worked under supervision until you reach the threshold set by your regional CPA and become eligible for the qualification exam.

The required hours vary by region and often fall between 6,000 and 8,000 hours over about four years. The exam typically includes a written part and a practical part. A card issued by one CPA is recognized by the other CPAs in Quebec. If there is no joint committee in your region, that card is not required, though an employer may still ask for experience or training.