Labour mobility

RECO supports the transition of real estate professionals from other Canadian provinces and territories through the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009. This legislation aligns with the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, ensuring that individuals registered or licensed elsewhere in Canada can apply for registration to trade in real estate in Ontario without unnecessary barriers.

To be eligible, interprovincial applicants must be currently licensed or registered in their originating jurisdiction and will be required to:

• Complete the Interprovincial Challenge Examination

• Secure employment by an Ontario real estate brokerage

• Submit a completed interprovincial application and pay the application fee

• Provide licensing history from their qualifying jurisdiction (For deemed certification the applicant is not required to submit licensing history.)
• Apply for a Canadian Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC) through RECO’s exclusive provider, Triton Canada
• Pay the required professional liability insurance

Important notes

The Interprovincial Challenge Examination is a focused assessment of Ontario-specific legislation, rules, and regulatory requirements. The exam is not designed to reassess professional knowledge or experience gained in other Canadian jurisdictions. Successful completion of the Interprovincial Challenge Examination fulfils the education requirement to apply for registration under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 (TRESA); however, applicants must still meet all other registration requirements before registration will be approved.

Successful completion of the Interprovincial Challenge Examination allows qualified applicants to acquire registration with RECO in the equivalent category as the one currently registered to them in their originating jurisdiction(s). When applying for registration, RECO will (at that time) determine the applicant’s eligibility for salesperson or broker registration under TRESA.

Deemed certification

(Effective January 1, 2026)

Deemed certification is a certification option available under the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009. It allows eligible out-of-province applicants to temporarily trade in real estate in Ontario for up to six months while completing the full registration process.

Deemed certification is intended as a short-term bridge only and does not replace the existing interprovincial registration process.

Who can apply for deemed certification

You may be eligible for deemed certification if you:

• Hold a valid Canadian out-of-province licence or registration to trade in real estate
• Are in good standing with your current regulator(s)
• Have secured employment by an Ontario real estate brokerage

What deemed certification allows

If approved for deemed certification, you may:

• Trade in real estate in Ontario for up to six months

Important limitations of deemed certification

Before applying, you should carefully consider the following limitations:

• Deemed certification is temporary, non-renewable, and may only be used once
• The maximum duration is six months
• All standard registration requirements must be completed within the six-month period
• If you do not qualify for full registration by the end of the six months, you must cease trading in real estate in Ontario

Full application fees and professional practice insurance are required. If your out‑of‑province licence or registration has a term, condition, or limitation that RECO does not also impose, you cannot apply for deemed certification. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for full registration as early as possible to avoid a gap in their ability to trade in real estate in Ontario.

How to apply for deemed certification

To apply, you must:

• Secure employment by an Ontario real estate brokerage
• Complete the Interprovincial Challenge Examination
• Submit a completed deemed certification application and pay the full application fee
• Provide proof of a valid out-of-province licence or registration
• Attest to criteria demonstrating good standing and good character in respect of the regulated occupation
• Apply for a Canadian Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC) through RECO’s exclusive provider, Triton Canada
• Pay the required professional liability insurance

When deemed certification ends

Your deemed certification to trade in real estate in Ontario will end when your six-month deemed certification period expires, or if any of the following occur:

You become registered in Ontario

If you apply for registration in Ontario through the interprovincial registration pathway and your application is approved, your deemed certification ends when you are registered.

Your registration application is refused

If you apply for registration in Ontario and your application is refused, your deemed certification ends when:

The time to request a review or appeal has passed and no review or appeal is requested or a review or appeal has been completed, and the refusal decision is upheld and communicated to you.

Your information is inaccurate or no longer accurate

If it is determined that any information you provided in support of your deemed certification was inaccurate when provided, or is no longer accurate, your deemed certification to trade in real estate in Ontario will end.

Deemed Certification Application (available in MyWeb)
Interprovincial Salesperson & Broker Registration Application (available in MyWeb)

Interprovincial Challenge Examination
Education Equivalency Assessment