OMVIC’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program will reinforce our collective commitment to a professional, knowledgeable, and consumer-focused motor vehicle sales industry. This initiative marks a crucial step in helping Ontario’s registered dealers and salespersons stay ahead in an ever-evolving market.
Professional development is more than just fulfilling a requirement—it’s about elevating our industry’s reputation. Dealers and salespersons are the face of Ontario’s auto retail sector, and their expertise directly impacts consumer confidence. By investing in education, we ensure that every transaction is transparent, ethical, and compliant with Ontario’s Motor Vehicle Dealers Act.
To learn more about the program, please watch the video below:
Launching April 1, 2026, all dealers and salespersons renewing their registration on or after July 1, 2026, will be required to complete OMVIC’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program prior to renewal.
In December 2021, the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario released the “December 2021 Value-for-Money Audit Report.”. Several recommendations were made, including: “To enforce consumer protection in the motor vehicle industry, and to ensure that motor vehicle dealers and salespersons are up to date on changes to the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act, 2002, we recommend that the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services introduce mandatory continuing education requirements for motor vehicle dealers and salespersons.”
The automotive industry is evolving rapidly, with electrification, digital transformation, and changing consumer expectations redefining how business is done. As the first program of its kind for Ontario’s motor vehicle sales industry, CPD helps strengthen your business by keeping you up to date on regulations, industry trends, and consumer expectations.
The program applies to all dealers and salespersons. Dealers and salespersons must complete their CPD before they can renew their registration. If a dealer or salesperson does not complete CPD by their renewal date, they will not be able to renew their registration.
There will be a fee for the required 4-6 hours of CPD dealers and salespersons will need to complete. Fees will be based on a cost recovery model covering only the expenses involved in delivering the training and will be determined following an upcoming consultation.
| Requirement | Timing | |
|---|---|---|
| Dealers | Completion of the CPD program, including a final assessment (test), which requires a minimum passing grade of 80%. | Annually (within the 90-day window before renewal date) |
| Salespersons | Completion of the CPD program, including a final assessment (test), which requires a minimum passing grade of 80%. | Bi-annually (within the 90-day window before renewal date) |
| Grandfathered Registrants (those registered before January 1, 2010) | Dealers and salespersons who were registered before January 1st, 2010, with renewal dates on or after July 1st, 2026, will be required to complete the Georgian College Key Elements Course. | Complete before renewal date |
At least one person representing a dealer must complete the CPD requirements (in some situations, more):
The CPD learning will take approximately four to six hours to complete in total.
We are currently developing our CPD content. More details will be provided when they are available.
The CPD program will only be offered online to ensure it is accessible. Dealers and salespersons will be able to complete their CPD requirements via desktop, mobile or tablet devices, and will be able to access their CPD anywhere they can access their portal.
There will be a final assessment (test) after the program has been completed to provide learners with an opportunity to evaluate their understanding of the content. A minimum passing grade of 80% will be required to receive the certificate of completion. Measures will be in place to confirm the registrant’s identity, to ensure they are the person completing CPD.
To help you prepare, OMVIC will be hosting webinars and in-person events across Ontario to discuss the CPD program. The first CPD webinar is taking place on April 28, 2025, at 12 p.m. ET with Jeff Donnelly, OMVIC’s Chief Consumer Protection Officer. Click here to register.
If you have any questions about the CPD program, email us at [email protected].
