Yes, part of RBQ exam preparation is free: the sample questions, information sheets and competency profiles the RBQ publishes. As for courses that exempt you from an exam, the RBQ does not publish their prices, and we found no financial aid for the preparation itself.
We confirmed the aid below on official pages on 1 October 2026.
What is actually free
The RBQ (Régie du bâtiment du Québec) puts preparation material online itself:
- Sample questions. The Exemples de questions (opens in a new tab) page shows four examples, one per domain: administration, safety, project management and execution of work. Each example has choices A to D with the right answer marked. All exams are multiple choice with one correct answer.
- Information sheets and competency profiles. The Préparation aux examens (opens in a new tab) page offers PDFs: a general sheet for contractor candidates and one for owner-builder candidates (constructeur-propriétaire). Each exam also has its own information sheet and competency profile.
- The list of documents available at the exam. The same page gives it exam by exam. You can practise looking things up in them before the session.
This material is reliable because it comes from the source. It has a limit: four examples cannot measure your level or get you used to the clock. For a module-by-module plan, see how to prepare for the RBQ exam.
You still pay the exam fee
Preparing for free does not change the RBQ’s fees. The exam fee, 2026 fee, is $105.27 per person per exam. The same 2026 fee of $105.27 applies to an exam retake after a failure and to each training to be recognized.
Funded programs and programs for women in construction
Some people search for "free RBQ training for women".
The CCQ program for women
The Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) and its industry partners run a training program for women in companies (opens in a new tab). It is for women who recently entered the industry, hold a CCQ apprentice or occupation certificate and have 700 hours or fewer declared in their trade.
The industry’s employee training fund finances the program. It pays the company about 30% of the woman’s salary for up to 52 weeks, and the company is the one that takes part. It supports learning a trade on job sites and does not prepare for the RBQ licence or its exams; the page does not mention the RBQ.
The workforce training program
The Quebec government runs a workforce training program (opens in a new tab) that self-employed workers and private businesses can join. Support can cover costs such as a trainer’s fees. The amount is set case by case, after a needs analysis with a Services Québec advisor.
The page does not mention RBQ exam preparation. If you think your project qualifies, ask an advisor before you pay for a course.
What we did not find
On the official pages we read, we found no program that funds RBQ exam preparation, for women or for other candidates. Be wary of offers that claim otherwise without naming a specific program and its official page.
Recognized training that is free or subsidized: what to check
A course recognized by the RBQ (programme de formation reconnu) exempts you from the exam. Section 20 of the Regulation respecting the professional qualification of contractors and owner-builders (opens in a new tab) provides the exemption for a recognized program in the subject concerned. You present the attestation with your licence application (see the glossary). According to the RBQ’s FAQ, after a failure or an absence at an exam retake you must wait 4 months before filing a new licence application, unless you present attestations from courses given by recognized associations. See RBQ licence without an exam.
The list of recognized programs (opens in a new tab) includes programs from the ACQ, AMQ, APCHQ and APECQ, and one education-sector program: Gestion d’une entreprise de la construction (ASP 5309). The list gives codes, titles and update dates. It gives no prices and no funding.
Four checks before you enrol
- The program is on the RBQ list. A course that is not on it exempts you from nothing.
- It covers your exam. Each program is tied to a domain and, for execution of work, to subclasses. Your licence’s other exams still have to be passed.
- The attestation is recent. Since January 2023, only attestations issued from 2014 onward are valid.
- The price and the aid are in writing. Ask for the total price, what it includes and any available aid. The RBQ does not publish them.
The education-sector program
Québec.ca explains that the right to free schooling also applies to vocational training, with conditions set in the vocational training regulation for students aged 18 or older. The page also says a contribution cannot exceed the real cost of the good or service. These pages do not say whether the ASP 5309 program is free for you. Call the centre that offers it and ask what applies to your situation.
Free or paid: when paying to prepare is worth it
To compare recognized programs, prep courses and practice exams, see the RBQ courses guide.
| Route | What it does | Free? |
|---|---|---|
| Official RBQ material | Shows the format, the subject matter and the permitted documents | Yes, online |
| Recognized program | Exempts you from the exam for that domain | Price not published by the RBQ; check with the provider |
| Courses or practice exams | Help you pass the exam, without exempting you | Depends on the offer; check what is included |
Free material is enough if you know the subject and want to see the format. Paying becomes useful when you need a volume of questions, a timer and explained corrections. If an exemption applies to you, a recognized program can replace the exam. Choose by your goal.
FAQ
Is there free RBQ training?
There is free preparation material: the RBQ’s sample questions, information sheets and competency profiles. The list of recognized programs does not publish prices, so you cannot spot a free program on it without asking the provider.
Is there free RBQ training for women?
We found none on the official pages we read. The CCQ program for women funds the employer of an apprentice or of a woman who recently entered a trade. It is not aimed at the RBQ licence.
Can an RBQ-recognized course be subsidized?
It depends on the program and your situation. The Québec.ca workforce training program accepts self-employed workers, and the amount is set case by case. Ask a Services Québec advisor whether your course qualifies before you pay.
Where can I find free RBQ exam questions?
The RBQ’s Exemples de questions page shows four, one per domain, with the right answer marked. Any other file of questions comes from a third party: check its source before relying on it.
Do I still pay for the exam if my preparation was free?
Yes. The exam fee, 2026 fee, is $105.27 per person per exam.
To try before you pay, RBQexam offers a free diagnostic per exam and module 1 of the three management exams: see the free resources or take the timed practice exam. RBQexam is not affiliated with the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.
Information current to 1 October 2026. Fees are the 2026 tariff. Financial aid changes: check the official page before you enrol.