The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) says a complete and compliant licence application is processed within 60 days of receipt, after which it convenes the guarantor (répondant) to the exams. That is not a promise of a licence in 60 days: the exams and results come after. Right now, delays are longer: on September 25, 2026, the RBQ was processing regular applications received on August 25, 2026. Failing a retake adds at least 4 months.
Here is what sets the timeline, step by step, and what you can do to speed it up.
The steps that take time
| Step | Published delay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Processing a complete application | 60 days from receipt (stated delay) | RBQ, Pour qui, comment, combien (opens in a new tab) |
| Incomplete application | The RBQ contacts you within 15 days | RBQ, Pour qui, comment, combien (opens in a new tab) |
| Current backlog (September 25, 2026) | Regular received August 25, 2026; priority received September 15, 2026 being processed | RBQ banner on licence pages (opens in a new tab) |
| Exam convocation | Date set by the RBQ, sent in writing | RBQ, Pour qui, comment, combien (opens in a new tab) |
| Results | By mail, once every guarantor has finished | RBQ exam FAQ (opens in a new tab) |
| Retake request | Within 30 days of the notice you receive | Failure or absence page (opens in a new tab) |
| Failing or missing the retake | 4-month wait after the decision | B-1.1, r. 9, s. 18 (opens in a new tab) |
The RBQ does not publish a total timeline from application to licence. Be wary of anyone promising a licence in a set number of weeks.
An incomplete application costs time and money
If your application is incomplete or non-compliant, the RBQ contacts the business within 15 days. If the missing items do not arrive in time, the RBQ keeps the processing fees (frais), refunds the licence duties (droits), and you have to file a new application with new fees. Check everything before you send it, using the list of documents to include and ways to pay for the application.
The current backlog, dated
On September 25, 2026, the RBQ said its processing delays were longer than usual. It was processing:
- regular applications received on August 25, 2026, roughly a one-month queue;
- priority applications received on September 15, 2026, roughly a 10-day queue.
These dates change often. Check the banner on the RBQ licence pages before you plan.
The convocation: the RBQ sets the date
There is no online booking calendar. Once the application is processed, the RBQ writes to the guarantor with the date, time and address of the regional office. The RBQ accepts no postponement except for a serious reason.
For scale: the RBQ sent 7,002 exam convocations in 2024-2025. According to its annual report, 73% were sent within 15 days of the application, against an 80% target.
If you want to write in English, the exam titles must appear in English on your convocation notice; if they do not, notify the RBQ at least 7 days before the exam. See how to take the RBQ exam in English.
The RBQ says the guarantor should be ready to sit the exams when the application is filed. That is the single most useful tip for saving time: do not treat the processing period as study time.
Results come when every guarantor has finished
Results arrive by mail after the last exam. If the licence has more than one guarantor (for example, one for administration and another for the trade exam), the RBQ waits until all of them have finished before sending results. One guarantor sitting an exam later holds everyone up.
The RBQ never gives results by phone.
Failing the retake adds 4 months
A failure is not the end, but it costs time:
- You request the retake within 30 days of the notice you receive, with payment.
- The RBQ convenes you to a new session.
- If you fail the retake, or do not show up, you wait 4 months after the decision before you can be admitted to that exam again.
Before March 1, 2026, the wait was 6 months. Full details: RBQ exam retake rules.
Three ways to speed things up
If you are thinking of a shortcut through a licence that already exists, first read what buying or renting an RBQ licence involves.
1. Priority processing
The RBQ offers priority processing for a higher fee. It is not available when the guarantor’s competencies are assessed by exam or professional file: if your guarantor sits the exams, this lever does not apply. For a new licence in 2026:
| Licence | Regular processing | Priority processing |
|---|---|---|
| General (or general and specialized) | $1,291.69 | $1,698.84 |
| Specialized only (Schedules II and III) | $849.41 | $1,256.56 |
2026 rates, not taxable, indexed every January 1. Exam fees ($105.27 per exam) are not doubled. On September 25, 2026, the priority queue was about 10 days, against about a month for the regular queue. Total your own costs with the RBQ licence fee calculator.
2. Exam exemptions
An exam you do not have to sit cannot hold you up. Section 20 of the regulation provides two exemptions:
- an RBQ-recognized training program (certificates issued from 2014 onward only);
- having been a guarantor in the same field during the last 5 years.
According to the RBQ FAQ, a recognized-program certificate can even be filed without waiting the 4 months after a failure. See RBQ licence without the exam.
3. Being ready before you file
Every failed exam sets you back at least one session. The fastest route is to pass the first time. Know the RBQ exam format and practise under real time limits.
Do not forget the bond
A contractor licence requires a licence bond (cautionnement) of $40,000 if it includes any general subclass, or $20,000 if it only includes specialized subclasses. There are two exceptions: owner-builders (constructeur-propriétaire), and a licence limited to subclasses 1.1.1 and 1.1.2. Bonds are available through contractor associations, some insurance companies and most surety companies. Arrange it alongside the application so it does not add a delay on your side.
For the full path by licence type, see how to get an RBQ licence in Quebec.
FAQ
How long does it take to get an RBQ licence?
The RBQ publishes no total timeline. It states 60 days to process a complete application, before the exams and results. On September 25, 2026, the regular queue was running about a month behind.
Is priority processing worth it?
It costs $407.15 more for a new licence in 2026. On September 25, 2026, the priority queue was about 10 days, against about a month for regular applications. It is only available when no competency is assessed by exam or professional file.
Can I choose my exam date?
No. The RBQ sets the date and sends it in writing. No postponement is accepted except for a serious reason.
Why haven’t my results arrived?
If the licence has more than one guarantor, the RBQ waits until all of them have finished their exams before sending results.
To be ready on the day you file, you can check your level with RBQexam’s free timed practice exam. RBQexam is not affiliated with the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.
Information current as of September 26, 2026. Delays: RBQ status as of September 25, 2026, to be rechecked at every update. Fees: 2026 rates.