In 2026, three changes directly affect RBQ exam candidates: fees were indexed on January 1 ($105.27 per exam), retakes follow a new 4-month rule since March 1, and the Construction Code transition period was extended to October 17, 2027. On top of that, the prevention program regulation was repealed in October 2025, and a proposed bond increase is not in force yet. Here is each change, with its date and source.
For a printable version of these dates, see our RBQ regulatory calendar 2025 to 2027.
The timeline
| Date | Change | Status on September 26, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| April 17, 2025 | Chapter I, Building: NBC 2020 as amended for Québec in force | In force |
| October 1, 2025 | Regulation respecting prevention programs (S-2.1, r. 10) repealed | In force |
| January 1, 2026 | Licence and exam fees indexed | In force |
| February 12, 2026 | New version of section 17: a passed exam stays valid for 5 years | In force |
| March 1, 2026 | Retakes: 4-month wait instead of 6 | In force |
| September 10, 2026 | Transition period extended by one year | In force |
| February 2026 | Draft: bond raised to $60,000 and $30,000 | Draft only |
| January 1, 2029 | New information required in a licence application | Coming |
January 1, 2026: fees indexed
The fees set in regulation B-1.1, r. 9 were indexed on January 1, 2026, according to the notice published in the Gazette officielle of November 22, 2025 (page 638). For exams, that means:
- Exam: $105.27 per person, per exam (2026 fee). It was $103.22 in 2025 and $100.51 in 2024.
- Retake after a failure: $105.27 per exam (2026 fee).
- Recognition of a training program: $105.27 (2026 fee).
RBQ fees are indexed every January 1 and are not taxable. On September 26, 2026, no 2027 version of section 53 had been published. Expect new amounts on January 1, 2027. Our RBQ licence fee calculator and the RBQ fees 2026 cheat sheet have the details.
March 1, 2026: the 4-month rule
This is the biggest change for candidates. The new version of section 18 has been in force since March 1, 2026 (order in council 38-2026).
- You get one retake (in the official English, a supplemental examination), which you must request within 30 days of the notice you receive. Payment goes with the request.
- If you fail the retake, do not show up for it or do not request it in time, you must wait 4 months after the RBQ’s decision before you can be admitted to that exam again.
- Before March 1, 2026, the wait was 6 months.
The workarounds are closed
The RBQ FAQ says that since March 1, 2026, you can no longer file a new licence application or modification request to retake an exam sooner. The abbreviated application after missing an exam is gone too.
One exception remains, according to the same FAQ: a certificate from a recognized training program can be filed without waiting the 4 months. See getting an RBQ licence without the exam.
The full details are in our article on RBQ exam retake rules.
Passed exams: 5 years
Since February 12, 2026, the version of section 17 in force says a passed exam stays valid for 5 years. If you passed one exam but not the others, that is how long you have to complete your file.
October 1, 2025: prevention program regulation repealed
The Regulation respecting prevention programs (S-2.1, r. 10) was repealed on October 1, 2025 by order in council 1155-2025. The same order brought a regulation on prevention and participation mechanisms in establishments (S-2.1, r. 8.3) into force on the same date.
What does not change for construction sites: the Act respecting occupational health and safety (LSST) still requires a site-specific prevention program once 10 workers are expected on site at the same time (s. 198), and requires sending it to the CNESST (the Commission) once there are 20 (s. 200). For the Site Safety Management exam, the trap is studying the repealed regulation as if it still applied. See our article on the construction site prevention program.
The Construction Code: in force and in transition
Since April 17, 2025, Chapter I, Building, of the Québec Construction Code has been based on the National Building Code 2020 (NBC 2020), with Québec’s amendments.
On August 26, 2026, the RBQ announced regulations in force on September 10, 2026 that extend the transition period by one year:
- Building: the version of Chapter I in force before April 17, 2025 can still be used if the work began before October 17, 2027.
- Electrical: the version of Chapter V in force before March 26, 2026 can still be used if the work began before October 17, 2027.
The exam raises a different question: which edition is on the table? The Project and Site Management information sheet (December 2024 update) still lists the NBC 2015 as amended. We explain the gap in which building code the RBQ exam uses.
A proposed bond increase (February 2026)
In February 2026, the RBQ published a draft regulation that would raise the licence bond from $40,000 to $60,000 (general contractor) and from $20,000 to $30,000 (specialized contractor). On September 26, 2026, the draft was still at the comment review stage, and the RBQ said no regulation was about to come into force.
The amounts in force are still $40,000 and $20,000. See RBQ licence bond.
What is coming in 2029
Order in council 38-2026 also added to section 12 of regulation B-1.1, r. 9 new information to provide in a licence application (about shareholders, trustees and officers of shareholders). Those paragraphs are marked as coming into force on January 1, 2029. They do not affect the exam content, but they matter for your application if you run a company.
What this means for your preparation
- Throw out notes that mention 6 months, 25 workers or regulation S-2.1, r. 10.
- Recheck every dollar amount: fees change every January 1.
- Read your exam’s information sheet to see which code edition will be handed out.
- Plan around the retake: with one retake and a 4-month wait after it, being ready on the first try matters more than before.
Our list of common RBQ exam mistakes covers several of these changes too.
FAQ
What changed for RBQ exam retakes in 2026?
Since March 1, 2026, the wait after failing or missing the retake is 4 months after the RBQ’s decision, instead of 6. You can no longer use a new licence application to retake the exam sooner.
How much does the RBQ exam cost in 2026?
$105.27 per person, per exam (2026 fee), and the same for a retake. The amount will be indexed on January 1, 2027.
Did the licence bond go up in 2026?
No. A February 2026 draft proposes $60,000 and $30,000, but on September 26, 2026 it was still at the comment review stage. The amounts in force are $40,000 and $20,000.
Which building code applies in 2026?
Chapter I, Building, based on the NBC 2020 as amended for Québec, has been in force since April 17, 2025. The old version can still be used for work begun before October 17, 2027.
Does the prevention program regulation still apply?
No. It was repealed on October 1, 2025. The site obligations in sections 198 and 200 of the LSST remain.
To practise on material that is current for 2026, you can try RBQexam’s free timed practice exam. RBQexam is not affiliated with the Régie du bâtiment du Québec.
Information current as of September 26, 2026. Fees: 2026 rates, to be rechecked on January 1, 2027.