Subclass 1.2 (small buildings, Entrepreneur en petits bâtiments) and subclass 1.3 (buildings of all kinds, Entrepreneur en bâtiments de tout genre) are the two most widely held general contractor licences in Québec: 16,214 active licences hold 1.2 and 20,107 hold 1.3. The good news for the exam is that they share the same construction work competency profile, and everything tested for 1.2 is also tested for 1.3. The 1.3 adds only three skills. So the choice depends mostly on the work you want to do, as the RBQ defines it, not on how hard the exam is.
Small buildings or buildings of all kinds
The exact definition of each subclass (the work it covers and its limits) is in Schedule I of regulation B-1.1, r. 9 (opens in a new tab) and in the RBQ’s list of subclasses. We do not paraphrase it here: the official definition is what counts, and it is what you should read before choosing.
What we can say for certain:
- 1.2 and 1.3 are Schedule I subclasses, so they are general contractor subclasses.
- Each one requires passing an exam on the carrying out of construction work (exécution des travaux). A general contractor takes one such exam for each Schedule I or Schedule II subclass applied for. Schedule III subclasses have no construction work exam.
- You also need the three management exams: Administration, Site Safety Management and Project and Site Management, unless you are exempt.
For an overview of the schedules, read RBQ licence subclasses: Schedules I, II, III and their exams. To see which licences match your trade, use the list by trade.
How many licences hold 1.2 and 1.3
These figures come from the list of active licences published on Données Québec (file dated September 18, 2026, CC-BY 4.0 licence). We counted distinct licences per subclass.
| Subclass | Active licences | Contractors | Owner-builders |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 Buildings of all kinds | 20,107 | 19,560 | 547 |
| 1.2 Small buildings | 16,214 | 15,803 | 411 |
| 1.1.1 | 2,474 | 2,474 | 0 |
| 1.1.2 | 2,018 | 2,018 | 0 |
Two observations. First, of the 20,107 licences with 1.3, 17,373 also hold subclass 9, a Schedule III subclass (so with no construction work exam), and 14,978 hold all 13 Schedule III subclasses. Second, no owner-builder licence holds 1.1.1 or 1.1.2, which matches the regulation.
One construction work profile for 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2 and 1.3
The RBQ publishes a single competency profile for construction work in 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 1.2 and 1.3. The online version was amended on January 19, 2026. It has 10 modules and 56 elements.
The profile includes a grid that shows, skill by skill, which subclasses it applies to. Reading the grid gives:
| Subclass | Skills marked (out of 222) |
|---|---|
| 1.1.1 | 172 |
| 1.1.2 | 209 |
| 1.2 | 214 |
| 1.3 | 217 |
Everything tested for 1.2 is also tested for 1.3
Every skill marked for 1.2 is also marked for 1.3. The 1.3 adds three (16.1, 35.5 and 36.5). In other words, if you prepare for 1.3, you already cover all the 1.2 material.
Other useful differences:
- Element 3 (the guarantee plan) applies only to 1.1.1 and 1.1.2.
- Elements 50 to 52 (part 10) apply only to 1.2 and 1.3.
- Elements 8, 9 and 36 do not apply to 1.1.1.
One caveat: the profile is shared, but the RBQ does not say whether the exam booklet is the same from one subclass to the next. Prepare from the grid for your own subclass.
What the construction work exam tests
The regulation (section 24 of B-1.1, r. 9) sets one construction work exam per subclass. It covers standards, regulations and construction techniques, as well as reading and interpreting plans and specifications. So expect to work with plans in the exam booklet, not just answer from memory.
According to the RBQ information sheets, the construction work exam lasts 3 hours and the pass mark is 60%. The RBQ does not publish the number of questions.
Documents handed out at the exam
The 1.2 and 1.3 information sheets have been in use since July 21, 2025. They list the same documents handed out:
| Document | 1.2 | 1.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation B-1.1, r. 9 (professional qualification) | Provided | Provided |
| Construction Code, Chapter I, and NBC 2015 (as amended) | Provided | Provided |
| Regulation B-1.1, r. 8 (guarantee plan) | Provided | Provided |
Other texts may appear on the sheet as recommended reading only: those are not handed out in the room. Read the sheet for your subclass.
Note the edition: the sheet lists the NBC 2015 as amended, while Chapter I in force since April 2025 is based on the NBC 2020. We explain the gap in which building code the RBQ exam uses. For every exam, see the documents provided at RBQ exams cheat sheet.
What about 1.1.1 or 1.1.2?
Subclasses 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 are tied to the residential guarantee plan (plan de garantie, regulation B-1.1, r. 8). Their exact definition is also in Schedule I. Three practical differences:
- An owner-builder cannot hold them (section 9 of the regulation).
- No licence bond if you hold only 1.1.1 or 1.1.2: the guarantee plan protects clients. As soon as you add another subclass, for example 1.2 alongside 1.1.1, the $40,000 bond applies. See RBQ licence bond.
- The guarantee plan element of the construction work profile applies only to them.
What each subclass costs at the exam stage
Each construction work exam costs $105.27 (2026 fee). If you go through a professional file (dossier professionnel) instead of the exam, it is $877.49 per subclass applied for (2026 fee). Adding a subclass later costs $105.27 in modification fees (2026 fee), plus the assessment required for that subclass. Amounts are indexed every January 1. Run your numbers with our RBQ licence fee calculator.
For the full path (exams, fees, bond), see the general contractor licence page.
FAQ
What is the difference between RBQ licence 1.2 and 1.3?
1.2 covers small buildings and 1.3 covers buildings of all kinds. The exact definition is in Schedule I of regulation B-1.1, r. 9. At the exam, the profile is shared and 1.3 adds three skills to those of 1.2.
Is the 1.3 exam harder than the 1.2 exam?
The RBQ publishes no pass rate by subclass. What we know: 1.3 covers 217 skills in the profile, 1.2 covers 214, and all the 1.2 skills are included in 1.3.
How long is the 1.2 or 1.3 construction work exam?
3 hours, according to the RBQ information sheets. The pass mark is 60%.
Which code is handed out at the 1.3 exam?
The July 2025 sheet lists the Construction Code, Chapter I, and the NBC 2015 (as amended), along with regulations B-1.1, r. 9 and r. 8.
Can an owner-builder hold 1.2 or 1.3?
Yes. The open data counts 411 owner-builders with 1.2 and 547 with 1.3. An owner-builder cannot hold 1.1.1 or 1.1.2.
For the management exams that go with 1.2 or 1.3, you can practise 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. Fees: 2026 rates.