RBQ exams: which to take, duration, fees and pass mark
To get a contractor licence, the business’s guarantor (répondant) passes management exams and, depending on the subclasses requested, exams on the carrying out of construction work. The pass mark is 60% and each attempt costs $105.27 (2026 fee).
Updated October 3, 2026
The management exams
Three exams cover running a construction business. Their duration and pass mark come from the RBQ’s exam information sheets.
| Exam | Official duration | Pass mark | RBQexam practice form | On RBQexam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdministrationExamination of knowledge in administration | 3 h | 60% | 56 questions | Available |
| Safety managementExamination of knowledge in safety management on construction sites | 1 h 30 | 60% | 40 questions | Available |
| Project and site managementExamination of knowledge in project and site management | 3 h | 60% | 51 questions | Available |
| Construction work 1.1.1Examination of knowledge in the carrying out of construction work, subclass 1.1.1 | 3 h | 60% | 60 questions | Available |
| Construction work 1.1.2Examination of knowledge in the carrying out of construction work, subclass 1.1.2 | 3 h | 60% | 60 questions | Available |
| Construction work 1.2Examination of knowledge in the carrying out of construction work, subclass 1.2 | 3 h | 60% | 60 questions | Available |
| Construction work 1.3Examination of knowledge in the carrying out of construction work, subclass 1.3 | 3 h | 60% | 60 questions | Available |
| Carrying out of construction workThe other Schedule I or II subclasses are not included for now; no date announced | 3 h | 60% | – | Coming soon |
The length of our practice forms is our own practice format. The RBQ does not publish how many questions its exams have.
Who takes which exams
The management exams you need depend on the licence type (regulation B-1.1, r. 9). Each licence also needs the construction work exams for the subclasses requested, except Schedule III subclasses.
- General contractor
Administration, Safety management, Project and site management
Plus one construction work exam per Schedule I or II subclass requested.
- Specialized contractor
Administration, Safety management, Project and site management
Plus one construction work exam per Schedule II subclass; none for Schedule III.
- General owner-builder
Safety management, Project and site management
Plus one construction work exam per Schedule I subclass, except 1.1.1 and 1.1.2, which an owner-builder cannot hold.
- Specialized owner-builder
Safety management
Plus one construction work exam per Schedule II subclass; Schedule III is not open to this licence.
Fees, retakes, validity and language
- Fee: $105.27 per person, per exam and per attempt (2026 fee, indexed every 1 January). Exam fees are not refunded.
- Retake: one only, requested within 30 days of the notice you receive. Since March 1, 2026, failing or missing the retake means a 4-month wait before you can be admitted to that exam again. Missing an exam counts as failing it.
- Validity: a passed exam stays valid for 5 years (s. 17).
- Language: the exams are offered in French or English. For English, the exam titles must appear in English on your convocation notice (avis de convocation); otherwise, tell the RBQ at least 7 days before the exam.
- Booking: there is no self-serve calendar. You file the licence application, then the RBQ writes to the guarantor with the exam date, time and office.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the RBQ exam cost?
$105.27 per person, per exam and per attempt, at the 2026 rate. A retake costs the same. Exam fees are not refunded.
What is the RBQ exam pass mark?
60% for contractor and owner-builder exams, according to the RBQ’s information sheets and instructions page. The 75% you sometimes see is for the home-inspector exam, a different exam.
Can you get an RBQ licence without an exam?
Yes, in the two cases in section 20: you completed a recognized training program in that field, or you acted as guarantor in that field in the previous 5 years. Since January 2023, only attestations issued from 2014 onward are accepted.
When do you get RBQ exam results?
Results come by mail after the last exam, once every guarantor on the file has finished. The RBQ does not give results by phone. If you fail, you get one retake; after failing the retake, the wait is 4 months.
Check where you stand before the exam
The free diagnostic shows you, module by module, where you stand for the exam you pick.