RBQ courses in English: three ways to qualify
For each field of your licence, you either pass the RBQ exam or get exempted by a recognized training program. A prep course or practice exams help you pass the exam but do not exempt you from it. Several of these options exist in English.
Updated September 27, 2026
Three routes, three outcomes
- 1
Recognized training program
It exempts you from the exam in that field (s. 20). The APCHQ, ACQ and APECQ offer them. Only attestations issued from 2014 onward are accepted, and recognition costs $105.27 (2026 fee).
- 2
Prep course
It teaches you the material, in class or online. You still sit the RBQ exam.
- 3
Practice exams
Questions and practice forms to check your level and get used to the time limit. That is what RBQexam does. You still sit the RBQ exam.
Comparison table
One table, dated and sourced. Each row repeats what the provider publishes; an empty cell says “Not published”.
| Offer | Type | Price | Access | Languages | Format | Exempts the exam | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBQexam | Practice exams | $39.99/month | Monthly, cancel any time | French, English | Online | No | Our pricing page |
| RBQ Compétence | Prep course | $265 per course, training exempt from taxes | 24 months | French, English | Online course | No | Read on September 25, 2026See the source |
| Formation Construction | Prep course | $280 per course, training exempt from taxes | 365 days, renewable | French, English | Online course | No | Read on September 25, 2026See the source |
| prof-rbq.ca | Prep course | $150 per course | 3 months | French, English | Online course | No | Read on September 25, 2026See the source |
| Groupe GSC | Prep course | Not published | Not published | French, English | Classroom, Zoom or online | No | Read on September 25, 2026See the source |
| APCHQ | Recognized program | No 2026 session listed. 2022 session: $1,018 member, $1,494 non-member, taxes included | Not published | Not published | 84-hour training session | Yes | Read on September 25, 2026See the source |
Which one to choose
- You want to skip a field’s exam: a recognized program is the only route, along with the 5-year guarantor exemption.
- You are new to the material: a prep course gives you structure, then practice exams check that you are ready.
- You know the trade but not the format: timed practice exams train you to find answers in the documents provided within the time allowed.
Training questions
Do you need training to take the exam?
No. No training is required to sit the RBQ exam. A course either exempts you from it, if it is a recognized program (s. 20), or helps you prepare. The other exemption, without a course, is having acted as guarantor in the same field in the previous 5 years.
Is there free training?
Part of the preparation is free: the sample questions, information sheets and competency profiles the RBQ publishes. The RBQ does not publish the price of the courses that exempt you from the exam. Detail on what is free: Free RBQ Training: What Is Actually Free in 2026
What training is necessary?
None to sit the exam. To be exempted from an exam, you need a training program the RBQ recognizes in that field, such as those of the APCHQ, ACQ or APECQ. For a general contractor licence, the recognized programs cover administration, safety management, project management and carrying out of construction work. Check that a general contractor course or an APCHQ course for the RBQ licence is on the RBQ list before you enrol. Only attestations issued from 2014 onward are accepted, and recognition costs $105.27 (2026 fee).
Check your level before you choose
The free diagnostic shows you, module by module, what you still need to learn.