RBQ owner-builder licence
An owner-builder carries out, or has someone carry out, construction work for their own use, often called self-build. There is a general and a specialized owner-builder licence; neither requires the administration exam. On RBQexam, the construction work exams for subclasses 1.2 and 1.3 are included in the subscription. The other construction work exams are not included for now, and we do not announce a date.
Updated October 3, 2026
- Licence bond
- None
- An owner-builder’s application includes no licence bond (s. 12.2).
- Fee per exam
- $105.27
- Per person and per attempt, 2026 fee, not refundable.
Exams to pass
General owner-builder
Plus one construction work exam per Schedule I subclass, except 1.1.1 and 1.1.2, which an owner-builder cannot hold.
Included on RBQexam: 1.2 and 1.3.
Specialized owner-builder
Plus one construction work exam per Schedule II subclass; Schedule III is not open to this licence.
No construction work exam for this licence is included on RBQexam for now.
Good to know
- Neither the general nor the specialized owner-builder takes the administration exam (s. 11.2). The specialized owner-builder also skips the project and site management exam.
- An owner-builder cannot hold subclasses 1.1.1 or 1.1.2, and the specialized owner-builder has no access to Schedule III.
- The licence application includes no bond (s. 12.2).
- Self-build without a licence: renovation, repair or maintenance work on your own property estimated under $20,000 falls outside chapter IV of the Building Act (s. 11.1). Electrical, gas and petroleum installations are the exception, including for an owner-builder in electricity.
- Who must hold an owner-builder licence: the person who carries out, or has someone carry out, construction work for their own use, except for the work described in the previous rule.
Start with the Safety management exam
The free diagnostic measures where you stand, module by module, before you apply.