RBQ licence in 2026: subclasses, exams, costs and timelines — the contractor’s guide

RBQ licence: who needs one, which subclass to choose, which exams to pass, what security, how much it costs and how long it takes in 2026.

The licence of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) is the key to the trade: without it, no right to bid, let alone to execute. The Régie's website is complete, but scattered over dozens of pages. Here is the essential in one place — subclasses, qualified officer, exams, security, 2026 amounts and real timelines — with the sources.

Who must hold a licence

Under the Building Act, anyone who carries out or causes to be carried out construction work for others, or bids to that end, must hold a valid contractor's licence. That includes residential renovation, not just new construction. The main exception: the person who builds or renovates their own residence, not for profit (owner-builder) — and even then, electricity, plumbing and gas remain reserved to licensed contractors. A business that builds for itself falls under an owner-builder licence.

Four classes, two large families of subclasses

The Régie issues four classes of licences: general contractor, specialized contractor, general owner-builder and specialized owner-builder. The work authorized depends on the subclasses entered on the licence, spread over three annexes.

General contractor — annex I (11 subclasses)

For a residential renovator or a small commercial contractor, 1.2 is the classic subclass; 1.3 covers buildings of all kinds. 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 are mandatory to build new residences covered by the warranty plan (the class depends on the type of residential buildings covered — the Régie details the distinction), and they require accreditation with that plan. The general contractor may coordinate and subcontract, or carry out themselves what they are qualified for; electricity and plumbing fall under specialized contractors.

Specialized contractor — annexes II and III

Annex II groups the specialties where the Régie requires an execution-of-work exam per subclass: wells and water catchment (2.1 to 2.4), piles and special foundations (2.6), blasting (2.8), concrete structures (3.1), masonry structures (4.1), metal and prefabricated structures (5.1), wood structures (6.1), heating and burners (15.1 to 15.4), plumbing (15.5), propane, ventilation and refrigeration (15.6 to 15.10), electricity (16), fire alarm and extinguishing (13.x), elevators (14.x), instrumentation (17.1). Annex III groups the specialties without an execution exam: excavation and earthwork (2.5), site work (2.7), small concrete works (3.2), non-structural masonry, marble and ceramics (4.2), metal work (5.2), wood and plastic work (6.2), insulation, waterproofing, roofing and exterior cladding (7), doors and windows (8), interior finishing (9), cabinets and countertops (12), intercom and surveillance (17.2).

For electricity (16) and plumbing (15.5), the licence is issued by the Corporation des maîtres électriciens (CMEQ) and the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie (CMMTQ), which have their own conditions; their members do not display the RBQ number but their corporation's logo.

The qualified officer: the person who carries the competence

The licence is issued to the business, but competence is assessed on people: the qualified officers. In a sole proprietorship, it is you; in a company, one or more officers (member, director or voting shareholder). One officer can cover one or several areas. If an officer leaves, they must be replaced ($105.27), otherwise the licence no longer covers their area — for a small business whose owner is the only officer, it is a risk to know before it happens.

Three ways to demonstrate competence: the Régie's exams (multiple-choice questions, $105.27 per exam), training recognized by the Régie ($105.27 per training; several associations and institutions offer it), or a professional file demonstrating studies and experience ($877.49 per area, or per execution subclass). You are exempt from an exam if, in the five years preceding the application, you were the qualified officer of a licence in that area, or if the Régie has already recognized your competence — tick "skills already recognized" on the form.

The financial guarantees

• Licence security: $40,000 for the general contractor (annex I), $20,000 for the specialized contractor (annexes II and III). It is not a deposit: it is a guarantee issued by an insurer, an association or a financial institution, against an annual premium; the original certificate is sent to the Régie. It compensates a wronged client — lost deposit, unfinished work, poor workmanship and defects discovered within the year following the end of the work.
• New residential building warranty plan (GCR), instead of the security for whoever holds only 1.1.1 or 1.1.2: accreditation is mandatory to build or sell a covered new residential building (single-family, small condominium buildings, 2 to 5 units outside condominium). Application analysis fee: $556.48 including taxes, non-refundable; minimum financial guarantee of $55,000 or $70,000 depending on the subclass for a contractor with more than four years of practice, $70,000 or $100,000 with less experience (then modulated by the GCR Quality Rating and the number of units); financial statements with a CPA review engagement report. Each building is then registered, with fees per registration.
• Civil liability insurance: it is not a condition of issuance, but the OPC teaches clients to demand your policy number, and project owners ask for it systematically. Treat it as mandatory.

How much it costs in 2026

Amounts posted by the Régie for 2026 — non-taxable, indexed every January 1.

Example: a general renovation contractor (subclass 1.2) whose sole qualified officer sits the four exams (administration, safety, project management, execution 1.2) pays $1,291.69 + 4 × $105.27 = $1,712.77 in RBQ fees the first year, before the security premium and insurance. Then $989.81 per year of maintenance.

The real timelines

• The Régie commits to processing a complete application in 60 days — not counting the periods where it is waiting for your documents (you have 21 days to supply what is missing) or the time between the exam summons and sitting them.
• At the end of August 2026, the Régie's website said it was processing regular applications received in mid-July (and priority ones received around August 12): count on several weeks of queue before the analysis even begins.
• In practice, from filing to licence in hand, allow several months if you have exams to sit — and more if the file is incomplete or if the probity check requires documents.

Once the licence is in hand

• Display the number — "Licence RBQ : XXXX-XXXX-XX" — on your quotes, estimates, contracts, statements of account and invoices, in your advertising, on your website, your identified vehicles and your job-site signs.
• Pay the maintenance before the deadline: an expired licence means no more right to bid — and a client who checks you in the register.
• Continuing education: the qualified officer in execution of work must take 16 hours of training per two-year period (check the Régie's continuing education directory and your deadline).
• Keep the Régie informed of changes — officers, qualified officers, address, subclasses.
• The licence opens the door to the other registrations: CCQ as an employer (it requires the licence first) and CNESST from the first worker. The complete order is in Starting a construction business in Québec.

What BatiCore does for you

The licence application is a step with the Régie — no software does it for you. Once the licence is obtained, BatiCore prints your number in the correct format on every estimate, contract and invoice from your company profile, warns you 45 days before the licence expires, and tracks in the same place your employees' cards and certifications (ASP, CCQ) with their dates. The compliant estimate template is detailed in Construction estimate template for Québec.

The BatiCore team

We build BatiCore, management software for Québec construction contractors — estimates, job sites, CCQ payroll, compliance. Our articles cite dated public sources; when a fact comes from a regulator or a competitor, we say which one and when. Spotted an error? Write to us, we fix it.