How to Become a Building Contractor in Quebec
Do you need certification?
Certification required
Building contractor is a compulsory trade in Quebec. You need a certificate, or registration as an apprentice, to work in the trade.
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Show the source
“In Québec, anyone who carries out construction work or has construction work done must be licensed by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), unless exempted by law.”
From rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/knowing-if-a-licence-is-required/work-req..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Certification required See the source
- Routes
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- Licensed in another province: 4 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with RBQ
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Licensed in another province
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
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You determine which interprovincial agreement applies to your enterprise based on the province where it is domiciled.
Source
“Click on the agreement that applies to you to see the process for obtaining your licence:”
rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/qualifying-eg-examinations/interprovincia... -
You complete the licence application form that corresponds to the legal status of your enterprise.
Source
“Complete the form that corresponds to the legal status of your enterprise:”
rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/qualifying-eg-examinations/interprovincia... -
You provide the RBQ with supporting documents proving the registration and experience required under the agreement.
Source
“Prove to the RBQ, with supporting documents, that they have been registered for at least five years with the New Brunswick Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission.”
rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/qualifying-eg-examinations/interprovincia... -
If your application is complete and meets all the requirements, the RBQ processes it within the timeframe stated for your agreement.
Source
“If your licence application is complete and meets all the requirements, the RBQ will process it within 10 days of when it is received.”
rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/qualifying-eg-examinations/interprovincia...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with RBQ
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Requirements
Experience
Under the New Brunswick agreement, applicants must prove they have been registered for at least five years with the New Brunswick Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission.
Source
“Prove to the RBQ, with supporting documents, that they have been registered for at least five years with the New Brunswick Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission.”
rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/qualifying-eg-examinations/interprovincia...For certain licence subclasses under the New Brunswick agreement, applicants must show they have held the corresponding contractor licence or done the covered work for at least five years.
Source
“For licence subclasses 15.5 (Contractor – Plumbing) and 16 (Contractor – Electrical), show that they have been the holder, for at least five years, of a Plumbing Contractor’s Licence or an Electrical Contractors Licence Group 3, as the case may be, issued by the New Brunswick Department of Public Safety.”
rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/qualifying-eg-examinations/interprovincia...Under the Newfoundland and Labrador agreement, a legal person must show it has been registered as a building contractor for at least five years, and a sole proprietorship or partnership must show its enterprise name has been registered for at least five years.
Source
“Establish, in the case of a legal person, that they have been registered for at least five years as a building contractor with the Commercial and Corporate Affairs Branch of the Department of Government Services and Lands of Newfoundland-and-Labrador.”
rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/qualifying-eg-examinations/interprovincia...
Other
Applicants under the New Brunswick agreement must provide a copy of a contract or invoice for each of the past five years in every subclass applied for.
Source
“Provide a copy of a contract or invoice for each of the past five years, in every subclass applied for.”
rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/qualifying-eg-examinations/interprovincia...Applicants under the Newfoundland and Labrador agreement must provide a copy of a contract or invoice for each of the past five years in every subclass applied for.
Source
“Provide a copy of a contract or invoice for each of the past five years, in every subclass applied for.”
rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/qualifying-eg-examinations/interprovincia...
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
Contractors from Ontario, New Brunswick or Newfoundland and Labrador may qualify for an exemption from writing the examinations required to obtain the licence, provided their enterprise meets the requirements of the interprovincial agreement. Source
“If your enterprise is domiciled in Ontario, New Brunswick or Newfoundland and Labrador, you may qualify for an exemption from writing the examinations required to obtain your licence.”
rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/qualifying-eg-examinations/interprovincia...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with RBQ
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with RBQ
Exams
Not stated by the regulator Check with RBQ
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with RBQ
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with RBQ
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with RBQ
Demand and pay
No Job Bank wage or outlook data for this occupation yet.
Building contractors in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Not confirmed yet
- Alberta Not confirmed yet
- Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Ontario Not confirmed yet
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Work requiring a licence - Régie du bâtiment du Québec rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/knowing-if-a-licence-is-required/work-req... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Interprovincial agreements - Régie du bâtiment du Québec rbq.gouv.qc.ca/en/licence/qualifying-eg-examinations/interprovincia... · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
1
Do you need a licence to work as a building contractor in Quebec?
Yes. Certification, or registration as an apprentice, is required to work in the trade in Quebec. Certification is managed by Régie du bâtiment du Québec.
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