1. Determine the License required based on the work to be performed.

The first step in your great adventure to become a general contractor is to determine the renovation or construction work you want to carry out. Do you want to build houses from A to Z, or do you want to focus on a specific type of work earlier, such as installing doors and windows? The type of work you want to perform is directly related to the license you will need.

Once the type of work has been identified, determine the license associated with it using the following document: annexes-rbq.pdf

If you are undecided about the type of work you want to do, it would be better to opt for a general contractor license so that you do not have any surprises. Refusing a lucrative contract because you don’t have the required RBQ license subcategory is not very pleasant.

2. Preparation for RBQ exams

You must now prepare for the RBQ exams . The fastest and most efficient way to accomplish this task is without a doubt our online training courses for general contractors . You will be able to complete your training in the comfort of your home and at the pace that suits you.

Determine the general contractor courses needed.

If the trade contractor license subcategory is in Appendix III, you will need the following three courses:

1. Administration of a construction company
2. Project and site management
3. Safety management on construction sites

For all other Schedule I: General Contractor and Schedule II: Specialty Contractor licenses, you will need the following four courses:

1. Administration of a construction company
2. Project and site management
3. Safety management on construction sites
4. Execution of construction works

Courses 1,2 and 3 are the same for all licenses, however the examination for the execution of construction works will be different from one license to another.

Registration for RBQ exams

In order to register for the RBQ exams, you will need to complete the appropriate form on the “ RBQ forms ” page of the formationconstruction.ca website.

You can register for the exams as an individual, a business or a company. The easiest way is to have a company registered in the Quebec Enterprise Register (REQ).

3. Obtaining a bond

In order to act as a general contractor, you must provide a bond of $20,000, or $10,000 for a sub-category of specialized contractor. As a general rule, suretyship is provided by means of an individual or collective suretyship insurance policy issued in the name of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec. It is with pleasure that we will guide you through the various stages of obtaining the bond.

4. Register with the CCQ

Once you have obtained your general contractor’s license and paid the fees, it is now necessary to register your construction company with the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ). To do this, you will need your RBQ license number as well as your Quebec enterprise number (NEQ).

Congratulations, you are now ready to start your activities as a general or specialized contractor!