Professional file

In addition to the more usual methods of obtaining a licence, that is, through examinations or the recognition of a training program, another method is available to a person applying for a licence, or their guarantor. They may submit a professional file. 

Presenting a professional file for evaluation is a demanding process. In order to be exempted from the requirement to write the examination, the candidate must demonstrate to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) that they possess sufficient knowledge and experience covering the skills and abilities listed in the qualifications inventory (référentiel de compétences) for each field of qualification and licence subclass they are applying for. 

Click on a topic to scroll down to the information you want.

• Who may request an evaluation of their professional file?
• How does this process work?
• What information do you need to provide in order to demonstrate your skills?
• What documents must be included in your professional file?
• How is your professional file evaluated?
• How long does it take for your professional file to be evaluated and for you to receive a decision?
• What can you do if you disagree with a decision made by the RBQ?

Who may request an evaluation of their professional file?

The evaluation of a professional file is available to individuals who have taken training that does not appear in the register of training programs recognized by the RBQ, or who believe they possess sufficient professional experience in the field of qualification or, in the Carrying out of Construction Work field, in the licence subclass they are applying for.

How does this process work?

The evaluation of your professional file is based on the recognition of knowledge acquired both in the classroom and outside the classroom, as well as knowledge and know-how gained through work experience. 

An interview may also be held with you after the information in your professional file has been evaluated. 

If your acquired knowledge and skills are recognized following this evaluation, you will be exempt from the requirement to write the qualification examinations for those fields and licence subclasses. 

Based on the licence subclass selected, your professional file can be evaluated for the following fields:

• Administration
• Construction site safety management
• Project and site management
• Carrying out of construction work

What information do you need to provide in order to demonstrate your skills?

The documents included in your professional file must show that you possess sufficient knowledge and experience of the skills and abilities listed in the qualifications inventory (called référentiel de compétences in French) for each field of qualification or licence subclass you are applying for. For more information, see Preparation for examinations.

For each project you have completed, you must provide the following:

• the dates and duration
• a technical description
• the positions you held, your roles and responsibilities, and the tasks you completed.

As a candidate, it is your responsibility to show that your acquired knowledge and experience corresponds to the skills contained in the relevant competency profile. You must also demonstrate that you have sufficient knowledge of Québec statutes, regulations, codes and standards. In addition to the required documents, you may also include any other documents that support your file.

All of the documents you provide will be studied in order to confirm that your professional file corresponds to the relevant competency profile, and the three people you listed as references in your application might be contacted (see below, What documents must be included in your professional file?).

What documents must be included in your professional file?

Your professional file must contain all of the following documents:

• The duly completed licence application form
• A short letter explaining why you believe that a professional file is the most appropriate way for you to be evaluated
• An up-to-date resume
• A list of your completed projects over the past 10 years, including a technical description of each. These projects must be related to the field(s) (administration, construction site safety management, construction work management) and licence subclasses (carrying out of construction work) you are applying for. These documents must describe, in a truthful way, the candidate’s roles and responsibilities for each completed project.
• Names and contact information for three people, who must each provide a short letter to accompany your application describing the positions, responsibilities and duties you had while working under their supervision or in partnership with them. One of these people must be a former employer (if you have indicated that you have one). Therefore, three letters must accompany your application.
• Certified true copies of your diplomas and transcripts, including a list of courses you have successfully completed, and the content of these courses and certificates for the internships you completed during your studies, issued by the educational institution or government department that provided the training. In the absence of such documents, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec will accept an official, detailed certificate listing the studies you have successfully completed, issued by the educational institution that you attended or by the government department that provided the training. Descriptions of the courses’ content and the training mentioned in reference must demonstrate how the skill is relevant.

You must number each document or document section that corresponds to a skill contained in the relevant qualifications inventory. These numbers must be copied into the relevant boxes on the qualifications inventory (training, work experience, related activities) to indicate the skills you want to establish that you have acquired. Each qualifications inventory must be duly completed, and each page must be signed.

How is your professional file evaluated? 

Professional files are evaluated by evaluation specialists and technical experts in the selected fields of qualification and licence subclasses.

All of the documents you provide will be studied in order to confirm that your acquired knowledge and experience corresponds to the competency profiles for the selected licence subclasses. The information you provide might also be verified with the three people you provide as references in your application (see above, What documents must be included in your professional file?).

After your professional file has been evaluated, an evaluation interview may be held with you in order to complete the validation of the information provided and to verify that you possess the skills contained in the competency profile(s).

Please note that section 70 of the Building Act allows the Régie du bâtiment du Québec to revoke a licence that has been obtained by making a false representation or by distorting the facts.

Also note that recognition is granted per licence class and subclass. If you are applying for more than one class or subclass, it is possible that an examination exemption will be granted for one but refused for another.

How long does it take for your professional file to be evaluated and for you to receive a decision?

Priority processing is not possible for licence applications involving the evaluation of a professional file, even for a single licence field or subclass. 

Because of the complexity of the process of evaluating a professional file, several months may be needed before the RBQ renders a decision.

What can you do if you disagree with a decision made by the RBQ?

You must submit your application for review no later than the 30th day following the date on which the decision was rendered. See Review of a decision.