Searching for a contractor or a licence number: consult the Licence holders' repertory.
Searching for a contractor or a licence number: consult the Licence holders' repertory.
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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.
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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.
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:
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:
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?).
Your professional file must contain all of the following documents:
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.
If the inventory you need is not on this list, please contact us to request it.
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.
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.
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.