CCQ Roofer Exam 2026: Quebec Roofing Certification Guide

Quebec roofing certification: the essentials

In Quebec, a roofer working on construction sites covered by the Act respecting labour relations, vocational training and workforce management in the construction industry (chapter R-20) must generally hold a competency certificate from the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ). The journeyman competency certificate (JCC) requires passing the CCQ Roofer qualification exam: 60 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours, 60% to pass. Since August 4, 2026, the exam has 3 sections: preparing a roofing worksite (20%), installing and repairing roofing systems on flat roofs (65%), and installing and repairing roofing systems on sloped roofs (15%). Here is what changed, who can register and how to prepare, based on the CCQ's official pages (checked November 5, 2026).

Prof-RBQ.ca is an independent exam preparation center. It is not affiliated with the CCQ or the RBQ.

The exam at a glance

What changed on August 4, 2026

The duration, the 60% threshold and the materials allowed are unchanged. The main change: installation and repair are now split between flat roofs (65%) and sloped roofs (15%), so the flat-roof section weighs about 4.3 times more than the sloped-roof section.

Who can take the exam?

According to the CCQ, the qualification exam leads to the journeyman competency certificate. For roofers, the apprenticeship is 2 periods of 2,000 hours, or 4,000 hours. Three situations give access to the exam:

• An apprentice who has completed the apprenticeship.
• An apprentice who has reached 85% of the apprenticeship. The CCQ notifies them when they reach this threshold; they can register right away or wait until the end of the apprenticeship.
• A person who has worked in the trade without an apprenticeship. They must prove work hours (and, where applicable, training credits) at least equal to the full apprenticeship, with the required supporting documents. The exact list is on the CCQ eligibility page.

Fees: exam registration costs $100, non-refundable. For apprentices, it is valid for 12 months less a day from payment, and the CCQ must be contacted no later than four months before expiry to schedule the exam.

The Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS, in French DEP) Pose de revêtements de toiture (program 5351), 630 hours, is a recognized path into the trade and to the apprentice competency certificate, subject to CCQ conditions. According to the CCQ credit table, it gives 945 hours of apprenticeship credit (630 hours plus 50%).

Exam topics (and their weight)

Out of 60 questions, the weightings correspond to about 12, 39 and 9 questions.

Section 1 – Prepare a roofing worksite (20%)

• Planning the work: reading a slope plan, telling systems and membranes apart
• Preparing materials and the site: moving materials onto the roof, using the right equipment, ensuring safety
• Preparing the roof: deck and upstands

Section 2 – Install and repair roofing systems on flat roofs (65%)

• Installing an insulation system: vapour barrier, insulation, support board
• Installing a membrane on an insulated, inverted or ventilated roof: single-ply (TPO, PVC, EPDM), cold-applied membrane, elastomeric (two-ply) membrane, built-up roofing (asphalt and gravel), liquid membrane
• Repairing an insulated, inverted or ventilated roof: assessing the existing roof, then carrying out the repair

Section 3 – Install and repair roofing systems on sloped roofs (15%)

• Installing roof membranes and accessories, then asphalt shingles
• Repairing an asphalt shingle roof according to the problems observed

5 common pitfalls

The CCQ publishes official sample questions. The examples below were written by Prof-RBQ to illustrate the reasoning required; they are not actual exam questions and do not indicate which topics will appear on the CCQ exam.

1. Underestimating flat roofs

At 65% of the exam, flat-roof systems carry by far the greatest weight and should be your main preparation priority. A candidate who mostly installs shingles should spend most of their preparation on membranes, insulation and flat-roof repairs.

2. Confusing insulated and inverted roofs

In a conventional insulated roof, the waterproofing membrane goes over the insulation. In an inverted roof, it is the opposite: the insulation goes over the membrane and protects it. Read the roof type carefully before choosing the order of the layers.

3. Forgetting the slope factor in an area calculation

The area of a pitched slope is larger than its horizontal projection.

Example: a slope measures 10 m by 6 m in horizontal projection, pitch 4/12. Actual area? Answer: factor = √(12² + 4²) ÷ 12 ≈ 1.054, so 60 m² × 1.054 ≈ 63.2 m².

4. Mixing units

Plans, technical sheets and material quantities often mix feet and metres. Remember 1 ft = 304.8 mm and 1 sq ft ≈ 0.0929 m².

Example: a 1,500 sq ft roof. How many square metres? Answer: 1,500 × 0.0929 ≈ 139 m².

5. Misreading the question

Some questions ask what is false or non-compliant. Spot the words "except" and "not" before reading the choices. Each question is worth 1 point; the CCQ sheet does not mention any specific penalty for wrong answers.

6-week study plan

• Week 1: diagnostic quiz by section to find your weak points.
• Weeks 2 and 3: flat roofs, installation (insulation, vapour barrier, single-ply, elastomeric, built-up and liquid membranes).
• Week 4: flat roofs, repair (assessing an existing roof; insulated, inverted and ventilated roofs).
• Week 5: site preparation (slope plans, deck, upstands, safety) and sloped roofs (asphalt shingles).
• Week 6: timed quizzes at the pace of the exam (60 questions in 3 hours), area and slope calculations, review of your mistakes.

Documentation suggested by the CCQ

• Canadian Roofing Contractors' Association (CRCA), Canadian Roofing Reference Manual
• Association des maîtres couvreurs du Québec (AMCQ), Devis techniques présentant les principales techniques d'installation de toitures (French only)
• IKO, technical documentation on installing membranes and shingles
• BP Canada, technical sheets on installing membranes and shingles
• SOPREMA, Roofer's Guide, 2021 edition (68 pages)

These documents are not allowed during the exam: they are for preparation.

If you fail

The CCQ result letter sets out the conditions and timeframe for a retake. Depending on the circumstances, the retake may or may not combine previous marks, especially when the exam has undergone a major change. If you failed the old version (before August 4, 2026), ask the CCQ which type of retake applies to you.

CCQ roofer or RBQ licence?

The CCQ journeyman competency certificate attests that a person is qualified to work as a roofer on sites covered by Act R-20; passing the exam is one of the conditions to obtain it. A business that performs roofing work for others must generally hold a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) that authorizes it. Subclass 7 (Insulation, waterproofing, roofing and siding) is listed in Schedule III: there is no exam in carrying out of construction work for that subclass, but the business must still have respondents (the qualified individuals who answer for the business) in the management areas. See our guides RBQ license 2026 and RBQ Administration exam.

FAQ

Can I bring the CRCA manual to the exam?

No. No reference document is allowed; only a calculator, a pencil, an eraser and a blank sheet are provided.

Is the exam offered in English?

Yes. According to the CCQ, the qualification exam is offered in French, in English and in a bilingual English–French version. Choose your language when you register.

How much does the exam cost?

Registration costs $100, non-refundable.

Prepare with Prof-RBQ

Our CCQ Roofer course follows the sections of the CCQ sheet, with lessons and quizzes with explained answers. The first lessons are free. French version: CCQ (FR) — Couvreur and the guide Examen CCQ couvreur.

Official sources

• CCQ – Roofer Examination, effective from August 4, 2026 (French version)
• CCQ – Qualification Examination (languages, registration, retakes)
• CCQ – Eligibility and fees
• CCQ – Roofer trade sheet (in French)
• CCQ – Training credits (in French)
• CCQ – Sample questions (in French)

Last checked: November 5, 2026. The CCQ is the authority.