RBQ 1.2 (EN) — Contractor – Small buildings

The RBQ 1.2 Contractor – Small buildings exam is taken with three documents on the table, but the Building Act is not one of them, and the RBQ sheet lists the 2015 (amended) edition of the National Building Code, while the text in force is the NBC 2020 (amended). This Prof-RBQ.ca course teaches you the text in force, points out the differences from the 2015 edition, shows you which of the three documents to open and helps you master in advance what will not be provided to you.

The 1.2 exam at a glance

• Length: 3 h; passing grade: 60%.
• Multiple-choice questions, in French or English; the RBQ publishes neither their number nor the weighting of the modules.
• Ten modules according to the sheet: Legislative, normative and regulatory framework; Building design; Excavation and building foundations; Building structure; Building envelope; Fire protection and means of escape; Building mechanicals; Architectural and functional components; Building renovation, restoration and conversion; Sustainable development.
• Only the documents and materials provided by the invigilator are allowed (calculator, ruler, paper and pencil supplied on site).

Documents on the exam information sheet (date of introduction: July 21, 2025): ✔ provided at the exam, 📖 recommended reading (not provided). The copies provided at the exam may be from another version and are checked on site.

• ✔ Regulation respecting the professional qualification of contractors and owner-builders (CQLR, c. B-1.1, r. 9)
• ✔ Quebec Construction Code, Chapter I – Building, and National Building Code of Canada 2015 (amended)
• ✔ Regulation respecting the guarantee plan for new residential buildings (CQLR, c. B-1.1, r. 8)
• 📖 Building Act (CQLR, c. B-1.1)
• 📖 Safety Code for the construction industry (CQLR, c. S-2.1, r. 4)
• 📖 Sustainable Development Act (CQLR, c. D-8.1.1)

What the course contains

• 28 lessons in ten sections, one per module of the sheet, each illustrated with diagrams and linked to the free official texts.
• 824 explained questions in total: 748 in the question bank of the ten section quizzes, 112 of them based on a figure (cross-sections, construction details, plans, diagrams), and 76 in the two method quizzes.
• Ten section quizzes that draw from this question bank (20 questions per attempt, in 40 minutes).
• Two method quizzes: “Which document do I open?” (30 questions) to decide where the rule is, among the three documents provided by the invigilator and what must be known without a document, and “Find the Article” (46 questions, 15 per attempt in 20 minutes) to quickly find the article in Chapter I of the Construction Code with the NBC 2015 (amended) and the Regulation respecting the guarantee plan for new residential buildings (B-1.1, r. 8).
• 25 guided calculations in the lessons: a worked example, a step to complete, then a new case to solve.
• 385 flashcards to review definitions, values and cross-references, on screen or as audio flashcards (28 files, one per lesson: the question, a pause, then the answer).
• 29 audio capsules, one per lesson and one for the complete guide to the exam method, to review on the go.
• A quick reference per section (10), to review before each section quiz.
• A study plan: the order of activities, 4-, 6- and 8-week schedules and spaced reviews (2 days, 1 week, 3 weeks), with a target of 80% on each quiz.
• The Pilote de Code Method for the exam: which document to open, the 90-second rule, signal words, the traps specific to subclass 1.2 and a session plan for the 3 hours of the exam.
• Start for free: the first lessons and a short quiz are open to everyone. The free 14-question quiz shows the format before you enrol.

The lessons:

1. The Building Act and the role of the RBQ
2. The Construction Code and the Safety Code: chapters, editions, transition
3. Professional qualification (B-1.1, r. 9), the scope of subclass 1.2 and the guarantee plan in subcontracting
4. Professional statutes and complementary regulations
5. Chapter I, Part 9 and building classification
6. Areas and spaces, accessibility and health requirements
7. Excavation, backfill and management of foundation work
8. Water management, footings and foundation walls
9. Drainage, foundation protection and soil gas
10. Loads, structure types and the scope of Part 4
11. Wood-frame construction (1): members, spans and studs
12. Wood-frame construction (2): fastening, connections, bracing and work management
13. Envelope physics and components; the scope of Part 5
14. Specific envelope requirements and work management
15. Fire protection terms and concepts
16. Design: occupancies, separation of major occupancies and fire resistance
17. Compartmentation: fire separations, closures and spatial separation
18. Egress: means of egress, exits and travel distances
19. Firefighting, detection, alarm and emergency lighting
20. Managing fire protection work
21. Physical concepts, mechanical equipment and the scope of Part 6
22. HVAC, building electrical work and management of mechanical work
23. Architectural components; glass, doors and windows
24. Stairs, ramps, handrails and guards
25. Partitions and interior finishes
26. Existing buildings: renovation, restoration and alteration (Part 10)
27. Energy efficiency: Section 9.36., Part 11 and Chapter I.1
28. Sustainable development and the environment on site

What generic guides do not explain

Four mechanisms of the law and of the Code that decide a good part of the answers, and that the course works through on concrete cases:

1. The Code on the sheet is not the Code in force

The RBQ sheet lists the NBC 2015 (amended) among the documents provided. The NBC 2020 (amended) has been in force since April 17, 2025 (O.C. 437-2025); s. 6 of the regulation amending the Construction Code (O.C. 437-2025), as amended by O.C. 1351-2026, still allows the former text to be applied, provided the work begins before October 17, 2027. At the exam, you look in the copy you are given and check its edition; on site, you apply the text that governs on the date the work begins.

2. Energy efficiency has moved

In the NBC 2015 (amended), the energy efficiency requirements for small buildings are in Part 11. The NBC 2020 (amended) no longer has a Part 11: its content, updated, moved to Section 9.36. A candidate who looks for “9.36.” in the 2015 edition, or for “Part 11” in the text in force, loses time; the course teaches both landmarks and the difference between them.

3. The scope of the licence does not follow the exemptions of Chapter I

Schedule I of B-1.1, r. 9 defines subclass 1.2 by Part 9 of the NBC as adopted by Chapter I, without regard to the exemptions in s. 1.04 of the Construction Code. A building exempt from Chapter I may therefore remain within the scope of the licence. And the buildings of subclasses 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 are included only as subcontracted work, on behalf of the holder of one of those subclasses.

4. The Building Act must be known without a document

The three documents the sheet lists as provided are B-1.1, r. 9, Chapter I with the NBC 2015 (amended) and B-1.1, r. 8. The Chapter I document provided in the exam room does not reproduce the Building Act: its definitions, its scope, the role and powers of the RBQ, notices, orders and offences must be known without a document. The course separates, subject by subject, what you look up in a document provided and what must be known in advance.

The editions the course is based on

Our questions were developed from the following editions: Construction Code, Chapter I – Building: the NRC publication Quebec Construction Code, Chapter I – Building, and National Building Code of Canada 2020 (amended), second printing, in force since April 17, 2025, the text taught; the NRC publication Quebec Construction Code, Chapter I – Building, and National Building Code of Canada 2015 (amended), first printing (2022), the edition the RBQ information sheet lists among the documents provided; Regulation respecting the professional qualification of contractors and owner-builders (B-1.1, r. 9) and Regulation respecting the guarantee plan for new residential buildings (B-1.1, r. 8), consolidated versions updated to July 1, 2026; Building Act and Sustainable Development Act, consolidated versions updated to August 12, 2026; Safety Code for the construction industry (S-2.1, r. 4), consolidated version updated to July 1, 2026 (texts consulted in October 2026).

The RBQ exam information sheet (date of introduction: July 21, 2025) lists the National Building Code of Canada 2015 (amended), with Chapter I, among the documents provided at the exam. The text in force is the NBC 2020 (amended), since April 17, 2025; the former text may still apply to work that begins before October 17, 2027 (s. 6 of the regulation amending the Construction Code (O.C. 437-2025), as amended by O.C. 1351-2026). The course teaches the NBC 2020 (amended) and points out the useful differences from the 2015 edition; the numbering is usually the same. The copies provided at the exam may be from another version and are checked on site. On exam day, read the edition and the update date of each document you are given, and work with that text.

The sheet still describes the scope of subclass 1.2 with old references: Part 9 of the National Building Code – Canada 2015, the exemptions in Division II of the Regulation respecting the application of the Building Act and the tents referred to in paragraph 2 of section 3.4 of that regulation. Schedule I of B-1.1, r. 9, updated to July 1, 2026, refers to Part 9 of the NBC as adopted by Chapter I of the Construction Code, without regard to the exemptions in s. 1.04 of that Code, and to the tents referred to in s. 1.03(2). The course teaches the text in force and points out each difference.

The sheet names ten modules: Legislative, normative and regulatory framework; Building design; Excavation and building foundations; Building structure; Building envelope; Fire protection and means of escape; Building mechanicals; Architectural and functional components; Building renovation, restoration and conversion; Sustainable development. Our ten sections follow them in the same order, one section per module; the tenth is called “Sustainable development and the environment”, as in the competency profile.

Free official texts: Construction Code; Regulation respecting the professional qualification of contractors and owner-builders; Regulation respecting the guarantee plan for new residential buildings; Building Act; Safety Code for the construction industry; Sustainable Development Act (LégisQuébec). The NRC publishes Chapter I with the NBC 2020 (amended) and Chapter I with the NBC 2015 (amended) (NRC, free access). The CSA standards to which the Code refers are paid publications: the course presents their references without reproducing their text.

Who this course is for

People taking the exam for subclass 1.2, Contractor – Small buildings, to act as guarantor for a construction company. In practice: the law governing the company and the licence, design under Part 9, excavation and foundations, structure, the envelope, fire protection and means of egress, mechanical systems, architectural components, existing buildings and sustainable development. It also helps a qualified licence holder move from the NBC 2015 (amended) to the NBC 2020 (amended) knowing the differences.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the RBQ 1.2 Contractor – Small buildings exam, and what is the passing grade?

According to the RBQ exam information sheet (date of introduction: July 21, 2025), the exam lasts 3 hours and the passing grade is 60%. It is made up of multiple-choice questions and can be taken in French or English. The sheet publishes neither the number of questions nor the weighting of the modules.

What does subclass 1.2 allow a person who passes the exam to do?

According to the sheet, a person who passes the exam may act as guarantor for all the construction work included in subclass 1.2: buildings referred to in Part 9 of the National Building Code that are not referred to in subclasses 1.1.1 and 1.1.2; buildings referred to in subclasses 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 and in Part 9, but only to the extent that the work is subcontracted on behalf of the holder of a 1.1.1 or 1.1.2 licence; certain tents. It also authorizes the work in subclasses 2.6, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1 of Schedule II when it relates to a building or tent covered, and similar or related work. The current text of this definition is in Schedule I of B-1.1, r. 9.

Which documents may I consult during the exam?

Only the documents and materials provided by the invigilator may be used. The RBQ sheet lists three documents provided: the Regulation respecting the professional qualification of contractors and owner-builders (CQLR, c. B-1.1, r. 9), the Quebec Construction Code, Chapter I – Building, and National Building Code of Canada 2015 (amended), and the Regulation respecting the guarantee plan for new residential buildings (CQLR, c. B-1.1, r. 8); a calculator, ruler, paper and pencil are supplied on site. The other documents on the sheet (the Building Act, the Safety Code for the construction industry (S-2.1, r. 4) and the Sustainable Development Act) are recommended reading only: they must be understood in advance. The copies provided at the exam may be from another version and are checked on site.

Which edition of the National Building Code should I study?

The RBQ sheet lists the NBC 2015 (amended) among the documents provided. Since April 17, 2025, Chapter I of the Construction Code incorporates the NBC 2020 (amended) (O.C. 437-2025); the former text may still apply to work that begins before October 17, 2027 (O.C. 1351-2026), and it is the actual start date of the work that decides. The course teaches the text in force and points out the useful differences from the 2015 edition. The copies provided at the exam may be from another version and are checked on site.

Is the Building Act provided at the exam?

Not according to the RBQ sheet, which lists it among the recommended readings, without providing it. The Chapter I document provided in the exam room does not reproduce the Building Act: its definitions, its scope, the role and powers of the RBQ, notices, orders and offences must be known without a document. The course teaches them in Section 1, with B-1.1, r. 9 and the Construction Code.

Does a building exempt from Chapter I fall outside the scope of the 1.2 licence?

Not for the licence. Schedule I of B-1.1, r. 9 defines the scope of subclass 1.2 by Part 9 of the NBC as adopted by Chapter I, without regard to the exemptions in s. 1.04 of the Construction Code. A building exempt from Chapter I may therefore remain within the scope of the licence: the scope of each text is read text by text.

How is the subject matter divided in the course?

The sheet names ten modules, without weighting. The course follows them in ten sections, in the same order, from the legislative framework to sustainable development; each section quiz draws 20 questions at random from its section’s question bank, in 40 minutes.

Where are the energy efficiency requirements for small buildings?

They have moved. In the NBC 2015 (amended), they are in Part 11; the NBC 2020 (amended) no longer has a Part 11: its content, updated, moved to Section 9.36. The course teaches Section 9.36. and the difference from Part 11, so you can find the requirement in the 2015 or the 2020 text.

What does the Prof-RBQ.ca RBQ 1.2 course contain?

Twenty-eight lessons and 824 explained questions in total: a question bank of 748 questions divided among ten section quizzes, and 76 questions in two method quizzes, “Which document do I open?” (30 questions) and “Find the Article” (46 questions, 15 per attempt in 20 minutes). It also includes 385 flashcards, on screen and as audio flashcards (28 files, one per lesson), 29 audio capsules (one per lesson and one for the complete method guide), 25 step-by-step guided calculations, a quick reference per section, a study plan with schedules and reviews, and the Pilote de Code Method for the exam. Each explanation names the source behind the answer.

Can I try the course before enrolling?

Yes. Start for free: the first lessons and a short quiz are open to everyone. The free quiz has 14 questions, taken from the ten sections of the course and including 2 diagrams; it shows the format of the questions and explanations of the full course.

How does the course train me to find the right document and the right article?

With two method quizzes. “Which document do I open?” (30 questions) asks you, for each situation, to choose among the three documents the sheet lists as provided and “Not in the documents provided”. “Find the Article” draws 15 questions from 46, in 20 minutes: find the article quickly in Chapter I of the Construction Code with the NBC 2015 (amended) and the Regulation respecting the guarantee plan for new residential buildings (B-1.1, r. 8). The article numbers are taken from the NBC 2015 (amended), the edition the RBQ sheet lists; some numbers differ in the NBC 2020 (amended) taught: the explanations give the correspondence with the 2020 edition. The copies provided at the exam may be from another version and are checked on site.

Are the questions the same from one attempt to the next?

No. Each section quiz draws its questions at random from its section’s group, and the order of the choices may be shuffled: retaking a quiz largely means meeting other questions. The two method quizzes draw from their own group; in “Which document do I open?”, the four choices are the same for every question.

How should I prepare in the last weeks before the exam?

Retake each section quiz after 2 days, 1 week and 3 weeks, aiming for 80%; the course study plan suggests 4-, 6- and 8-week schedules. In the last week, retake the ten section quizzes in real conditions: 40 minutes each, without interruption, with only the three documents provided at the exam; also take the “Which document do I open?” and “Find the Article” quizzes.

Is Prof-RBQ.ca linked to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec?

No. Prof-RBQ.ca is an independent preparation service, not affiliated with the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) or the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ).

Our approach

Prof-RBQ.ca is an independent preparation service, not affiliated with the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) or the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ). In case of discrepancy, the official text governs. The course is a review tool: it replaces neither the texts in force nor the advice of a professional, and it does not guarantee the result of the exam.