Complete Strategic Guide: Obtaining the RBQ 1.3 Licence – General Buildings Contractor

1. What Is the RBQ 1.3 Licence and Who Needs It?

The RBQ 1.3 licence — General Buildings Contractor (Entrepreneur en bâtiments de tout genre) — is the most comprehensive building construction licence issued by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). It authorizes construction work on any type of building, without restriction on size, height, or complexity. This includes:

• All buildings covered by subcategory 1.2 (small buildings under Part 9);
• Buildings of all sizes under Part 3 of the National Building Code, including high-rise buildings;
• Inflatable structures;
• New residential buildings as a subcontractor for holders of licence 1.1.1 or 1.1.2.

It also covers work in subcategories 2.6, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1 when related to a building or inflatable structure. The 1.3 is the licence for contractors who need to work on projects of any scale — from small renovations to large commercial and institutional buildings.

2. Scope of the Licence: What Types of Work Does It Authorize?

The RBQ 1.3 licence covers the broadest range of building construction work available. Unlike the 1.2 (limited to Part 9 small buildings), the 1.3 authorizes work on buildings of all types governed by both Part 3 and Part 9 of the National Building Code of Canada. This includes high-rise residential towers, hospitals, schools, shopping centres, industrial complexes, and any other building regardless of occupancy classification.

The scope also includes renovation, heritage restoration and transformation of existing buildings under Part 10 of the Construction Code — a critical competency given Quebec's significant inventory of heritage buildings. The 1.3 additionally covers inflatable structures and tents, which have their own specific fire protection and structural requirements.

In practice, the 1.3 licence holder can perform any work that a 1.2 licence holder can, plus all work on buildings that exceed Part 9 limits. This makes it the most versatile building contractor licence in Quebec.

3. RBQ Exam Format: What to Expect

• Question type: Multiple choice (MCQ)
• Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes)
• Passing grade: 60%
• Languages: French or English
• Skills assessed: 217 skills across 55 competency elements
• Exam type: Mixed (open book + closed book)
• Tools provided: Calculator, ruler, paper and pencil

With 217 skills across 10 modules, the 1.3 is the most demanding of the building contractor exams. It tests your ability to apply construction codes, legislation, and technical standards to buildings of any type and complexity — including high-rise requirements, metal structures, and inflatable structures that are absent from the 1.2 exam.

4. Exam Documentation: Open Book vs. Closed Book

The RBQ 1.3 exam is a mixed exam: 2 documents are provided at the exam (open book) and 3 must be memorized (closed book). Compared to the 1.2 exam (which has 4 closed-book documents), the 1.3 has one fewer document to memorize — the Guarantee Plan Regulation is not part of the 1.3 exam documentation.

Documents PROVIDED During the Exam (Open Book)

• Canadian Wood-Frame House Construction — Canada (CMHC) — The comprehensive reference guide for wood-frame construction practices, including framing details, foundation systems, and building envelope assemblies.
• Quebec Construction Code — Chapter I, Building (NBC amended 2010) — The primary technical reference for building requirements, structural standards, fire safety, and accessibility provisions for buildings of all types.

Documents to MEMORIZE (Closed Book)

• Building Act (CQLR, c. B-1.1) — The foundational statute governing construction, safety, and contractor qualifications in Quebec.
• Regulation respecting the professional qualifications of contractors and owner-builders (CQLR, c. B-1.1, r. 9) — Defines the qualification requirements, subcategories, and conditions for obtaining a licence.
• Safety Code for Construction Work (CQLR, c. S-2.1, r. 4) — Establishes health and safety standards for construction sites.

5. The 10 Training and Competency Modules

Module 1 — Legislative, Normative and Regulatory Framework (28 skills — 13%)

Covers the Building Act, the Professional Qualifications Regulation, and associated legal obligations. For the 1.3, this module includes the full legislative framework applicable to buildings of all types and complexity levels.

Module 2 — Building Design (25 skills — 12%)

Covers building classification according to the Construction Code, areas and spaces, accessibility, health and sanitary requirements. For the 1.3, design considerations extend to large and complex buildings including high-rise structures.

Module 3 — Building Excavation and Foundation (27 skills — 12%)

Covers excavation safety, soil conditions, footing design, foundation wall construction, waterproofing, drainage systems, frost protection, and protection against underground gases. The second-heaviest module, with additional skills for large building foundations.

Module 4 — Building Structure (22 skills — 10%)

Focuses on structural systems for buildings of all types: wood-frame, concrete, masonry, metal, and heavy timber construction. Includes permanent, climatic and seismic loads, bracing, and structural resistance calculations.

Module 5 — Building Envelope (15 skills — 7%)

Addresses thermal insulation, air barriers, vapour barriers, weatherproofing, and drainage for building envelopes of all types and sizes.

Module 6 — Fire Protection and Means of Egress (47 skills — 22%)

The most heavily weighted module on the exam. With 47 skills, fire protection alone accounts for over one-fifth of the total. Covers fire separations, compartmentalization (10 skills alone), means of egress, firefighting measures including high-rise building requirements, detection and emergency lighting systems, specific requirements for tents and inflatable structures, and construction execution for fire protection work.

Module 7 — Building Mechanical Systems (16 skills — 7%)

Covers HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, chimney flues, and sanitary equipment for buildings of all types.

Module 8 — Architectural and Functional Components (10 skills — 5%)

Addresses interior finishes, accessibility requirements, stairways, guards, handrails, and functional elements across all building types.

Module 9 — Building Renovation, Restoration and Transformation (14 skills — 6%)

This module IS assessed for the 1.3 licence. Covers the requirements of Part 10 of the Construction Code for renovation work, including heritage restoration, structural assessment of existing buildings, and the specific challenges of transforming buildings while maintaining code compliance.

Module 10 — Sustainable Development and Environment (13 skills — 6%)

Covers environmental regulations, energy efficiency requirements, sustainable construction practices, and the Sustainable Development Act applied to buildings of all types.

6. Key Competencies and Technical Requirements (Official Context)

High-Rise Buildings and Complex Fire Protection

The defining difference between the 1.3 and 1.2 exams is the inclusion of requirements for high-rise buildings (buildings exceeding the height limits of Part 9). Module 6 includes specific skills for high-rise fire protection: firefighting measures for buildings of great height, additional compartmentalization requirements, pressurized stairwells, standpipe systems, and fire alarm systems for large buildings. These skills account for a significant portion of the 3 additional skills in Module 6 compared to the 1.2 exam (47 vs. 45). Candidates must understand how Part 3 fire protection articles apply to buildings that go beyond the relatively simpler Part 9 requirements.

Metal Structures and Diverse Structural Systems

While the 1.2 exam focuses primarily on wood-frame construction (Part 9 buildings), the 1.3 includes structural requirements for concrete, masonry, metal, and heavy timber construction systems. Module 4 tests your understanding of structural resistance for steel beams, concrete columns, masonry walls, and their connections. Candidates must be able to evaluate structural adequacy across multiple material types — a skill set that goes well beyond the wood-frame span tables tested on the 1.2.

Heritage Restoration: A Unique 1.3 Competency

Module 9 for the 1.3 includes heritage restoration — the process of rehabilitating buildings of historical or architectural significance while meeting current code requirements. This involves understanding how Part 10 provisions interact with heritage preservation objectives, including the concept of "equivalent compliance" where alternative solutions may be accepted to preserve heritage features. Quebec's built heritage — from Old Montreal to Quebec City's historic district — makes this a practically important competency.

Inflatable Structures and Tents

The 1.3 licence uniquely covers inflatable structures — air-supported or air-inflated buildings used for sports facilities, temporary shelters, and industrial applications. Module 6 includes specific fire protection requirements for these structures, which behave differently from conventional buildings in fire conditions. Candidates must also understand the structural requirements for maintaining air pressure and the specific egress provisions for inflatable enclosures.

The CMHC Guide: Cross-Referencing with Complex Code Requirements

Like the 1.2, the 1.3 exam provides the CMHC guide as an open-book reference. However, for the 1.3, candidates must be able to cross-reference CMHC wood-frame details not only with Part 9 but also with Part 3 requirements when applicable. Understanding the boundaries between wood-frame construction (covered by CMHC) and other structural systems (concrete, steel, masonry) is essential for correctly answering questions that span multiple structural types.

Three Closed-Book Documents: Focused Memorization

The 1.3 exam requires memorizing 3 documents (vs. 4 for the 1.2 — the Guarantee Plan Regulation is not included). While the memorization load is lighter, the Building Act, Professional Qualifications Regulation, and Safety Code must still be mastered thoroughly. The Safety Code is particularly important for the 1.3 given the larger and more hazardous construction sites associated with general buildings — scaffolding, crane operations, and excavation safety requirements take on greater significance.

7. Preparation Strategy and Tips for Success

The RBQ 1.3 exam covers 217 skills across 10 assessed modules — the broadest and most demanding of all building contractor exams. Here is a recommended strategy:

Phase 1 — Master the 3 closed-book documents. The Building Act, Professional Qualifications Regulation, and Safety Code for Construction Work must all be memorized. Use Prof-RBQ.ca's flashcards systematically — start early and review daily. The good news: with 3 documents instead of 4, the memorization load is lighter than the 1.2.

Phase 2 — Dominate Module 6 (Fire Protection). With 47 skills (22% of the exam), this module is the single most important factor in your success. Focus on fire separations, compartmentalization (10 skills), means of egress, and — critically for the 1.3 — high-rise fire protection measures. The Construction Code (open book) is your primary reference — learn to navigate both Part 3 and Part 9 fire protection articles quickly.

Phase 3 — Learn to navigate both open-book documents. Master the CMHC guide's chapter structure for wood-frame construction details, and the Construction Code's table of contents for Part 3, Part 9, and Part 10 requirements. Practice cross-referencing between the two documents and know when each applies.

Phase 4 — Understand the 1.3-specific content. Focus on what differentiates the 1.3 from the 1.2: high-rise buildings, metal structures, heritage restoration, inflatable structures, and complex building classification. These additional skills are what the 1.3 exam specifically tests beyond the 1.2 scope.

Phase 5 — Complete full timed simulations. Before the exam, do at least 2–3 full practice exams under timed conditions. With 217 skills, pacing is critical — roughly 50 seconds per question.

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