1. About the RBQ 17.1 contractor licence exam

The RBQ sub-category 17.1 exam is the theoretical examination administered by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec for candidates seeking to act as qualified representative (répondant) for a contractor licence covering instrumentation, control and regulation systems work. The sub-category authorizes construction work concerning instrumentation, control and regulation systems that is not exclusively reserved to electrical contractors, plus the work covered by sub-category 17.2 of Annex III and similar or related construction work.

The exam is offered in French and English in multiple-choice format, lasts 3 hours, and the passing grade is 60%. It is built around four official modules covering definitions and types of systems, the legislative/normative/regulatory framework, plans and specifications, and standards for installation and execution of work.

2. Exam structure at a glance

The RBQ does not publish a percentage weighting per module for this licence. By content volume, Module 4 (Standards and execution of work) is the largest by a wide margin — followed by Module 1 (Definitions and types of systems). Treat those two as the heaviest study blocks.

3. Detailed competency elements

Module 1 — Definitions and types of systems

• EC 1 — Define the notions and terms of instrumentation, control and regulation systems: regulation/control/instrumentation, home automation (domotique), building automation (immotique), energy management, components (probes, actuators, controllers, valves, conductors), computing fundamentals (servers, networks, OS, software), centralized/distributed/data-acquisition control stations, HVAC communication networks (Ethernet, Arcnet, MSTP, TCP/IP, RS-485), field protocols (BACnet, LonWorks/Échelon, Modbus, Fieldbus), and electrical terminology (voltage, ampere, resistance, induced current, dry contact, normally open / normally closed contacts).
• EC 2 — Describe the operating characteristics of system components: the three system families (pneumatic, electromechanical, digital), open- and closed-loop control, measurement and command equipment (probes, transmitters, actuators, valves, thermostats), programmable logic controllers, cabling and conductors (FT-1 to FT-4, ISO 8802-3, EIA-485), communication networks (Ethernet, Arcnet, RS-485), normal and emergency power supplies, and power-supply issues (noise, interruptions, variations).
• EC 3 — Describe HVAC energy management: heating, cooling, refrigeration, ventilation systems and their interaction with control systems; peripheral systems (surveillance, access control, elevators, parking); and energy-management strategies (free cooling, setback, etc.).

Module 2 — Legislative, normative and regulatory framework

• EC 4 — Situate the work within the regulatory framework: certification marks (CSA, ULC); Quebec Construction Code Chapter I — Building, and the National Building Code (CNRC); the Canadian Electrical Code; the National Fire Code (restrictions, precautions, risks); municipal/local/regional codes; the Regulation on workplace air quality (S-2.1, r.15) for fresh-air and exhaust systems; the Regulation on energy efficiency in new buildings (E-1.1, r.1); the licensing boundary between this trade and others (master electricians, ventilation, refrigeration, elevators, access control); and the standards organizations (ASHRAE, LEED, AQME).

Module 3 — Plans, specifications and estimation

• EC 5 — Read and interpret drawings of instrumentation/control/regulation systems: locating system elements, interpreting symbols, dimensions and annotations, reading sections and details, general notes and tables, one-line network architecture diagrams, and control schematics for HVAC and peripheral equipment.
• EC 6 — Read and interpret drawings of associated peripheral systems: identifying cable paths and the elements that must be drilled while preserving structural and fire-separation integrity; identifying and interpreting all HVAC and other systems linked to the control system.
• EC 7 — Read and interpret specification divisions: the divisions and sections covering control-system installations, the divisions covering related equipment, and the general and specific charges (capacity, protocol, automation depth, control points).
• EC 8 — Evaluate the work for a control system: assessing the capacity of an existing system, proposing modifications or maintenance programs, choosing a system that conforms to plans and specifications, performing material take-off (métré), and determining daily production rates and the project schedule.

Module 4 — Standards and execution of work

• EC 9 — Plan and organize the work: validating permits, determining the logical work sequence, evaluating constraints in special environments (humidity, confined spaces), coordinating with other trades, and procuring materials.
• EC 10 — Install system components: verifying site conformity, planning cable paths and clearances, installing conduits/cabling/outlet boxes, installing measurement and command equipment (probes, actuators, valves, thermostats), installing central computing and integration equipment, connecting equipment to control panels and terminal systems, verifying power supply to disconnects, preserving structural and firestop integrity, ensuring conformity to manufacturer recommendations, and verifying conformity to plans, specs, and standards.
• EC 11 — Program and commission the system: reviewing operating sequences from the design professional, integrating owner/occupant requirements, programming sequences in the software, validating transmitted values (trend logs, on-site measurement, veracity checks), optimizing sequences (monitoring, scheduling, preventive alarms), programming multi-level access security, handling integration risks with peripheral systems (access control, elevators, lighting), documenting finalized sequences, training the owner/users, and delivering operating manuals.
• EC 12 — Manage, repair and maintain the system: identifying test types, diagnosing faults, defining repair solutions, producing a periodic maintenance schedule, identifying verification methods (visual, electrical, computing), optimizing sequences, programming and calibrating components, documenting changes, and producing maintenance and repair reports.
• EC 13 — Health and safety: identifying risks tied to control-system work (hot fluids and gases, confined spaces, high pressure) and the precautions to take (lockout/tagout, etc.).

4. Documents at the exam — mixed-book format

Provided at the exam (open book — 3 documents)

• Code de construction du Québec — Chapitre I — Bâtiment 1995 (RLRQ, B-1.1, r.0.01.01)
• Code de construction du Québec — Chapitre V — Électricité 2007 (RLRQ, B-1.1, r.0.01.01)
• Code de sécurité pour les travaux de construction (RLRQ, S-2.1, r.4)

Recommended reading only (closed book — 10 documents)

• Loi sur le bâtiment (RLRQ, B-1.1)
• Code de sécurité (RLRQ, B-1.1, r.0.01.01.1)
• Règlement sur la qualification professionnelle des entrepreneurs en construction et des constructeurs-propriétaires (RLRQ, B-1.1, r.1.01)
• Loi sur la santé et la sécurité du travail (RLRQ, S-2.1)
• Règlement sur la qualité du milieu du travail (RLRQ, S-2.1, r.19.01)
• Loi sur l'économie de l'énergie dans le bâtiment (RLRQ, E-1.1)
• Règlement sur l'économie de l'énergie dans les nouveaux bâtiments (RLRQ, E-1.1, r.1)
• CSA C22.10-F07 — Code de construction du Québec, Chapitre V — Électricité (Code canadien de l'électricité, Première partie), 20th edition with Quebec amendments
• CAN/CSA-C22.2 NO. 0-FM91 (C2006) — Exigences générales, Code canadien de l'électricité, Deuxième partie
• ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 135-2001 — BACnet®-A Data Communication Protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks (ANSI Approved)

Several of these documents are available free of charge on publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca.

5. Material provided at the exam

The calculator, ruler, paper and pencil needed for the exam are supplied on site. Only the documents and material handed out by the exam supervisor may be used during the session — personal copies, notes, electronic devices, and additional reference material are not allowed.

6. What makes the RBQ 17.1 exam different

The RBQ 17.1 contractor licence sits at an unusual intersection of building trades. It covers instrumentation, control and regulation systems — the sensors, actuators, controllers, networks and supervisory stations that orchestrate HVAC equipment, energy management, access control, and a long list of peripheral building systems. The work touches electrical, mechanical, IT, and regulatory disciplines, which is why the exam content range is broader than most other RBQ sub-categories: from BACnet network architecture to fire-separation integrity, from PID control loops to the Canadian Electrical Code.

The exam is mixed book, and that has direct study consequences. The three open-book references — Quebec Construction Code Chapters I and V, and the construction-work safety code S-2.1 r.4 — must be read carefully before the exam so you know where to find a clause quickly during the session. Closed-book content covers a different skill: outright recall. The Canadian Electrical Code Parts I and II, ASHRAE 135 (BACnet), the workplace-air-quality and energy-efficiency regulations, the Building Act, and the contractor-qualification regulation are not available during the exam, so the principles, scope rules and key numbers in those documents must be memorized.

The largest content block by volume is Module 4 (Standards and execution of work) — 37 skill statements covering planning, installation, programming/commissioning, management/repair/maintenance, and health and safety. This is the module that mirrors what the licensed contractor will actually do on a project, and it deserves the most study time. Module 1 (Definitions and types of systems) is the second-largest at 21 statements — terminology, components, networks, protocols, and HVAC interactions. Get those two right and you have most of the exam covered.

7. Recommended preparation strategy

1. Memorize the closed-book content first. The 10 closed-book documents include the Canadian Electrical Code (Parts I and II), ASHRAE 135 BACnet, the workplace-air-quality and energy-efficiency regulations, the Building Act, and the contractor-qualification regulation. Build flashcards around scope, key articles, and numerical limits — you won't have them on exam day.
2. Read the 3 open-book references for navigation, not retention. The Quebec Construction Code Chapters I and V, and the safety code S-2.1 r.4, will be in front of you. Practice locating sections by topic — table of contents, index keywords — so you can answer lookup-style questions in seconds rather than minutes.
3. Anchor preparation around Module 4 (37 skill statements). Standards and execution of work is the largest module. Master the installation sequence, programming and commissioning workflow, sequence documentation, multi-level access security, and the lockout/tagout health and safety baseline.
4. Build a clear mental map of BACnet, LonWorks, and Modbus. The exam includes terminology questions on field protocols, communication networks (Ethernet, Arcnet, MSTP, RS-485, TCP/IP), and cable types (FT-1 to FT-4, ISO 8802-3, EIA-485). Memorize the family tree of protocols and where each one fits in a building.
5. Drill HVAC interaction questions. Module 1 EC 3 is dense: heating, cooling, refrigeration, ventilation, and how a control system integrates with each. Pair this with Module 4 EC 11 (programming and commissioning) — operating sequences are the bridge between HVAC theory and control practice.
6. Practice plan and specification reading. Module 3 (18 skill statements) tests symbol interpretation, one-line diagrams, control schematics, specification divisions, and take-off (métré). These are skills that respond well to repeated practice rather than memorization.
7. Take at least two full mock exams under real conditions (3 hours, only the 3 open-book documents on the desk, single sitting) before scheduling the real exam.
8. Review every wrong answer. The Prof-RBQ.ca platform shows the reasoning behind each correct answer — read every explanation, even on questions you got right.

8. Why Prof-RBQ.ca for the RBQ 17.1 exam

• Aligned with the official RBQ structure — content mapped one-to-one to the four modules and their 13 competency elements, with extra depth on Module 4 (the largest module by volume) and Module 1 (terminology, networks, protocols, HVAC).
• Mixed-book training methodology — separate tracks for the 10 closed-book documents (memorization with flashcards and spaced practice) and the 3 open-book documents (navigation drills, find-the-clause speed exercises).
• Mock exams in RBQ format — multiple choice, 3-hour timing, 60% passing grade, with the 3 open-book references on the desk — so exam day feels familiar.
• Detailed answer explanations — every question, right or wrong, comes with a written rationale citing the underlying article, code or standard.
• Bilingual — full course in English and French. The RBQ exam itself is offered in both languages.
• A free section is available so you can try the platform before committing.

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