Complete Strategic Guide: Obtaining the RBQ 2.1 Licence – Drilled Wells Contractor

1. What Is the RBQ 2.1 Licence and Who Needs It?

The RBQ 2.1 licence — Drilled Wells Contractor (Entrepreneur en puits forés) — is a specialized licence issued by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) for contractors who drill wells and construct water catchment works. It authorizes construction work involving:

• Tubular well drilling (artesian wells / puits artésiens);
• Surface well construction (dug wells);
• Wellpoint (driven point) installation;
• Spring catchment construction;
• All associated work: sealing, development, pumping tests, disinfection, and decommissioning.

With 68 skills across 4 modules and 14 competency elements, the RBQ 2.1 is the most comprehensive licence in category 2 — encompassing all four types of water catchment works and the full lifecycle from drilling to decommissioning. It is the parent licence that includes the competencies of both subcategory 2.2 (non-drilled catchment works) and 2.3 (pumping systems).

2. Scope of the Licence: Groundwater Catchment from Drilling to Decommissioning

The RBQ 2.1 covers the full spectrum of groundwater catchment construction. Unlike licences 2.2 and 2.3 which cover subsets of this domain, the 2.1 encompasses everything: tubular well drilling (the 12 skills unique to this licence), non-drilled catchment works (surface wells, wellpoints, spring catchments), work finalization (development, pumping tests, disinfection, reporting), standards compliance, and decommissioning of unused works.

The scope is defined by the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment (Q-2, r. 6), which establishes the regulatory framework for all water catchment work in Quebec. This regulation sets the permitting requirements, setback distances from potential contamination sources, installation standards, and the contractor's obligations — from the initial municipal permit through to the final drilling report with GPS coordinates.

A distinctive feature of the RBQ 2.1 is its environmental dimension. Groundwater is a protected natural resource under the Environment Quality Act. Every aspect of well construction — drilling techniques, casing integrity, annular sealing, and proper decommissioning — has environmental implications. Improper work can contaminate aquifers that serve entire communities. The exam tests your ability to protect groundwater quality throughout the lifecycle of a catchment work.

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: 68 skills across 14 competency elements
• Exam type: Mixed (2 open-book documents + 4 closed-book documents)
• Tools provided: Calculator, ruler, paper and pencil

With 68 skills and a mixed open/closed-book format, the RBQ 2.1 exam requires strong navigation of the 2 provided documents (especially the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment) and solid memorization of the 4 closed-book documents. Module 4 (Standards and Work Execution) accounts for 41 of 68 skills — 60% of the exam.

4. Exam Documentation: Open Book vs. Closed Book

The RBQ 2.1 exam is a mixed exam with 2 documents provided (open book) and 4 to memorize (closed book) — 6 documents total. The exam is primarily closed book in character, with the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment being the key open-book reference.

Documents PROVIDED During the Exam (Open Book)

• Regulation respecting groundwater catchment (CQLR, c. Q-2, r. 6) — The central regulatory reference governing catchment work, installation standards, setback distances, permits, and the contractor's obligations for all types of water catchment works.
• Safety Code for Construction Work (CQLR, c. S-2.1, r. 4) — Health and safety standards applicable to construction sites, including drilling operations, confined spaces, and heavy equipment work.

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 and conditions for obtaining a licence.
• Environment Quality Act (CQLR, c. Q-2) — The primary environmental statute governing groundwater protection, contamination prevention, and the environmental obligations of well contractors.
• Occupational Health and Safety Act (CQLR, c. S-2.1) — The foundational statute for workplace safety in Quebec.

5. The 4 Training and Competency Modules

Module 1 — Definitions and Types of Systems (14 skills — 21%)

Covers foundational knowledge of groundwater and catchment systems: the hydrological cycle, aquifer types (granular and fractured rock), static and dynamic water levels, specific capacity and well yield, the four types of catchment works (tubular well, surface well, wellpoint, spring catchment), drilling equipment and techniques, casing materials, well screens, and the major components of a complete water supply installation from catchment to distribution.

Module 2 — Legislative, Normative and Regulatory Framework (5 skills — 7%)

Covers the regulatory framework for groundwater catchment: the Building Act, the Regulation respecting professional qualifications, the Environment Quality Act, the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment (Q-2, r. 6), the OHS Act, and the Safety Code for Construction Work. This module tests your ability to identify which law or regulation governs each aspect of well construction and groundwater protection.

Module 3 — Plans and Specifications (8 skills — 12%)

Covers the ability to read plans and specifications for water catchment projects: interpreting site plans with setback distances, reading well construction diagrams (casing, screen, seal, annular space), understanding geological cross-sections, and preparing material specifications for catchment work.

Module 4 — Standards and Work Execution (41 skills — 60%)

The most heavily weighted module on the exam — by far. With 41 skills across 9 competency elements, this module alone represents six out of ten exam questions. It covers: project planning (5 skills), tubular well drilling (12 skills — the single largest block), surface well construction (4 skills), wellpoint construction (3 skills), spring catchment construction (3 skills), work finalization including development, pumping tests, disinfection, GPS and drilling report (6 skills), standards compliance (2 skills), decommissioning of unused works by type (4 skills), and health and safety (2 skills).

6. Key Competencies and Technical Requirements (Official Context)

Tubular Well Drilling (CE7): 12 Skills — The Core of the 2.1 Licence

Tubular well drilling is what distinguishes the RBQ 2.1 from the 2.2 and 2.3 licences. This competency element covers the full drilling process: selecting the appropriate drilling technique (rotary, percussion, rotary-percussion) and equipment for the geological conditions, operating drilling machinery and understanding its components, selecting and using drilling materials (fluids, additives), choosing the right well screen material and opening size based on the aquifer's grain size distribution, verifying casing compliance markings, constructing the casing assembly with proper specifications, anchoring the casing in rock according to standards, and adapting construction when rock is less than 5 metres from the surface. It also covers well sealing (when it is required, how to achieve an adequate seal), geothermal well best practices, and drilling debris management.

The Regulation Respecting Groundwater Catchment (Q-2, r. 6): Your Primary Reference

The Regulation respecting groundwater catchment is the most important document for the RBQ 2.1 exam. It establishes the complete regulatory framework: who needs a permit, the required setback distances from septic systems, fuel tanks, and other contamination sources, the installation standards for each type of catchment work, the municipal role in permitting, and the contractor's reporting obligations. Since this document is provided at the exam, the key competency is fast navigation — knowing where to find specific setback distances, installation requirements, and permit conditions. Prof-RBQ.ca teaches the structure and section numbering of this regulation.

Non-Drilled Catchment Works: Surface Wells, Wellpoints, and Spring Catchments

Beyond drilling, the RBQ 2.1 exam covers three types of non-drilled catchment works. Surface wells (4 skills) require knowledge of annular space sealing, unsaturated zone requirements, and fill materials. Wellpoints or driven points (3 skills) are small-diameter catchment works driven into the ground — candidates must understand installation techniques and limitations. Spring catchments (3 skills) involve capturing groundwater at its natural emergence point — requiring knowledge of collection chamber construction, protection perimeters, and surface water diversion. Each type has distinct construction requirements under the Regulation Q-2, r. 6.

Work Finalization: Development, Testing, and Reporting

After construction, every catchment work requires a series of finalization steps that are tested on the exam (6 skills). Well development clears drilling debris and maximizes yield. Pumping tests determine the well's sustainable yield and the aquifer's characteristics. Disinfection ensures the water is safe for consumption. The contractor must also record GPS coordinates and submit a drilling report — the official record of the catchment work that becomes part of the provincial database. These finalization steps are frequently tested because they are legally required and directly affect public health.

Decommissioning: Closing Unused Wells Safely

Unused or abandoned catchment works are a significant environmental risk — they can serve as conduits for surface contamination to reach aquifers. The exam dedicates 4 skills to decommissioning, with specific methods for each type of catchment work: tubular wells require cement grouting from bottom to top, surface wells require removal of the casing and backfilling, wellpoints require extraction or grouting, and spring catchments require removal of collection structures and restoration of natural drainage. This competency reflects the lifecycle responsibility of the drilled wells contractor.

7. Preparation Strategy and Tips for Success

The RBQ 2.1 exam covers 68 skills across 4 modules with 2 open-book and 4 closed-book documents. Here is a recommended strategy:

Phase 1 — Master the Regulation respecting groundwater catchment (Q-2, r. 6). This is the central reference document provided at the exam. Learn its structure, know where to find setback distances, installation standards for each type of catchment work, and permit requirements. Fast navigation saves time for the harder questions.

Phase 2 — Dominate Module 4 (Standards and Work Execution). With 41 skills (60% of the exam), this module determines your result. Prioritize tubular well drilling (CE7, 12 skills) — the largest block and the competency unique to the 2.1 licence. Then cover work finalization (6 skills), the three non-drilled work types (10 skills total), and decommissioning (4 skills).

Phase 3 — Memorize the 4 closed-book documents by theme. Group them: contractor law (Building Act, Professional Qualifications Regulation), environment (Environment Quality Act), and workplace safety (OHS Act). Use Prof-RBQ.ca's flashcards with spaced repetition.

Phase 4 — Master Module 1 (Definitions and Types of Systems). With 14 skills (21%), this module establishes the technical vocabulary. Understand the hydrological cycle, aquifer types, and the characteristics of each catchment work type — this knowledge underpins everything in Module 4.

Phase 5 — Complete full timed simulations. With 68 skills and 2 open-book documents, you have roughly 159 seconds per question. Practice navigating the Regulation Q-2, r. 6 efficiently under timed conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions