CCQ (EN) — Tinsmith

1. About the CCQ Sheet metal worker exam

The Sheet metal worker (Ferblantier) qualification exam is the official theoretical evaluation administered by the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ). Passing this exam is a key step toward obtaining a journeyman competency certificate and being authorized to work as a sheet metal worker on Quebec construction sites.

The exam covers three sections weighted as follows: Fabricating parts and preparing the work (41%), Installing distribution, exhaust, and recovery networks (37%), and Installing metal cladding and prefabricated objects (22%). It is offered in French and English in multiple-choice format and lasts approximately 3 hours, with a passing grade of 60%.

2. Exam structure at a glance

Section 1 is the heaviest single block. Together with Section 2, the ductwork side of the trade accounts for 78% of the score. Section 3 covers the metal cladding and roofing side — a distinct skill set that some sheet metal workers practise less often but cannot ignore for the exam.

3. Detailed competency elements

Section 1 — Fabricating parts and preparing the work (41%)

For distribution, exhaust, and recovery networks:

Fabricating parts:

• Interpret a plan, specification, or fabrication sketch
• Fabricate a part from a plan, specification, or sketch

Preparing the work to be performed:

• Interpret an installation plan

For wall and roof cladding:

• Prepare the work to be performed
• Fabricate pieces and panels

Section 2 — Installing distribution, exhaust, and recovery networks (37%)

Installing ducts and equipment:

• Install anchors and the suspension system
• Install the ducts
• Connect the ducts
• Install the equipment
• Install accessories

Installing and using means of access safely:

• Install scaffolding
• Use personnel lift equipment and scaffolding safely

Section 3 — Metal cladding and prefabricated objects (22%)

Installing roof cladding:

• Install the cladding on the roof
• Weld pieces on heritage roofing
• Seal a pre-painted steel roof

Installing wall cladding:

• Install the cladding support system
• Install the finish cladding

Installing prefabricated objects:

• Install prefabricated objects

Using lifting and handling equipment:

• Rig a part
• Lift and move a part
• Communicate using the manual signaling code

4. Documents provided at the exam

This is a defining feature of all CCQ trade qualification exams: unlike RBQ contractor exams (some of which are open book), CCQ exams are systematically closed book regardless of the trade. Plan your study accordingly.

5. Recommended study documents

The CCQ suggests the following references for preparation. None of them will be available during the exam — they are study aids only. Use them to build understanding, then test recall with practice questions and flashcards.

• AERMQ Manuel technique — Association des entrepreneurs en revêtement métallique du Québec, Sainte-Thérèse, 2015, 250 p. (aermq.qc.ca)
• Rigging and Lifting: Safety Guide — CSST/CNESST, Publications du Québec, 2006, 174 p. (publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca)
• Welding (metric edition) — Pender, James Angus, Chenelière/McGraw-Hill, Montréal, 1977, 200 p.
• Scaffolding Installation and Use Guide — CNESST, Collection Guide d'installation et d'utilisation (cnesst.gouv.qc.ca)

6. What makes the Sheet metal worker exam different

The Quebec Sheet metal worker (Ferblantier) trade is unusual in spanning two distinct families of work on a single qualification: HVAC and exhaust ductwork (Sections 1 and 2, totaling 78%) and architectural metal cladding and roofing (parts of Section 1 and all of Section 3, 22%). Both depend on the same core competency — accurately fabricating sheet metal pieces from plans and specifications — but use different installation systems, fastening methods, and safety considerations. The exam tests both, so a candidate who specialises in only one side of the trade must still cover the other.

Section 1 (41%) is the heaviest single block, and it's almost entirely about plan reading and fabrication: interpreting plans, specifications, and fabrication sketches; fabricating parts from those drawings; and preparing both ductwork and cladding work for installation. A candidate who can read drawings well and fabricate accurately has a structural advantage on this exam — pure field experience without strong drawing skills tends to score lower than expected.

Section 3 (22%) includes specialty content that's worth flagging: welding on heritage roofing (a specific skill for older Quebec buildings), sealing pre-painted steel roofs, and full rigging and signaling for moving large fabricated panels. Because the exam is closed book, the platform also tracks what you've actually memorized — flashcards spaced over multiple sessions surface weak areas before exam day.

7. Recommended preparation strategy

1. Anchor preparation around Section 1 (41%) and Section 2 (37%). Together they are 78% of the exam, both built on the ductwork side of the trade. Master the fabrication and installation workflow.
2. Treat the exam as closed book from day one. Memorize hanger spacing rules, duct gauge tables, joint sealing methods, and welding parameters — you will not have a manual to consult.
3. Read the recommended documents in this order: AERMQ Manuel technique (the foundation — covers fabrication and installation across both sides of the trade), then Pender's Welding (Section 3 heritage roofing welding), then the Rigging and Lifting Safety Guide (Section 3 lifting), then the CNESST Scaffolding guide (Section 2 access).
4. Don't neglect the cladding/roofing side. If your day job is HVAC ductwork, drill Section 3. If your day job is metal cladding, drill the duct-installation specifics in Section 2.
5. Drill plan-reading exercises daily. Section 1's heavy weight is built on the ability to extract dimensions, gauges, and fittings from drawings — this is where calibrated practice pays off.
6. Take at least two full mock exams under real conditions (3 hours, no documents, single sitting) before scheduling the real exam.
7. 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 Sheet metal worker exam

• Aligned with the official CCQ structure — content mapped one-to-one to the three sections, with extra depth on plan reading and fabrication (Section 1) and dedicated coverage of both the ductwork and cladding sides of the trade.
• Closed-book training methodology — flashcards and spaced practice designed for memorization, not lookup.
• Mock exams in CCQ format — multiple choice, 3-hour timing, scoring out of 60% — so exam day feels familiar.
• Detailed answer explanations — every question, right or wrong, comes with a written rationale.
• Bilingual — full course in English and French. The CCQ exam itself is offered in both languages.
• A free section is available so you can try the platform before committing.

Frequently asked questions