Qualification Examination

Passing the qualification examination is one of the conditions for access to the status of journeyperson. The examination is intended to assess your acquired skills in your trade or in your specialty. The exam questions, written and validated with experienced journeypersons, cover all of the essential skills required for the trade or specialty.

Eligible candidates

The exam is for people in one of the following situations:

• Apprentices  who have completed their apprenticeship 
• Apprentices who have completed at least 85 % of their apprenticeship. If they wish, apprentices can decide to complete 100% of their apprenticeship before registering for the exam
• People who have practised a trade or specialty and acquired experience in hours of work and, if applicable, training credits  at least equal to the total duration of the apprenticeship in the trade or specialty covered and whose file, when analyzed, proves this experience through supporting documentation 

Content

The exam usually contains between 50 and 70 multiple-choice questions, depending on the trade or specialty. Each question is written in plain language and has four response choices, of which only one is correct. To find out in advance about the environment in which your computerized exam will take place and to familiarize yourself with the possible types of questions, consult the examination sample questions or perform a simulaton of your exam. You may also consult the information sheet concerning your trade or specialty, which details the skills that may be covered in the exam questions.

Codes or other reference documents may be supplied to you for certain specific exams. The questions may be formulated using either the imperial measuring system (inches, feet, pounds, etc.) or the metric system (centimetres, metres, kilograms, etc.).

Language and duration

The exam is offered in French, in English, and in a bilingual English–French version, and has a maximum duration of three hours.

Exam registration

To learn how to register according to your situation, click here.

To find out the date on which your registration was made with the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), you can consult the “Résultat d’examen” section in the online services The date of your exam session will be sent to you by mail, along with the necessary information to prepare for it.

Locations

To find out where your exam will take place, please see the list below. This list is subject to change. Please review it as your exam date approaches.

Schedule

The notice to appear for the examination that you will receive after you register will specify the date, location, and time (either 8:15 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.) of the exam session.

For the Nunavik region, click here.

You will not be allowed into the exam room after the official start time for the exam or if you have not proved your identity.

Rules for access to an exam room

You will have to stay in the waiting room until a session monitor calls you.

Before entering the exam room:

• You must present one valid piece of identification (unexpired) with photograph from among the following list (IMPORTANT: Photocopies and digital IDs are not accepted).
• You will be asked to disinfect your hands.
• A mask will be provided upon request, if necessary.

Authorized and prohibited items

Only items provided by the CCQ will be allowed into the exam room. For example, the following items are prohibited:

• Cell phone
• Personal computer (laptop or tablet)
• Electronic devices
• Watch
• Sunglasses and smart glasses
• Caps and hats
• Notes and books
• Food, and beverages (except for a bottle of water)

The CCQ reserves the right to reject any other item deemed inappropriate. 

Earplugs are made available to candidates in each exam room to help maintain an environment conducive to concentration.

The CCQ also reserves the right to check each personal item. If you refuse, you may not be granted access to the exam room. The CCQ is not responsible for the loss, breakage, or theft of personal items. To limit such incidents, we recommand that you keep the number of items in your possession to a minimum and avoid bringing any valuable items.

Compliancy with the rules

It is prohibited to take notes of part or all of the exam or to take possession, in any way whatsoever, of any material that is the property of the CCQ.

Any breach of the examination rules will be considered fraud and will result in your failing the examination,

Any behaviour that interferes with the exam running smoothly is also prohibited. 

Health measures and instructions to apply

• If you have a fever, do not come to the exam room.
• If you present one or more symptoms of a respiratory illness (cough, sore throat or nasal congestion), you will be asked to wear a mask for the duration of the examination.

Rescheduling an exam

To obtain a new exam date, please contact the Customer Service at 1 888 842-8282.

Results

The result will be sent to you within 10 working days after you take the exam. If you have passed and hold a valid apprentice competency certificate in the trade or specialty, a journeyman competency certificate (JCC) will automatically be issued to you. 

If you fail the exam, a letter will notify you of which type of retake exam you will have the right to and when you will be able to register again for the exam.

People with disabilities

The Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) is committed to offering adapted services to people with a motor, visual, or auditory disability. People who need any assistance with taking their exam may contact the Customer Service directly at 1 888 842-8282.

Furthermore, for qualification examinations meeting certain criteria, the CCQ may offer the services of a reader to people with functional limitations such as dyslexia. For more information, candidates may make a request to the CCQ’s Customer Service.