Obtaining a residential building inspector certificate

Starting October 1, 2027, residential building inspectors who perform inspections for real estate transactions (pre-purchase) must hold a certificate issued by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) to operate in Québec.

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The Regulation respecting the regulation of residential building inspectors for inspections in the context of a real estate transaction requires practising inspectors to hold a certificate and to comply with Standard BNQ 3009-500, Residential Building – Inspection Practices in a Real Estate Transaction Context. This standard calls for the use of several methods to assess the condition of all or part of a residential building. Download the full regulation or watch an informational webinar on the Bureau de normalisation du Québec website.

There are two classes of certificate:

• Class 1: Allows inspection of residential buildings with one to six private units (such as houses, duplexes, and apartment buildings with up to six apartments), as well as any private portion of a residential building in divided co-ownership regardless of the building category.
• Class 2: Allows inspection of any residential building type.

To be issued a certificate, inspectors in Québec must have completed an attestation of college studies (ACS) in building inspection compliant with BNQ 3009-500.

Applicants for a class 2 certificate must additionally have completed an ACS program specializing in large building inspection.

For a list of ACS training providers, consult Training programs compliant with regulatory requirements [Fr] – PDF (160 KB).

To obtain an inspector’s certificate in Québec, anyone holding a valid accreditation issued by another Canadian province or a Canadian territory must pass a Board examination on the rules applicable to the inspection of residential buildings in Québec.

Applicants for a class 2 certificate must pass a second examination specifically on the rules applicable to the inspection of large buildings in Québec.

Candidates will be called to these examinations subsequent to their application for a certificate. In the event that an examination is failed, a supplemental examination must be taken.

To be issued a residential building inspector certificate, applicants must hold an insurance contract for the period of validity of the certificate, covering:

• general liability
• errors and omissions liability

The coverage amount varies depending on the class of certificate:

• Class 1: $1,000,000
• Class 2: $2,000,000

The insurance certificates provided as proof must be signed by an insurer authorized to carry on insurance business in Québec, or by its authorized broker. They must show that the applicant is covered, specifically for residential building inspector duties.

Certificates will only be issued to natural persons. Businesses are not eligible to hold a certificate.

Once issued, a certificate is valid for a period of one year. It must be renewed annually.

To avoid processing delays for your application, please provide all the information and documents required for assessment. Your application cannot be processed until the required fees have been paid in full.

Before submitting your application for a certificate, make sure to have the following documents on hand:

Fees are indexed on January 1 of each year. For a list of all applicable fees, see Fees for residential building inspectors.

For more information on certification requirements, contact us.