RBQ · CMMTQ
Plumbing certifications in Québec
Plumbing work in Québec must be carried out by a contractor who holds a licence from the building authority (RBQ), in the subcategory that covers the work. This page explains what that licence means, what the CMMTQ adds, and how to check both yourself. It does not tell you that a given company is certified: only the public registry can confirm that, on the day you look.
What an RBQ licence means
The building authority recommends hiring a contractor who holds an RBQ licence before signing a contract, because that is what gives you access to a financial guarantee if a dispute arises.
Plumbing falls under subcategory 15.5. A contractor may hold other subcategories for other trades, so the number alone is not enough: the subcategory has to cover the work you are asking for.
What the CMMTQ adds
The CMMTQ is the corporation of master pipe mechanics. It advises checking that the contractor is a member and holds the licence subcategories required for your work.
Membership is a second, independent check. It does not replace the licence, and neither one says anything about the quality of a specific job.
How to check before you sign
Ask for the licence number, then look it up in the RBQ public registry and confirm that the subcategory matches your work. The registry is the only source that reflects the current status of a licence.
You can also look the company up in the CMMTQ member directory, and ask for a written quote that states the work, the parts and the warranty before anything starts.
What this directory shows, and what it does not claim
The listings here come from active licences in subcategory 15.5 of the RBQ registry. When a listing shows a licence number, that number comes from those data, not from a claim made by the company.
A displayed licence number is not a guarantee about the work, the price or the timeline. It tells you that a licence number was recorded, and it invites you to verify it in the public registry, which stays the authoritative source.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a plumber have to hold a licence in Québec?
- Yes. Plumbing work must be carried out by a contractor holding an RBQ licence in the appropriate subcategory. That is also what conditions the financial guarantee if a dispute arises.
- How do you check a licence number?
- Look it up in the RBQ public registry, and confirm that the subcategory covers the work you need. The registry reflects the current status, so check it on the day rather than relying on an older screenshot.
- Is CMMTQ membership the same thing as a licence?
- No. The licence is required to carry out the work; membership in the corporation is a separate check that the CMMTQ recommends, alongside the licence subcategories your project requires.
- Does a licence number shown on a listing guarantee the work?
- No. It means a licence number was recorded in the data behind the listing. It says nothing about the quality of a specific job, so a written quote and your own check in the registry remain useful.