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BCIN exam guide

BCIN Exam Guide for the Ontario Building Code Examinations

What the BCIN exams are, who sets and delivers them, all 16 exams, the format, the $150 fee, and how to prepare for the 2024 Ontario Building Code exams.

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The "BCIN exams" are the Ontario Building Code qualification examinations that building officials, many designers, on-site sewage installers and code agency staff must pass to practise in Ontario. Each one is a 3-hour, open book test of 70 multiple choice questions, you need 70% to pass, and the fee is $150 per exam.

This page is the starting point. It covers who runs the exams, the full list of 16, how they work, and how to prepare. Confirm the details with the Ministry and Humber before you book.

What "BCIN" means

BCIN stands for Building Code Identification Number. You create one through the Ministry's QuARTS system (Qualification and Registration Tracking System). You need a personal BCIN before you can register for any exam, and once you pass, your qualifications are recorded against it. Anyone can look up registered practitioners in the QuARTS public registry.

So the exams are not officially called "BCIN exams". The official name is Ontario Building Code examinations. People use "BCIN exam" because the number is the thing they are working toward.

Who needs to pass them

Section 15.11 of the Building Code Act, 1992 and Part 3 of Division C of the Building Code require certain people to be qualified and registered with the Ministry:

  • chief building officials, managers, supervisors, inspectors and plans examiners
  • certain classes of designers, including independent designers and design firms
  • on-site sewage system installers
  • registered code agencies (private firms hired by municipalities to review plans and inspect)

Most of them need one legal/process exam plus one or more technical exams that match the work they do. Sewage system installers are the exception: they only need the On-site Sewage Systems technical exam. Our guide Which BCIN Exams Do I Need? walks through each role.

Who sets and delivers the exams

Organization Role
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Writes and updates the questions, publishes a study guide (syllabus) for each exam, issues BCINs through QuARTS, releases results, registers practitioners
Humber Polytechnic Delivers the exams on the Ministry's behalf (since November 2014), takes registrations and payment, handles exam day policy and process appeals
Meazure Learning (ProctorU) Exam platform since September 15, 2025, for both test centre and online proctored exams
George Brown College Develops and updates the Ministry's Building Code training courses, delivered with partner colleges (optional)

The 16 Building Code exams

Humber lists 16 exams, all now in their 2024 versions.

Type Exams
Legal/process General Legal/Process, Designer Legal/Process, Powers and Duties of CBO, Powers and Duties of RCA
Buildings House, Small Buildings, Large Buildings, Complex Buildings
Building systems HVAC-House, Building Services, Detection, Lighting and Power, Building Structural, Fire Protection
Plumbing and sewage Plumbing-House, Plumbing-All Buildings, On-site Sewage Systems

Some exams count for more than one qualification. For example, passing Small Buildings also qualifies you for House, and passing Building Services also qualifies you for HVAC-House and Detection, Lighting and Power. The Ministry calls this "nesting". The full table is in Which BCIN Exams Do I Need?, and the most common choice is compared in BCIN House vs Small Buildings.

Exam format at a glance

Item Detail
Questions 70 multiple choice, 4 options each, equal weight
Time 3 hours
Pass mark 70% (49 of 70)
Open book Yes: the 2024 Building Code Compendium (Volumes 1 and 2) and a few listed guides
Code edition 2024 Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24) and Building Code Act, 1992, since March 30, 2026
Where Online with a live remote proctor, or at an Ontario college test centre
Results Sent by the Ministry by email and posted in QuARTS, within 14 business days

Details are in BCIN Exam Format and BCIN Exam Day.

Cost

Humber lists the fee as $150.00 per exam, paid by Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard when you register. Changes and cancellations must be made at least 7 days before your exam date, and a cancellation carries a $50.00 administrative fee. If you fail or miss an exam, you register and pay again. Once you pass, registering with the Ministry has its own annual fee. See BCIN Exam Registration and Cost.

How to get started

  1. Pick your exams. Match your job to the legal and technical exams you need.
  2. Get a BCIN. Create an Ontario.ca Login and a QuARTS account. Use your personal BCIN, not your company's.
  3. Read the study guide. The Ministry publishes one syllabus per exam. It lists the sections of the Act, the Code and the Supplementary Standards that are tested, and the parts that are excluded.
  4. Register with Humber and pay, then schedule through Meazure Learning at least 7 days ahead.
  5. Practise under time pressure. 70 questions in 180 minutes is about 2.5 minutes each.

How to prepare

The exam is open book, so it does not reward memorizing numbers. It rewards knowing where things are. Candidates who struggle usually run out of time, not knowledge. A good plan:

  • Read the syllabus for your exam and mark the included and excluded sections in your code.
  • Learn the layout: Division A (compliance, definitions), Division B (technical rules, Parts 1 to 12), Division C (administration, permits, qualifications), plus the Supplementary Standards (SB-1, SB-12 and others).
  • Practise finding answers fast with search, tables and the index. Our guide How to Pass the Open Book BCIN Exam explains the method.
  • Learn what changed from the 2012 code. See 2024 Ontario Building Code Changes.
  • Do timed practice. No official sample questions exist (see BCIN Exam Sample Questions), so use original practice questions that cite the 2024 articles.

Training courses through George Brown College and its partner colleges are optional. The Ministry notes that candidates tend to score higher after a course.

Exam pages

We have a page, a free study guide and a free quiz for each of these exams:

Start with the free study guide for your exam, then try the free practice quiz to see how fast you can find answers in the code.

Sources

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  • A free practice quiz for each exam
  • Every answer cites its 2024 OBC article
  • Full 70 question timed simulations with a paid plan
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Frequently asked questions

How many BCIN exams are there?
There are 16 Ontario Building Code exams: 4 legal/process exams (General Legal/Process, Designer Legal/Process, Powers and Duties of a CBO, Powers and Duties of an RCA) and 12 technical exams, from House and Small Buildings to Fire Protection and On-site Sewage Systems.
What does BCIN stand for?
Building Code Identification Number. It is the number the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing gives you in its QuARTS system. You need one before you can register for any Ontario Building Code examination.
Who runs the BCIN exams?
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing develops the exams and publishes the study guides. Humber Polytechnic delivers them under an agreement with the Ministry. Results come from the Ministry.
How much does a BCIN exam cost?
Humber lists the registration fee as $150.00 per examination. If you pass and register with the Ministry, there is a separate annual registration fee that depends on your practitioner type.
Are the BCIN exams based on the 2024 Ontario Building Code?
Yes. Since March 30, 2026, all Building Code examinations are based on the 2024 Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24) and the Building Code Act, 1992.
Is the BCIN exam open book?
Yes. You may use the 2024 Building Code Compendium. For online exams, Humber provides the digital copy you must use, and you may also have a hard copy that is highlighted or tabbed.