Most candidates read CCDC 2 and RAIC Document 6 and stop, yet CCDC 24 and RAIC Document 9 sit on the same official reference list for ExAC Section 4, and one of them is not a contract at all. CCDC 24 is the CCDC's guide to the forms that run CCDC 2. RAIC Document 9 is the standard contract between an architect and a consultant, built to pass Document 6 down one level. In our experience, a few focused hours on each is enough. This guide from Examitect, an independent ExAC prep platform unaffiliated with the CACB, covers the editions, the clauses and how Section 4 asks about them.
| Exam section | Section 4, about 130 multiple-choice questions in three hours, closed book |
|---|---|
| Objectives touched | 9.2, 10.1, 10.2.3, 10.2.4, 10.3 and 12.1.2 |
| CCDC 24 | Exam cites 1996; we checked 2016 (written for CCDC 2 2008) |
| RAIC Document 9 | Exam cites 2018, revised 2021; we checked the 2022 Digital Edition |
| Reading time (our estimate) | 2 to 4 hours for CCDC 24, 2 to 3 hours for Document 9 |
The 2016 edition is titled "A Guide to Model Forms and Support Documents (for use with CCDC 2 - 2008)". Its introduction says it exists to help users meet the administrative requirements of CCDC 2. For each form it gives a short explanation of the process, a checklist of what the form should contain and a model form.
It is published by the Canadian Construction Documents Committee, the national joint committee formed in 1974 whose four constituent organizations include the RAIC. There are no parties to CCDC 24: its forms are used by the Owner, the Consultant and the Contractor under CCDC 2. Users may reproduce the model forms, except the standard forms CCDC 11, 12, 9A and 9B in its appendices.
The 2022 Digital Edition is the "Canadian Standard Form of Contract between Architect and Consultant". The parties are the Architect (Article A2) and the Consultant (A3), engaged for "This Part of the Project" (A4) under the architect's existing contract with the Client, which A7 names the Prime Contract.
CHOP 2.3 (Consultants) recommends Document Nine for engineering consultants and other design professionals, such as landscape architects and interior designers, and says it is not a stand-alone agreement: Document Six, or its relevant portions, should be appended. Article A8 does exactly that, attaching the Prime Contract as Appendix 1 with fee provisions optionally redacted.
Put together: Document 6 binds client and architect, Document 9 binds architect and consultant, CCDC 2 binds owner and contractor with the architect as Consultant, and CCDC 24 supplies CCDC 2's paperwork.
Appendix 3 of the 2026 ExAC Preparation Guide (pp. 30 to 33) lists the references, and the ExAC Framework Document (p. 6) says every item's accuracy is supported by them. Those editions are older than the copies we checked.
| Document | Cited in the Prep Guide | Edition checked for this post |
|---|---|---|
| CCDC 24 | 1996, "Guide to Using Model Forms and Supporting Documents" (p. 33) | 2016, "for use with CCDC 2 - 2008" |
| RAIC Document 9 | 2018 (revised 2021), "between Architect and Engineer or Other Consultant" (p. 31) | 2022 Digital Edition, revised 2022-08, "between Architect and Consultant" |
| RAIC Document 6 | 2018 (revised 2021) (p. 31) | 2022 Digital Edition, revised 2022-08 |
| CCDC 2 | 2020 (p. 33) | 2020 |
The Canadian Construction Association reports that a 2022 edition of CCDC 24 replaced the 2016 edition, is aligned with CCDC 2 (2020) and adds cash allowance expenditure and Ready-for-Takeover application forms.
We could not open the 1996 guide, so every CCDC 24 detail below comes from the 2016 edition and every Document 9 clause from the 2022 Digital Edition. Our advice: learn what each document is for and who prepares, signs and receives it, since those roles follow from the CCDC 2 definitions, and take clause numbers from CCDC 2 (2020), the edition the exam cites.
One example of drift: the 2016 guide says CCDC 2 (2008) does not require a CCDC 9A statutory declaration with progress applications, while CCDC 2 (2020), paragraph 5.2.7, requires one with each application after the first payment.
The 2016 guide groups its forms by process, from prequalification to warranty. The right-hand column gives the CCDC 2 (2020) provision each form serves; the guide itself cites 2008 numbers.
| Form | Who does what (CCDC 24, 2016) | CCDC 2 (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor's Qualification Statement (CCDC 11) | Contractor states capacity, skill and experience to the Consultant | Prequalification, before bidding |
| Project Financial Information (CCDC 12) | Owner gives evidence of financial arrangements | GC 5.1 |
| Application for Payment, Schedule of Values | Contractor submits to the Consultant; schedule of values at least 15 calendar days before the first application | GC 5.2 |
| Certificate for Payment | Consultant certifies and forwards it to the Owner | GC 2.2, GC 5.3 |
| Statutory declarations (CCDC 9A, 9B) | Contractor, and subcontractors, swear previous payments were distributed | 5.2.7, GC 5.4 |
| Supplemental Instruction | Consultant issues to the Contractor, copy to the Owner and other consultants | 2.2.12 |
| Proposed Change | Consultant asks the Contractor for price and time; do not proceed yet | 6.2.1 |
| Change Order | Recommended by the Consultant, approved by the Owner and the Contractor | 6.2.2 |
| Change Directive | Prepared by the Consultant, issued by the Owner, acknowledged by the Contractor | GC 6.3 |
| Notice | Any party gives Notice in Writing | Article A-6 |
| Warranty Notice | Owner or Consultant notifies the Contractor of a defect | GC 12.3 |
In our view, four points carry most of the exam value:
CHOP 6.8 (Sample Forms) points to CCDC 24 for almost every form it lists. Our post on shop drawings, RFIs and site instructions covers the site side of the same paperwork.
Document 9 reads like a shorter Document 6, because much of it is. It takes its definitions from the Prime Contract, adding a few such as "This Part of the Project", the elements or systems the consultant's discipline covers. The clauses that matter, from the 2022 Digital Edition:
Schedule A comes in five versions (A1 Electrical, A2 Mechanical, A3 Structural, A4 blank, A5 Custom), with each line item marked F1, F2 or F3 for a fixed, percentage or time-based fee, N/A, or C for the Client. Amendments use the Document Nine Supplementary Agreement (A25.2).
Clause references are to the editions checked: RAIC Documents 6 and 9 (2022 Digital Edition) and CCDC 24 (2016).
| Question | RAIC Document 6 | RAIC Document 9 | CCDC 24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Contract for architectural services | Contract between architect and consultant | Guide to model forms |
| Who signs? | Client and Architect | Architect and Consultant | No one; its forms are used under CCDC 2 |
| Stand-alone? | Yes, it is the prime agreement | No, Prime Contract attached (A8) | No, it serves CCDC 2 |
| Architect's role | Provides services, coordinating professional (GC 1.1.9) | Engages the consultant, coordinating professional (GC 3.2.2) | Usually the Consultant preparing most forms |
| During construction | Administers the Construction Contract (GC 5.1) | Consultant assists the Architect (GC 5.1) | Supplies the forms for payment, changes and notices |
| Payment | Within 30 days of invoice, or sooner by law (A17) | Tied to when the Architect is paid (A17, GC 12.2) | Contractor applies, Consultant certifies |
Watch the word "Consultant". In Document 9 it means the engineer or other consultant hired by the architect. In CCDC 2 (2020) it means the architect or engineer engaged by the Owner to administer the contract. A question that says "the Consultant prepares the Change Directive" is talking about the architect.
The ExAC Framework Document (p. 5) gives Section 4 about 130 multiple-choice questions, and the 2026 Preparation Guide (p. 12) permits code books only in Section 2, so everything here must come from memory. The specific objectives on pp. 20 and 21 of the Guide point straight at these documents:
The Guide's own sample question (p. 28, objective 10.1.1) asks who prepares a change directive under CCDC 2; the answer is the architect. Practise with items like these, our own examples rather than real exam questions:
The traps are predictable: a Supplemental Instruction used for extra cost, an engineer treated as the architect's agent on site, or Document 9 described as stand-alone. Our post on where Section 4 candidates lose marks covers the rest.
When an unfamiliar standard form turns up, read it in this order:
Read the title page and first articles: who signs it, or is it a guide with no signatories?
Look at the cover and footer, the way CCDC 24 (2016) states it is for use with CCDC 2 (2008).
Capitalized terms carry the meaning, and the same word can mean a different person in another document.
Look for flow-down clauses such as Document 9 Article A9 and GC 0.1.
Note the fee basis, when payment is due and who signs a change.
List what each party is not responsible for, the liability cap and how long insurance must run.
Two short reads, followed by practice questions, close a gap many candidates leave open. For the contracts around them, see our posts on project delivery methods, evaluating contractor bids and schedules, change orders and closeout in Section 4.
CCDC 24 is the Canadian Construction Documents Committee's guide to the model forms used to administer CCDC 2, the Stipulated Price Contract. For forms such as the Certificate for Payment, Supplemental Instruction, Change Order and Change Directive, it explains the process, lists what the form should contain and gives a model. It is a guide, not a contract, so it has no parties.
The 2026 ExAC Preparation Guide lists CCDC 24 (1996), "Guide to Using Model Forms and Supporting Documents", in Appendix 3. Later editions exist: the 2016 edition was written for CCDC 2 (2008), and a 2022 edition is aligned with CCDC 2 (2020).
RAIC Document 9 is the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's standard form of contract between an architect and a consultant, such as an engineer or landscape architect. It is not stand-alone: the architect's prime contract with the client, usually RAIC Document 6, is attached, and the 2022 Digital Edition flows its obligations and rights down to the consultant through Article A9.
RAIC Document 6 is between the client and the architect, while RAIC Document 9 is between the architect and a consultant. Document 9 reuses Document 6 by reference: GC 0.1 swaps "Consultant" for "Architect" and "Architect" for "Client", and GC 6, 7, 11, 14 and 15 simply refer to the Prime Contract.
The Consultant, normally the architect, prepares a Change Directive under CCDC 2 (2020), and the Owner signs it. The CCDC 24 (2016) model form adds a line for the Contractor to acknowledge receipt. The sample question in the 2026 Preparation Guide gives the architect as the answer.
A Supplemental Instruction clarifies or interprets the Contract Documents and cannot change the Contract Price or Contract Time. A Change Directive orders a change in the Work within the general scope of the contract before price and time are agreed. If a Contractor believes an instruction affects price or time, CCDC 24 says it must notify the Consultant in writing.
No, a consultant under RAIC Document 9 is not the agent of the architect or the client for the construction contract. GC 5.2 of the 2022 Digital Edition says so directly, and GC 1.1.9 makes the consultant an independent contractor who assists the architect.
No, Section 4 of the ExAC is closed book. The 2026 Preparation Guide permits paper copies of the NBC 2020 and NECB 2020 for Section 2 only and prohibits books, notes and reference documents, so CCDC 24, RAIC Document 9 and every other contract must be learned beforehand.