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Transport Canada

Transport Canada Drone Pilot Certificate Exams (Small Basic and Small Advanced)

In Canada, you need a Transport Canada drone pilot certificate to fly a drone that weighs 250 g to 25 kg. The Basic certificate comes from passing an online exam. The Advanced certificate takes a harder online exam plus an in-person flight review. This guide covers the official exam format, the knowledge areas from TP 15263 and the Part IX rules that come up most often.

Last checked against Transport Canada on .

Drone Pilot Exam at a glance

Small Basic exam
35 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes, pass mark 65% source ↗
Small Advanced exam
50 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, pass mark 80% source ↗
Retaking a failed online exam
Wait 24 hours before your next attempt source ↗
Minimum age for a certificate
14 for Basic, 16 for Advanced, 18 for Level 1 Complex source ↗
Advanced certificate
Pass the Small Advanced exam, then pass an in-person flight review booked through a drone flight school. Transport Canada lists a $25 certificate fee source ↗
Drone registration
Drones of 250 g or more must be registered in the Drone Management Portal and must show the registration number. The registration fee went up to $10 on April 1, 2025 source ↗
Recency
To act as pilot, you must have met a recency requirement in the previous 24 months, for example by getting a certificate, passing an exam or completing recurrent training source ↗
Maximum altitude
122 m (400 ft) above ground level unless an SFOC-RPAS authorizes more source ↗
Basic operations limits
Uncontrolled airspace only, at least 30 m horizontally from bystanders, more than 5.6 km from a certified airport and more than 1.9 km from a heliport source ↗
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What the Drone Pilot Exam covers

AreaWhat to know
Air law, air traffic rules and proceduresThe Aeronautics Act and CARs Part IX: categories of operation, pilot certificates, registration, altitude and distance limits, controlled and restricted airspace, recency, and incident rules.
RPAS airframes, power plants, propulsion and systemsMultirotor and fixed-wing designs, batteries and motors, flight controllers, GNSS, command and control (C2) links, and failsafe and return-to-home behaviour.
Human factorsFitness to fly, fatigue, alcohol and drugs, decision-making, hazardous attitudes, situational awareness and crew communication.
MeteorologyWind, density, cloud, visibility, fog and icing, plus reading Canadian METARs and TAFs.
NavigationLatitude and longitude, VNC and VTA charts, the Canada Flight Supplement, magnetic variation and converting between units.
Flight operationsSite surveys, pre-flight checks, right of way, visual observers, emergency procedures and what to do after an incident.
Theory of flightLift, weight, thrust and drag, how multirotors and fixed-wing aircraft are controlled, stalls, and how density altitude affects performance.
RadiotelephonyThe phonetic alphabet, standard phraseology, aerodrome frequencies and emergency frequencies.

How to get certified

  1. 1

    Create a Drone Management Portal account

    The Drone Management Portal is Transport Canada's online system for registering drones, taking the online exams and getting your pilot certificate.

  2. 2

    Register your drone

    Register any drone that weighs 250 g or more in the portal, then mark the registration number on the drone so it can be seen. You need a registered drone for the Advanced flight review.

  3. 3

    Study the TP 15263 knowledge areas

    TP 15263 sets out what each exam covers. Use it with CARs Part IX and the RPA section of the TC AIM. A ground school is optional.

  4. 4

    Pass the Small Basic or Small Advanced online exam

    Basic is 35 questions in 90 minutes with a 65% pass mark. Advanced is 50 questions in 60 minutes with an 80% pass mark. If you pass the Basic exam, your Basic certificate is issued through the portal.

  5. 5

    Complete a flight review (Advanced only)

    Once you pass the Advanced exam, book an in-person flight review with a drone flight school. Bring your exam results, government ID and your drone's registration certificate. Then apply for your Advanced certificate.

  6. 6

    Stay current every 24 months

    The certificate does not expire, but you can only fly as pilot if you meet the 24-month recency requirement. The yearly TC self-paced study program is one way to meet it. Keep a record of what you complete.

How to study

  • Learn the numbers in both units: 122 m (400 ft), 30 m (100 ft), 5.6 km (3 NM) and 1.9 km (1 NM). The rules give them in feet and nautical miles, while TC's public pages use metres and kilometres.
  • Study straight from CARs Part IX on the Justice Laws website and the RPA section of the TC AIM. Third-party summaries can be out of date, especially since the November 4, 2025 changes.
  • Practise reading real Canadian METARs and TAFs: winds are in degrees true and knots, visibility is in statute miles, and cloud heights are in hundreds of feet above ground.
  • If you are going for Advanced, practise on a VNC or VTA chart and in the Canada Flight Supplement until you can quickly spot controlled airspace, aerodromes and CYR restricted areas.
  • Work through the TP 15263 headings one at a time and keep track of which areas you miss most often. Aim well above the pass mark, since the Advanced exam needs 80%.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the Transport Canada drone exams?

The Small Basic exam has 35 multiple-choice questions, and you have 90 minutes. The Small Advanced exam has 50 multiple-choice questions, and you have 60 minutes. The pass marks are 65% for Basic and 80% for Advanced.

How old do I have to be to get a drone pilot certificate?

Transport Canada sets the minimum age at 14 for a Basic certificate, 16 for Advanced and 18 for Level 1 Complex. Younger people can fly only under the direct supervision of a pilot who holds the right certificate.

What is the difference between Basic and Advanced operations?

Basic operations must stay in uncontrolled airspace and at least 30 m horizontally from bystanders, and they cannot fly over people. Advanced operations include flying in controlled airspace, near people (closer than 30 m) and over people. They need an Advanced certificate and a drone whose manufacturer safety declaration covers the operation you plan to fly.

What happens at the Advanced flight review?

After you pass the Small Advanced exam, a flight reviewer at a drone flight school checks your flying skills in person. You book it with the school directly, and the school sets the fee. You can retake a flight review as many times as you need, but you may have to pay each time.

Does my drone pilot certificate expire?

No, the certificate does not expire. To act as pilot, though, you must meet the recency requirement in CARs 901.56 within the previous 24 months. You can do this by getting a certificate, passing an exam or completing recurrent training such as the TC self-paced study program.

Can I fly near an airport with a Basic certificate?

Under Basic operations, you must stay more than 5.6 km (3 NM) from the centre of a certified airport or military aerodrome and more than 1.9 km (1 NM) from the centre of a heliport. You must also stay out of controlled airspace. Flying closer, or in controlled airspace, needs an Advanced certificate and an RPAS flight authorization from NAV CANADA, or from the military authority for DND airspace.

What changed in Canada's drone rules in 2025?

New rules for medium drones (over 25 kg up to 150 kg), sheltered operations, extended visual line of sight and lower-risk BVLOS took effect on November 4, 2025. A Level 1 Complex certificate was created for some BVLOS flights, and its exam opened on April 1, 2025. The drone registration fee went up to $10 on April 1, 2025.

Official sources

Sources checked October 31, 2026. VoltExam is independent and not affiliated with Transport Canada. Rules change: confirm details with the official source before your exam.