How to get a drone licence in Canada (Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations)
How to get a drone license in Canada step by step: which drones need one, the online Small Basic Exam, the fee, drone registration, what the basic certificate lets you do and how to keep it current. Every rule links to Transport Canada.
By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team ·
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- Checked October 17, 2026
What people call a drone licence in Canada is the Transport Canada drone pilot certificate. For most recreational and commercial pilots the first one is the Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations, which you get by passing the online Small Basic Exam in the Drone Management Portal. The same federal rules and the same exam apply in every province and territory.
This guide covers who needs a certificate, the steps in order, what it costs, registering and marking your drone, the limits of a basic certificate and how to keep it valid. Every rule links to the Transport Canada page it comes from. When you are ready, our free practice tests, study guide and timed mock exam follow the official knowledge requirements.
Step by step
Check whether your drone needs a certificate
Rules depend on the drone's operating weight, which includes anything attached such as a camera or safety cage but not the remote control. Microdrones under 250 g need no pilot certificate. Small drones from 250 g to 25 kg are flown under Basic or Advanced operations, each with its own certificate.
Source: Transport Canada — Drone operation categories and pilot certificatesMake sure Basic operations fit how you fly
Basic operations mean a drone of no more than 25 kg, always in sight, more than 30 m (100 ft) horizontally from any person, in uncontrolled airspace, more than 5.6 km (3 NM) from the centre of a certified airport and more than 1.9 km (1 NM) from a heliport. If any condition is not met, you need an Advanced or Complex certificate instead.
Source: Transport Canada — Basic operationsStudy for the exam
Transport Canada recommends a course at a drone flight school before you attempt the exam, and points to RPAS 101, the RPA chapter of the TC AIM and the Knowledge Requirements (TP 15263). Exam questions are based on TP 15263, but it is a list of required knowledge, not a study guide.
Source: Transport Canada — Drone pilot study resourcesTake the Small Basic Exam online
Sign in to the Drone Management Portal, pay the fee and take the exam: 35 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, with 65% or higher to pass. If time runs out, the exam is marked on the answers you gave. Your result appears in the portal as soon as you finish.
Source: Transport Canada — Take a drone pilot online exam: Small BasicDownload your pilot certificate
Passing the exam gets you the Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations, issued immediately and included in the exam fee. You download and print it from the Drone Management Portal.
Source: Transport Canada — Basic operationsRegister and mark your drone
Every drone of 250 g or more must be registered through the Drone Management Portal, including custom-built and kit drones, and clearly marked with its registration number using a permanent marker, label or engraving. Registration takes about three minutes online.
Source: Transport Canada — Registering your droneStay current every two years
Before each flight you must have completed, within the previous 24 months, one recency activity: passing an exam again, passing a flight review, a Transport Canada endorsed safety seminar, recurrent training at a flight school, or an endorsed self-paced study program.
Source: Transport Canada — Keep your drone pilot skills up to date
Who can get it
- All pilots of drones with an operating weight of 250 g up to and including 150 kg must hold a pilot certificate, and getting one includes passing at least one online exam. Source: Transport Canada — Take a drone pilot online exam: Overview
- You must be 14 or older to take the Small Basic Exam and get the basic certificate. Source: Transport Canada — Take a drone pilot online exam: Small Basic
- Minimum ages rise with the certificate: 14 for Basic, 16 for Advanced and 18 for Level 1 Complex operations. Source: Transport Canada — Drone operation categories and pilot certificates
- Pilots of microdrones (under 250 g) do not need a pilot certificate or drone registration, but must still fly safely and need special permission to fly at an advertised event. Source: Transport Canada — Microdrones
- Foreign pilots and operators cannot register drones in Canada; they need a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC-RPAS) instead. Source: Transport Canada — Registering your drone
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Small Basic Exam, per attempt (from April 2026 to March 2027) | $10.17; each additional attempt costs the same | Source: Transport Canada — Take a drone pilot online exam: Small Basic (service fee SVC-202990) |
| Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations | Included in the exam fee | Source: Transport Canada — Basic operations (fees and service standards) |
| Drone registration certificate, per drone (from April 2026 to March 2027) | $10.17 | Source: Transport Canada — Registering your drone (service fee SVC-202935) |
| Drone flight school course (recommended, not required) | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: Transport Canada — Drone pilot study resources |
Fees change. Check the amount on the official page or with the provider before you pay.
Where to take the test
Online, through Transport Canada's Drone Management Portal, where you also register drones, see exam results, access flight review results and download your pilot certificate. There is no test centre for the Small Basic Exam. Source: Transport Canada — Drone Management Portal
What to bring or have ready
- For the exam: a quiet block of 90 minutes. If you need extra time as an accommodation, email Transport Canada before you pay for the exam; requests are assessed case by case. Source: Transport Canada — Take a drone pilot online exam: Small Basic
- For registration: the purchase date (if any), the drone's make, model, serial number and type, and a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Source: Transport Canada — Registering your drone
- Every time you fly: your pilot certificate, printed or electronic and issued by Transport Canada (no other certification is accepted), plus proof of a recency activity in the last 24 months. Source: Transport Canada — Keep your drone pilot skills up to date
After you pass
Your Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations is issued right after you pass and can be downloaded and printed from the Drone Management Portal. Register and mark your drone before you fly: you must have, and be able to show, both your pilot certificate and proof of registration whenever you fly. Source: Transport Canada — Basic operations
Validity and renewal
The pilot certificate does not expire, but you may only fly if you completed a recency activity within the previous 24 months: passing the Small Basic, Advanced or Level 1 Complex exam again, passing a flight review, attending an endorsed safety seminar, completing recurrent training at a drone flight school, or completing an endorsed self-paced study program. Source: Transport Canada — Keep your drone pilot skills up to date
Common mistakes
- Flying closer than 30 m horizontally to bystanders, or in controlled airspace, with only a basic certificate. Either one makes the flight an Advanced operation. Source: Transport Canada — Basic operations
- Assuming a drone sold as under 250 g stays a microdrone. Anything you attach, such as a camera or safety cage, counts toward its operating weight. Source: Transport Canada — Drone operation categories and pilot certificates
- Getting certified but skipping registration and marking. Flying an unregistered or unmarked drone can cost an individual up to $5,000. Source: Transport Canada — Basic operations (penalties)
- Paying a third party for a drone licence card. The only valid pilot certificate is the printed or electronic document issued by Transport Canada. Source: Transport Canada — Keep your drone pilot skills up to date
- Studying from TP 15263 alone and leaving questions blank when the clock runs low. TP 15263 is not a study guide, and when time is up the exam is marked only on the answers you gave. Source: Transport Canada — Take a drone pilot online exam: Small Basic
Prepare for the test
Free practice written from the official material: full practice tests, a study guide, a printable sheet and a timed mock exam.
- Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) practice tests154 original practice questions with explanations
- Drone basic exam questions (printable PDF)50 practice questions for Transport Canada's Small Basic drone exam on one printable page, with a separate answer key and the CARs section behind each answer. Free.
- Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) study guideFree Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) study guide: 274 key points from the TC AIM — Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) chapter in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) Mock Exam 1 – 35 QuestionsTimed practice · 90 minutes · answers explained
- Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) exam simulator35 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
We last checked the official pages on October 17, 2026. Rules and fees can change; the official source always wins.
FAQ
How to get a drone licence: common questions
Do I need a drone licence in Canada?
Yes, if your drone's operating weight is 250 g or more (up to 150 kg): you need a Transport Canada pilot certificate, and your drone must be registered. For drones under 250 g (microdrones), no certificate or registration is needed.
How much does a drone licence cost in Canada?
From April 2026 to March 2027 the Small Basic Exam costs $10.17 per attempt, and the basic pilot certificate is included. Registering a drone costs another $10.17 per drone. Transport Canada adjusts its fees each April.
How do I get my drone licence online?
Create an account in the Drone Management Portal, pay for and pass the Small Basic Exam, then download your Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations from the portal. The whole basic process, including drone registration, is done online.
How many questions are on the drone exam and what is the pass mark?
The Small Basic Exam has 35 multiple-choice questions, a 90-minute limit and a pass mark of 65% or higher.
What happens if I fail the drone exam?
Wait 24 hours and try again. There is no limit on attempts, but each attempt costs the same fee.
Does a drone licence expire in Canada?
No, the certificate does not expire. To fly, though, you need a recency activity within the previous 24 months, such as passing the exam again or completing an endorsed self-paced study program.
What happens if I fly without a drone licence?
An individual can be fined up to $1,000 for flying without a drone pilot certificate and up to $5,000 for flying an unregistered or unmarked drone; corporations face higher fines.
Keep practising
- Drone basic exam questions (printable PDF)50 practice questions for Transport Canada's Small Basic drone exam on one printable page, with a separate answer key and the CARs section behind each answer. Free.
- Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) study guide
- Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) Mock Exam 1 – 35 QuestionsTimed practice · 90 minutes · answers explained
- Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) Mock Exam 2 – 35 QuestionsTimed practice · 90 minutes · answers explained
- Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) Practice Test 135 questions with explanations
- Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) Practice Test 235 questions with explanations
- Drone Basic Exam (RPAS) Practice Test 335 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- Drone categories, certificates and recencyMicrodrones, small, medium and large drones, what counts as operating weight, what makes a flight basic or advanced, the basic certificate (age 14, online exam), supervision of uncertified pilots, the 24-month recency rule and exam rules.
- Registration, marking and documentsWhich drones must be registered, who can be a registered owner, marking the registration number, 7-day notifications, when a registration is cancelled and the documents you must have at hand.
- Airspace classes and restricted airspaceCanadian Domestic Airspace, Classes A to G, why basic pilots stay in uncontrolled airspace, Class F restricted (CYR) and advisory (CYA) areas, forest fire and NOTAM restrictions, transponder airspace, the NRC Drone Site Selection Tool and inadvertent entry.
- Altitude, distances and where you can flyThe 400 ft limit and the structure exception, 30 m from bystanders, who counts as involved, the 3 NM airport and 1 NM heliport rule, military aerodromes, emergency perimeters, advertised events, national parks and other places with special rules.
- General operating and flight rulesReckless operation, visual line-of-sight, right of way, visual observers, normal and emergency procedures, manuals and pilot intervention, formation and multiple drones, FPV, night flight, handovers, payloads, ELTs and dropping objects.
- Site survey, pre-flight checks and emergenciesWhat a site survey must cover, pre-flight information and briefings, energy planning, inspecting the drone and batteries, choosing take-off and landing sites, and procedures for lost link, fly-aways and flight termination.
- Records, incidents, penalties and other lawsFlight and maintenance records, occurrences that ground you until analysed, TSB reporting, who enforces Part IX, maximum fines, and the privacy, trespass and Criminal Code rules that still apply.
- Human factors and fitness to flyAlcohol, drugs and cannabis rules, the IM SAFE check, fatigue, the limits of the eye, scanning for traffic, night vision, reading aircraft lights, hearing traffic and decision-making under pressure.
- Weather for drone pilotsWeather minimums for VLOS, sources of weather information, micro climate and urban airflow, wind, fog, precipitation, temperature lapse rates, icing and critical surfaces, thunderstorms, microbursts and sun glare.
- Navigation, charts, time and radioAviation units, nautical and statute miles, AGL vs ASL, altimeters and GPS errors, VNC and VTA charts, the Canada Flight Supplement, UTC and time zones, civil twilight, aviation frequencies and the ROC-A radio certificate.
- Theory of flight and drone systemsThe four forces, lift, angle of attack and stalls, how multirotors and helicopters are controlled, wake turbulence, batteries, motors, IMU and compass, firmware, automation and flight termination systems.