Guide to be certified to fly a drone in Canada
By Association for Drones
Published
# Guide to Becoming Certified to Fly a Drone in Canada
Becoming certified to fly a drone in Canada is based on a tiered system administered by Transport Canada. The certificate you need depends on the weight of the drone, where you intend to operate, how close you will fly to people, whether you need controlled airspace access and whether the operation remains within Visual Line of Sight.
Canada currently has three main drone pilot certificates: Basic Operations, Advanced Operations and Level 1 Complex Operations. Each level provides progressively greater operational privileges.
For many recreational and commercial pilots, the Basic or Advanced certificate will be sufficient. Pilots working in inspection, surveying, infrastructure, public safety, automated operations or Beyond Visual Line of Sight may eventually require Level 1 Complex certification or another higher-level authorisation.
An important feature of the Canadian system is that certification is based primarily on operational risk rather than whether the flight is recreational or commercial. A business operator can conduct qualifying operations under the same Basic or Advanced framework as another pilot, provided all regulatory requirements are satisfied.
Understanding the Canadian Drone System
Transport Canada refers to drones as Remotely Piloted Aircraft, or RPA, and the complete aircraft, controller and associated equipment as a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, or RPAS.
The regulatory requirements depend heavily on aircraft weight.
A microdrone weighs less than 250 grams.
A small drone weighs at least 250 grams but no more than 25 kilograms.
A medium drone weighs more than 25 kilograms but no more than 150 kilograms.
Aircraft above 150 kilograms generally fall into more specialised regulatory pathways.
For pilots using aircraft between 250 grams and 150 kilograms, the required pilot certificate depends on the operation being performed. Transport Canada currently recognises Basic, Advanced and Level 1 Complex pilot certificates.
Microdrones Under 250 Grams
Drones weighing less than 250 grams are treated differently from larger aircraft.
A pilot certificate is generally not required simply to operate a microdrone, and a drone below 250 grams generally does not need to be registered with Transport Canada.
This does not mean microdrones can be flown anywhere or without responsibility.
Pilots must still operate safely and avoid creating hazards to aviation or people. Other restrictions can also apply around airports, military areas, emergency scenes, national parks, advertised events and other sensitive locations.
As of April 1, 2025, even microdrones require a Special Flight Operations Certificate when being flown at an advertised event.
For somebody learning to fly, a sub-250-gram drone can nevertheless provide a relatively simple introduction to Canadian drone operations.
Drone Registration
All drones weighing 250 grams or more must generally be registered with Transport Canada.
This includes commercially manufactured drones, custom-built systems and drones assembled from kits.
After registration, the aircraft must be clearly marked with its registration number. Transport Canada allows the number to be applied using methods such as a permanent label, marker or engraving.
Registration and pilot certification are separate requirements.
Having a pilot certificate does not automatically register the aircraft, and registering a drone does not mean the person operating it has the required pilot competency.
Professional operators should therefore maintain records for both the aircraft and the remote pilots who operate them.
The Basic Operations Certificate
The Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations is the entry-level Canadian drone certificate for small drones.
To qualify for Basic operations, the operation must satisfy several conditions.
The drone must generally weigh no more than 25 kilograms, remain within Visual Line of Sight, operate in uncontrolled airspace and remain more than 30 metres horizontally from people who are not involved in the operation.
Basic operations must also remain more than 5.6 kilometres, or three nautical miles, from the centre of a certified airport and more than 1.9 kilometres, or one nautical mile, from the centre of a heliport.
If the operation does not satisfy all the Basic conditions, it may become an Advanced or more complex operation.
How to Get the Basic Certificate
To obtain the Basic certificate, you must be at least 14 years old.
The process is relatively straightforward.
You complete Transport Canada's online Small Basic Exam through the Drone Management Portal.
The current exam contains 35 multiple-choice questions, provides 90 minutes to complete the test and requires a score of at least 65 percent to pass.
Once the examination has been passed, Transport Canada issues the Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations, which can be downloaded through the Drone Management Portal.
There is no separate practical flight review required for the Basic certificate.
The certificate itself does not expire, although pilots must maintain their recency requirements.
What You Need to Know for the Basic Exam
The Basic examination covers much more than how to physically fly a drone.
Pilots need an understanding of aviation regulations, airspace, weather, aircraft operations, human factors, emergency procedures and safe operating practices.
This is important because even a relatively small drone shares the wider aviation environment with helicopters, aeroplanes and other aircraft.
Learning the regulations should therefore be treated as part of becoming an aviator rather than simply as an administrative requirement.
Practical flying experience should also be developed separately, because passing a theoretical examination does not automatically make someone an experienced pilot.
Visual Line of Sight
Visual Line of Sight, commonly called VLOS, is fundamental to Basic operations.
The pilot needs to be able to maintain the required direct visual awareness of the drone and the surrounding airspace.
Watching the aircraft only through the live camera feed is not the same as maintaining VLOS.
This becomes particularly important for professional applications such as pipeline, railway, utility and road inspection.
If the mission extends beyond what can legally and safely be conducted within normal VLOS, the operator may need Advanced privileges, Level 1 Complex certification or another regulatory pathway.
The Advanced Operations Certificate
The Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations provides substantially greater flexibility.
An Advanced pilot can conduct both Basic and Advanced operations.
Depending on the aircraft and its required safety declarations, Advanced operations can allow flights closer to people, around airports and aerodromes, and in controlled airspace with the appropriate air traffic control permission. Advanced privileges can also support certain medium-drone operations, sheltered operations and Extended Visual Line of Sight operations.
This makes the Advanced certificate particularly attractive for professional pilots working in cities, infrastructure, construction, inspection, mapping and other environments where Basic limitations would be too restrictive.
How to Get the Advanced Certificate
You must be at least 16 years old to obtain the Advanced certificate.
The process has three principal stages.
First, you pass the Transport Canada online Advanced Operations examination.
Second, you successfully complete an Advanced Operations flight review with an authorised flight reviewer.
Third, you apply for the Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations through Transport Canada's Drone Management Portal.
Unlike the Basic certificate, Advanced certification therefore tests both theoretical knowledge and practical ability.
The Advanced Examination
The current Advanced Operations examination contains 50 multiple-choice questions.
Candidates have 60 minutes to complete the examination and need a score of at least 80 percent to pass.
Applicants must be at least 16 years old.
If a candidate fails, Transport Canada currently requires a 24-hour waiting period before another attempt.
The Advanced exam is considerably more demanding than the Basic examination because the pilot is being prepared for operations involving greater complexity and potentially greater exposure to other airspace users or people.
Transport Canada recommends suitable training before attempting it.
The Advanced Flight Review
Passing the Advanced exam is not enough on its own.
The candidate also needs to demonstrate practical competency during a flight review.
Flight reviews are conducted by authorised flight reviewers affiliated with recognised drone flight schools.
The purpose is to verify that the candidate can plan and conduct an RPAS operation safely and demonstrate the knowledge and aircraft-handling ability expected of an Advanced pilot.
This can include site assessment, pre-flight preparation, safe aircraft control, emergency procedures and post-flight activities.
For professional pilots, the flight review should be seen as a minimum competency standard rather than the end of practical training.
Flying in Controlled Airspace
One major advantage of the Advanced certificate is access to controlled airspace when all applicable conditions are met.
The pilot still needs permission from the relevant air traffic control authority.
In much of Canadian controlled airspace this means obtaining an RPAS Flight Authorization through NAV CANADA.
Different procedures may apply around Department of National Defence airspace.
The Advanced certificate therefore provides eligibility to conduct certain controlled-airspace operations, but it does not itself constitute permission to fly anywhere inside controlled airspace.
Professional operators should make airspace authorisation a standard part of mission planning.
Flying Closer to People
Advanced operations can also allow qualified pilots to operate closer to uninvolved people when the drone has the required safety assurance declaration.
For suitable small drones, this can include operations closer than 30 metres from uninvolved people.
Some appropriately declared aircraft can also be used within five metres of people or over people when the relevant requirements are met.
This is an important distinction.
Holding an Advanced pilot certificate does not automatically mean every drone can be flown over people.
The aircraft must also meet the safety requirements applicable to the intended operation.
Professional pilots therefore need to consider both pilot qualification and aircraft capability when planning missions.
Medium Drones
Canada now allows certain operations with medium drones, weighing more than 25 kilograms and no more than 150 kilograms, under the Advanced framework.
These aircraft must meet the relevant safety assurance requirements for the operation.
Depending on the declaration and circumstances, Advanced pilots may operate qualifying medium drones within VLOS, including in controlled airspace with air traffic control permission.
This change is particularly significant for professional applications involving larger LiDAR payloads, industrial sensors, logistics systems and other equipment that cannot easily be carried by small drones.
Medium drones introduce greater operational risk, so aircraft compliance, crew procedures and site planning become increasingly important.
Sheltered Operations
The Canadian rules now recognise sheltered operations under the Advanced category for small drones.
These operations allow a drone to operate close to a building or structure without maintaining conventional direct Visual Line of Sight under the defined conditions.
Current requirements include remaining no more than 30 metres above the structure and within 61 metres horizontally of it.
The operation must also maintain the applicable separation from uninvolved people and remain within the specified distance from the pilot and control station.
This can be useful for professional applications such as building inspection and infrastructure assessment where parts of the aircraft's flight path may be temporarily obscured by the structure itself.
Extended Visual Line of Sight
Canada has also introduced Extended Visual Line of Sight, or EVLOS, privileges under Advanced operations.
EVLOS allows a small drone to fly outside the pilot's normal direct visual line of sight while using a trained visual observer to maintain awareness of the aircraft environment.
Current rules require EVLOS to take place in uncontrolled airspace and generally maintain at least 30 metres separation from uninvolved people.
The drone must remain within approximately two nautical miles, or 3.7 kilometres, of the pilot, control station and visual observer.
The visual observer must hold at least a Basic drone pilot certificate.
EVLOS can provide useful additional range for inspection and surveying without moving immediately into full BVLOS operations.
Level 1 Complex Operations
Canada's Pilot Certificate – Level 1 Complex Operations is a major development for professional drone operators.
It builds on the Advanced qualification and provides a pathway toward certain lower-risk Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations.
Level 1 Complex privileges can support qualifying BVLOS missions with small or medium drones over unpopulated areas and certain small-drone BVLOS operations over sparsely populated areas, provided the aircraft and operation satisfy the applicable requirements.
This creates significant opportunities for sectors such as utilities, energy, railways, forestry, environmental monitoring and remote infrastructure inspection.
How to Get Level 1 Complex Certification
You must be at least 18 years old to obtain the Level 1 Complex certificate.
The process is more demanding than Advanced certification.
First, the candidate must pass the Advanced Operations examination.
They must then complete at least 20 hours of RPAS ground-school instruction through a flight school.
After completing that training, the candidate must pass the Level 1 Complex online examination.
They must then successfully complete a Level 1 Complex flight review and apply for the certificate through Transport Canada.
This can be summarised as:
Advanced exam → 20 hours ground school → Level 1 Complex exam → Level 1 Complex flight review → Apply for certificate.
Lower-Risk BVLOS Operations
Beyond Visual Line of Sight is one of the biggest opportunities for the commercial drone industry.
Canada's Level 1 Complex framework allows certain lower-risk BVLOS operations without requiring every operation to follow the older type of individual special approval process.
Current Level 1 conditions can allow suitable small or medium drones to conduct BVLOS operations over unpopulated areas and suitable small drones over sparsely populated areas.
The operations must remain in uncontrolled airspace, generally remain at or below 400 feet above ground level and satisfy applicable separation from aerodromes.
These restrictions are important because Level 1 Complex does not provide unrestricted BVLOS permission.
More complicated BVLOS operations may still require a Special Flight Operations Certificate or another authorisation.
The RPAS Operator Certificate
Holding a Level 1 Complex pilot certificate is only one part of conducting Level 1 Complex operations.
The pilot also needs to operate under an RPAS Operator Certificate, known as an RPOC.
An RPOC focuses on the organisation rather than only the individual pilot.
The operator needs suitable safety policies, procedures, training systems and risk-management arrangements. Transport Canada requires responsibilities including an accountable executive and maintenance oversight to be established.
This represents an important transition in the drone industry.
At higher levels of operation, compliance becomes less about an individual pilot qualification and more about whether the whole organisation has a mature aviation safety system.
Special Flight Operations Certificates
Some operations still fall beyond Basic, Advanced and Level 1 Complex privileges.
These can require a Special Flight Operations Certificate – RPAS, commonly abbreviated to SFOC-RPAS.
Examples include certain operations above 400 feet, larger aircraft, some complex BVLOS missions, special aviation events and operations involving unusual risk.
Flying at advertised events also generally requires an SFOC, including when using a microdrone.
Pilots should therefore determine the regulatory category before committing to a commercial project.
Holding the highest standard pilot certificate does not automatically authorise every possible operation.
The 400-Foot Height Limit
For many normal drone operations in Canada, 400 feet or approximately 122 metres above ground level is an important operating limit.
Operations above this level can move into a more specialised category and may require an SFOC.
Pilots should understand that local airspace restrictions or authorisation conditions may impose lower limits.
Professional flight planning should therefore involve checking the airspace and operational category rather than assuming that every flight below 400 feet is automatically permitted.
Drone Pilot Recency
Canadian drone pilot certificates themselves generally do not expire, but pilots must remain current.
Transport Canada requires pilots to complete an accepted recurrent training activity within the applicable 24-month period in order to continue exercising their certificate privileges.
Transport Canada's 2026–2027 self-paced RPAS study programme is one method of satisfying the recurrent-training requirement. The completed record must be retained as proof.
This distinction is important.
A certificate may remain issued indefinitely, but the pilot still needs evidence that the required recent training has been completed.
Professional operators should therefore maintain competency records for all pilots.
Practical Flying Experience
Certification establishes regulatory competency, but practical ability requires additional training.
A new pilot should become comfortable with controlled take-off and landing, hovering, orientation, accurate positioning and flying in different but suitable wind conditions.
Pilots should understand battery management, GNSS behaviour, Return-to-Home, obstacle avoidance and communication-loss procedures.
Advanced pilots should develop stronger mission-planning and emergency-response skills.
Pilots intending to work with larger aircraft or BVLOS systems need an even greater understanding of command-and-control links, aircraft performance, visual observers, contingency procedures and operational risk.
Learning Airspace
Professional drone pilots in Canada should become familiar with Canadian airspace and aviation information.
Simply checking a consumer drone application is not enough for professional mission planning.
Pilots should understand controlled and uncontrolled airspace, aerodromes, NOTAMs, temporary restrictions and any local restrictions that could affect the flight.
NAV CANADA plays an important role in controlled-airspace operations.
Operations around military aerodromes can involve Department of National Defence requirements.
Transport Canada also emphasises restrictions around active wildfires and other aviation hazards.
Airspace checking should become part of every pre-flight routine.
Insurance
Transport Canada does not currently require liability insurance for standard drone operation categories, although it recommends insurance.
Certain special operations may require evidence of insurance.
Professional operators should nevertheless seriously consider suitable aviation liability coverage.
Client contracts may require minimum insurance levels even where the regulations do not.
A small photography operation presents a very different risk from inspecting a power station, refinery or major infrastructure asset.
Insurance should therefore be matched to the activity rather than viewed only as a regulatory question.
Commercial Drone Operations
Canada does not operate a completely separate drone-pilot licensing system simply because somebody is being paid.
The regulatory category depends primarily on the aircraft and operational circumstances.
A commercial photographer operating a suitable small drone in uncontrolled airspace more than 30 metres from people may potentially work under Basic operations.
An inspection company operating closer to people or within controlled airspace may need an Advanced pilot and an aircraft meeting the relevant safety requirements.
A company conducting lower-risk BVLOS infrastructure inspection may require Level 1 Complex pilots operating under an RPOC.
The correct certification therefore depends on the mission, not simply whether money changes hands.
Foreign Drone Pilots
Foreign pilots should not assume that a drone certificate issued in another country automatically authorises them to operate professionally in Canada.
Transport Canada has separate requirements for foreign pilots, operators and foreign-owned drones.
Certain operations involving foreign pilots or aircraft may require an SFOC-RPAS, although exceptions can apply.
International companies should therefore check the current Transport Canada requirements before sending a pilot and aircraft into Canada.
This is particularly important for commercial inspections, demonstrations, exhibitions and temporary projects.
Becoming a Professional Drone Pilot
A professional drone career requires much more than obtaining Basic or Advanced certification.
A pilot should develop specialist expertise relevant to the intended market.
An inspection pilot should understand infrastructure and how to collect useful defect imagery.
A mapping pilot needs knowledge of photogrammetry, Ground Sampling Distance, RTK, PPK and coordinate systems.
A LiDAR operator should understand point-cloud acquisition and survey quality.
Thermal pilots need knowledge of emissivity, reflections and environmental conditions.
Agricultural pilots may work with multispectral cameras and vegetation indices.
Public-safety pilots need procedures appropriate to emergency operations.
The strongest professional drone operators combine aviation competency with genuine industry expertise.
A Recommended Canadian Certification Pathway
For someone beginning today, a practical route is to start with a small drone and develop basic flying ability in a suitable environment.
If the drone is 250 grams or heavier, register it through Transport Canada.
Study the Canadian aviation rules and complete the Small Basic Exam.
Once comfortable with Basic operations, consider progressing directly to Advanced certification if you intend to work professionally.
Study for and pass the Advanced examination, develop practical competency and complete the required flight review.
Gain experience operating within controlled airspace and around more complicated environments where authorised.
Pilots intending to work in long-range inspection or autonomous systems can then progress toward Level 1 Complex competency, including Advanced examination completion, the required ground school, the Level 1 Complex examination and flight review.
The pathway can therefore be viewed as:
Learn to fly → Register the drone → Basic certificate → Build experience → Advanced certificate → Industry specialisation → Level 1 Complex for qualifying BVLOS work.
Not every pilot needs to complete every level.
The objective should be to obtain the qualification that matches the type of work you want to perform.
The Future of Drone Pilot Certification in Canada
Canada is moving toward a regulatory framework capable of supporting more sophisticated unmanned-aircraft operations.
The introduction of EVLOS, sheltered operations, medium-drone privileges and Level 1 Complex BVLOS operations demonstrates this direction.
Professional pilots will increasingly supervise automated systems rather than manually controlling every movement of the aircraft.
Drone-in-a-Box systems may conduct regular infrastructure inspections, while long-range aircraft monitor pipelines, railways, utilities and environmental assets.
AI will assist with navigation, obstacle detection, mission planning and data interpretation.
As these technologies develop, the pilot's role will increasingly include risk management, system supervision, communications monitoring and abnormal-event management.
At the same time, organisations will assume greater responsibility through systems such as the RPAS Operator Certificate.
The Canadian professional drone industry is therefore moving from simple pilot certification toward integrated pilot, aircraft and operator competency.
Conclusion
Becoming certified to fly a drone in Canada begins with understanding what type of operation you intend to conduct.
Microdrones below 250 grams generally do not require a pilot certificate or registration, although they remain subject to safety rules and certain operational restrictions.
For small drones, the Basic Operations certificate provides an accessible starting point. Pilots aged at least 14 can obtain it by passing Transport Canada's online Small Basic Exam.
The Advanced Operations certificate provides significantly greater professional flexibility. Pilots must be at least 16, pass the Advanced examination, successfully complete a flight review and apply for the certificate. With the appropriate aircraft and permissions, Advanced pilots can operate in controlled airspace, closer to people and conduct newer operations such as EVLOS and sheltered flights.
For pilots moving into lower-risk BVLOS operations, the Level 1 Complex certificate represents the next stage. Candidates must be at least 18, pass the Advanced examination, complete at least 20 hours of approved ground school, pass the Level 1 Complex examination and successfully complete the appropriate flight review. Complex operations must also be conducted under an appropriate RPAS Operator Certificate.
The overall professional pathway can be summarised as:
Basic → Advanced → Level 1 Complex
but the right endpoint depends entirely on the missions you intend to fly.
Transport Canada certification establishes the regulatory foundation. Becoming a professional drone pilot requires the additional combination of practical flying ability, airspace awareness, risk management and specialist industry knowledge.