Canada's drone operation rules change on November 4, 2025.
Pilot licensing and drone registration are now based on the new rules, but you still must follow the current operating rules until then.
Fee: $10. Additional attempts have the same fee.
About the online Small Basic Exam
You must pass this exam to get your Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations.
You must be 14 years of age or older to take this exam.
The Small Basic Exam:
- 35 multiple choice questions.
- 90 minutes to complete the exam. If you run out of time, your exam will be marked based on the answers provided (see accommodations notice below).
- A score of 65% or higher is considered a pass.
Before your exam
We strongly recommend that you attend a drone flight school before attempting the exam. Online exam questions are based on the Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems. However, this document is not a study guide.
You are given the results of your online exam right after it finishes through the Drone Management Portal.
If you fail your exam
If you fail the online exam, you must wait 24 hours before trying again. You can re-take it as many times as you wish.
Technical difficulties while taking an exam
Please contact us to let us know what happened and we can reset your exam for you.
Accommodations
Transport Canada is committed to providing accommodations for pilots who need extra time to complete their online exam. All requests for extra time are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To request an accommodation, send an email to TC.RPASInfo-InfoSATP.TC@tc.gc.ca before paying for your exam.
After you pass your online exam
A Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations will be issued after passing the exam. While your pilot certificate does not expire, it’s important to keep your skills-up-to-date.