Licensed jobs · Unusual

How to become a drone pilot in BC

Flying a drone of 250 g or more in Canada needs a Transport Canada pilot certificate and registered drone. Basic is an online exam; Advanced adds a flight review.

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Licence or certificateREQUIRED: Pilot Certificate - Basic Operations or Advanced Operationssource
Issued byTransport Canada
On this page
  1. Key facts
  2. Where to train
  3. Watch out for fakes
  4. Frequently asked questions
  5. Related jobs and guides
When and how you can take it

How it’s offered: Take an online drone course at your own pace (source)

Key facts

DetailSource
SummaryFlying a drone of 250 g or more in Canada needs a Transport Canada pilot certificate and registered drone. Basic is an online exam; Advanced adds a flight review.source
Issuing body · UrlOfficial pagesource
CredentialREQUIRED: Pilot Certificate - Basic Operations or Advanced Operationssource
Licence statusrequiredsource
RequirementsBasic: age 14, online Small Basic exam (35 questions, 65%). Advanced: age 16, online Advanced exam, in-person flight review, then certificate feesource
Regulator feesExam $10 per attempt; Advanced certificate $25 (CAR fee schedule; TC pages show indexed amounts)source
Exams 1Small Basic exam: You must be 14 years of age or older; 35 multiple choice questions. 90 minutes; 65% or highersource
Exams 2Advanced exam: 16 years of age or older; 50 multiple choice questions. 60 minutes; 80% or higher; You must pass this exam and your flight review to get your Pilot Certificate – Advanced operationssource
Exam feeNot shown on Transport Canada’s pagesource
Flight review feeYou may be charged a fee by the flight reviewer for your flight review. Prices are set by the reviewer.source
Step 1Part of getting your certificate is to pass at least one online exam.source
Step 2Small Basic exam: You must be 14 years of age or older; 35 multiple choice questions. 90 minutes; 65% or highersource
Step 3Advanced exam: 16 years of age or older; 50 multiple choice questions. 60 minutes; 80% or higher; You must pass this exam and your flight review to get your Pilot Certificate – Advanced operationssource
Step 4You may be charged a fee by the flight reviewer for your flight review. Prices are set by the reviewer.source
Step 5Basic and Advanced training is free; Basic about 10 hours, Advanced about 15 hours (RPAS Centre, online)source
Step 6Advanced: flight review From $199 (RPAS Centre)source
DeliveryTake an online drone course at your own pacesource

Where to train

School and cityProgram and approvalLengthIntakesCostLink
RPAS Centre
Canada-wide (online; not BC-specific) · Private
Basic and Advanced RPAS online courses + flight review
not published source
Basic: Free online course, about 10 hours; Advanced: Free online course, about 15 hoursTake an online drone course at your own paceBasic and Advanced training is free; flight review From $199Program page
Pacific Drone
BC · Private
Basic Operations / Advanced Operations / Flight Review
not published source
not published
Course length not on page
not published
No session date on page (online study platform)
Basic Operations FREE; Advanced Operations PAID (amount not published)Program page

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm these on an official page, so we left them out: Pay.

Watch out for fakes

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a licence to work as a drone pilot in BC?

REQUIRED: Pilot Certificate - Basic Operations or Advanced Operations

Who issues it?

Transport Canada.

Where can I train in BC?

The official lists we checked include: Pacific Drone, RPAS Centre.

Sources and official links

This page relies on the official pages below. Rules, fees and processes change, so check the authority before you apply or spend money.

Links checked November 1, 2026. Found an error or a broken link? Report it.