Drone Pilot Schools in Canada

These schools train drone pilots in Canada, from first flights to commercial work. Programs, schedules, and pricing change often, so contact each school directly for current details.

14 schools listed
How to become a pilot

Pilots first register their drone through the Drone Management Portal. For Basic Operations, minimum age 14, the only requirement is passing the online Small Basic Exam; there is no flight review and no stated fee. For Advanced Operations, minimum age 16, pilots must pass an online exam with an 80 percent threshold and complete an in-person flight review at an approved site, for a $25.00 CAD fee; Advanced certificate holders can also perform Basic operations.

Level 1 Complex Operations, minimum age 18, require the Advanced exam plus 20 hours of ground school at an approved flight school, a separate Level 1 exam and flight review, and a $125.00 CAD fee. None of these certificates expire.

Regulator
Transport Canada ↗ CARs Part IX / RAC Partie IX
About the regulation

Civil drone operation in Canada is regulated by Transport Canada under Part IX of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems), which applies to drones between 250 grams and 25 kilograms flown within visual line of sight. The same rules apply regardless of whether the flight is recreational or commercial. Every drone weighing 250 grams or more must be registered through the Drone Management Portal, including custom-built or kit-assembled aircraft.

Transport Canada sorts operations into risk-based categories: Basic and Advanced Operations, plus a newer Level 1 Complex tier for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights that builds on the Advanced certificate. Any flight that falls outside all three categories requires a Special Flight Operations Certificate for RPAS.

Confirm current requirements on the authority's official site before you enroll or fly.

This page is for general orientation and may not reflect the latest regulatory changes. It is not legal advice: confirm current rules, fees, and permitted zones with your country's civil aviation authority before you fly.

A listing in this directory is not an endorsement, accreditation, or certification of any school, and does not indicate affiliation with or vetting by us. Confirm a school's credentials and authorizations directly with the school and the relevant authority.

Schools

Candrone

RPAS certification training since 2010, with an online ground school and flight reviews in Langley, BC.

VancouverBurnabyLangley
Visit website ↗
+1-888-461-5742

Yukon University

Yukon University offers a Transport Canada-accredited Advanced RPAS/Drone Pilot ground school course covering air law, aircraft systems, human factors, meteorology, navigation, and flight operations.

Whitehorse
Visit website ↗
safety@yukonu.ca +1-867-668-8874

RPAS Centre

RPAS Centre offers free Basic and Advanced RPAS courses, live drone exam prep, and Drone Flight Review preparation aligned with Transport Canada regulations.

North York
Visit website ↗
+1-833-359-7727

Other countries in North America

List your school

If you run a drone training program anywhere in the United States or Canada, we would like to include it. Send us the school name, website, and a short description; listing is free.

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