Canada Drone Pilot Basic Exam Preparation 2026
This course is for new drone pilots in Canada who are preparing for Transport Canada's Small Basic Exam. Five lessons cover the exam and certificate, the rules for basic operations, airspace and NOTAMs, weather, and human factors. Each lesson has an untimed topic quiz with explanations, and a timed 35-question final assessment unlocks a certificate of completion when you score 80% or more. The course does not issue a drone pilot certificate; you take the real exam online through Transport Canada's Drone Management Portal.
Kort antwoord
Deze gratis cursus heeft ongeveer 240 minuten lessen, 5 themaquizzen zonder tijdslimiet (95 vragen in totaal) en een getimede eindtoets van 35 willekeurig gekozen vragen. Haal 80% of meer op de eindtoets om een bewijs van deelname te downloaden (privé, niet geaccrediteerd). Gecontroleerd aan de hand van officiële bronnen op 13 oktober 2026.
Wat je leert
- Describe the Small Basic Exam format, pass mark and retake rule
- Explain how to get, carry and keep your basic pilot certificate current
- Register and mark a drone and work out its weight category
- Tell a basic operation from an advanced one using distance, airspace and weight
- Check airspace, aerodromes and NOTAMs before you fly
- Decide whether the weather and your own fitness allow a safe flight
- Follow normal and emergency procedures and respond to incidents
Haal 80% of meer om je certificaat te downloaden.
Je studieplan
Lees elke les, maak de themaquiz (zonder tijdslimiet, met uitleg) en daarna de getimede eindtoets. Elke keer wordt een nieuwe mix van vragen gekozen. Je voortgang wordt in deze browser opgeslagen.
- Lees de lessen5 lessen, ongeveer 240 min
- Themaquiz 1: The Small Basic Exam, your certificate and registration20 vragen
- Themaquiz 2: The rules for basic operations19 vragen
- Themaquiz 3: Airspace, aerodromes and NOTAMs18 vragen
- Themaquiz 4: Weather and your drone19 vragen
- Themaquiz 5: Human factors, procedures and emergencies19 vragen
- Eindexamen35 vragen, 90 min · Haal 80% of meer
Themaquiz 1: The Small Basic Exam, your certificate and registration
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Vraag 1 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations
All pilots of drones from 250 g up to 150 kg must hold a pilot certificate, whether they fly for fun or for work. Basic operations need at least the Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations.
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Vraag 2 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. 14 years old
Transport Canada says you must be 14 or older to take the Small Basic Exam. Age 16 is for the advanced certificate and 18 for Level 1 Complex.
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Vraag 3 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. Online, in the Drone Management Portal
You take the Small Basic Exam online through the Drone Management Portal.
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Vraag 4 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. 35
The Small Basic Exam has 35 multiple-choice questions.
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Vraag 5 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. 90 minutes
Transport Canada gives you 90 minutes for the Small Basic Exam.
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Vraag 6 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. 65% or higher
The pass mark for the Small Basic Exam is 65%. The 80% pass mark belongs to the Advanced Exam.
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Vraag 7 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. 23
65% of 35 is 22.75, and you cannot answer part of a question, so you need 23 correct (about 65.7%). 22 correct is only about 62.9%.
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Vraag 8 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. The exam is marked on the answers you gave
Transport Canada says that if time runs out, the exam is marked on the answers you have given.
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Vraag 9 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. By email, before you pay for the exam
Transport Canada looks at requests for extra time case by case. You must send the request by email before you pay for the exam.
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Vraag 10 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. 10:00 on Tuesday
After a failed attempt you must wait 24 hours. Monday at 10:00 plus 24 hours is Tuesday at 10:00. There is no limit on the number of retakes.
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Vraag 11 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. The knowledge requirements behind the exam
The exam questions are based on TP 15263, the knowledge requirements for drone pilots. Transport Canada notes that it is not a study guide.
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Vraag 12 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. You download and print it from the portal right away
The basic certificate is issued right after you pass. You download and print it from the Drone Management Portal.
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Vraag 13 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. A Transport Canada certificate, printed or electronic
A valid drone pilot certificate is a printed or electronic document issued by Transport Canada. No other form is accepted.
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Vraag 14 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. Your pilot certificate and proof of registration
For basic operations, Transport Canada says to carry your Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations and proof of drone registration.
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Vraag 15 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. It never expires, but you must stay current
The certificate does not expire. But before you fly, you must have completed a recency activity within the previous 24 months and be able to show proof.
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Vraag 16 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. A TC-endorsed self-paced study program
Recency activities include passing an exam again, passing a flight review, a TC-endorsed safety seminar, a flight school recurrent training program, or a TC-endorsed self-paced study program. Flying hours alone do not count.
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Vraag 17 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. A 300 g drone built from a kit
Every drone of 250 g or more must be registered, including custom-built and kit drones. Drones under 250 g do not need registration.
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Vraag 18 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. At 265 g, it needs registration and a certified pilot
Anything attached counts toward the weight: 235 g + 30 g = 265 g. At 250 g or more, the drone must be registered and the pilot needs a certificate.
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Vraag 19 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. Clearly, with its registration number, in a permanent way
You must clearly mark the drone with its registration number. Transport Canada accepts permanent marker, a permanent label or engraving.
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Vraag 20 van 20
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. Up to $5,000
Individuals face up to $5,000 for flying an unregistered or unmarked drone. The $25,000 maximum applies to corporations.
Toetsenbord: 1–4 om te antwoorden, Enter voor de volgende vraag.
Wat je moet weten voor het examen
- The Small Basic Exam has 35 multiple-choice questions, a 90-minute time limit and a pass mark of 65%. You must be 14 or older.
- If you fail the Small Basic Exam, you must wait 24 hours before you try again. There is no limit on retakes, and each attempt has the same fee.
- After you pass, the Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations is issued right away, and you download and print it from the Drone Management Portal.
- Basic operations use a drone of 25 kg or less, kept in sight, more than 30 m horizontally from people, in uncontrolled airspace, and more than 5.6 km from certified airports and 1.9 km from heliports.
- Drones of 250 g or more must not fly higher than 400 ft (122 m) above ground level, except close to a building or under a special flight operations certificate.
- Every drone of 250 g or more must be registered in the Drone Management Portal and clearly marked with its registration number.
- The pilot certificate does not expire, but you must have completed a recency activity within the previous 24 months before you fly.
Veelgestelde vragen
Is this the official Transport Canada Small Basic Exam?
No. This is an independent course with original questions. You take the real Small Basic Exam online through Transport Canada's Drone Management Portal.
Does this course give me a drone pilot certificate?
No. Only Transport Canada issues the Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations, after you pass the Small Basic Exam. This course helps you study for that exam.
What does the certificate of completion show?
It shows that you finished this course and scored at least 80% on its final assessment. It is not a Transport Canada pilot certificate, it does not count as a recency activity, and it does not let you fly.
Why is the course pass mark 80% when the real exam needs 65%?
A higher target gives you a safety margin. The final assessment has 35 questions in 90 minutes, the same length and time as the real exam, and draws a new mix of questions each attempt.
Do I need a certificate for a drone under 250 g?
No. Microdrones need no pilot certificate or registration, but you must not fly in a reckless or negligent way, and you need an SFOC to fly at an advertised event. Transport Canada also recommends keeping it in sight and below 400 ft.
What should I study besides this course?
Transport Canada bases the exam on TP 15263 and strongly recommends a drone flight school. Also read Part IX of the Canadian Aviation Regulations and the RPA chapter of the TC AIM.
Is het certificaat geaccrediteerd of officieel erkend?
Nee. Het is een privé bewijs van deelname, alleen voor je kennis. Het is niet erkend, geaccrediteerd of goedgekeurd door een overheid, vergunningsinstantie, toezichthouder of onderwijsinstelling, en het vervangt geen wettelijk verplichte vergunning, certificering of opleiding.
Bronnen
- Transport Canada: Small Basic Exam
- Transport Canada: Basic operations
- Transport Canada: Drone operation categories and pilot certificates
- Transport Canada: Microdrones
- Transport Canada: Getting a drone pilot certificate
- Transport Canada: Keep your drone pilot skills up to date
- Transport Canada: Registering your drone
- Transport Canada: Flying your drone safely and legally
- Transport Canada: Where to fly your drone
- Transport Canada: Tips and best practices for drone pilots
- Transport Canada: 2025 summary of changes to Canada's drone regulations
- Transport Canada: Report a drone incident
- Transport Canada: Knowledge Requirements for Pilots of RPAS, 250 g up to and including 150 kg (TP 15263)
- Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM, TP 14371): RPA chapter
- Canadian Aviation Regulations, Part IX (SOR/96-433): sections 900.01, 901.11, 901.17, 901.19, 901.23, 901.25, 901.27, 901.34, 901.39, 901.49, 901.53 and 901.54