ROC-A Exam Online: Get Your Radio Operator Certificate From Anywhere in Canada
Write your official Restricted Operator Certificate with Aeronautical Qualification (ROC-A) exam by video conference with our ISED-accredited examiners. About thirty minutes, from your home, with your certificate mailed by ISED within 2 to 4 weeks. For student pilots, drone operators, airport workers, and aviation enthusiasts across Canada.
- Government-approved examiners on staff
- 20-minute video examination
- Available in English and French
- Certificate valid for life
New to the ROC-A? Read what it is, who needs one, and how it differs from a radio licence.
Five Steps From Booking to Certificate
Study with our ROC-A course or the free study guide, then test yourself on the free practice exam.
Email an examiner below to agree on a date and time, then pay the exam fee at least 24 hours before your appointment.
Email your examiner the completed application form (page 2 of the Exam Information Sheet), dated the day of your exam, plus your ID: a provincial driver's licence, Canadian citizenship document, or international passport.
Log onto the video conference at your booked time. The exam is oral and closed book: 25 multiple-choice, practical, and scenario questions. Pass mark is 70%.
Your examiner submits your application to ISED. Your ROC-A arrives by mail within 2 to 4 weeks, and it never expires.
Exam Details & Policies
The Examination
- Conducted remotely by video conference with an ISED-accredited examiner
- Oral and closed book. The examiner asks 25 multiple-choice, practical, and scenario-based questions verbally
- Pass mark: 70%
- Approximately 20 minutes including processing time
- Available in French. Notify your examiner when booking
- You must be physically in Canada during the exam. This is ISED policy and is non-negotiable, so foreign nationals must arrange to be in Canada
Booking & Payment Policies
- Book with an examiner first. Do not pay before you have booked
- Payment is due at least 24 hours before your exam unless arranged otherwise
- Exam fees are non-refundable, including no-shows
- A $30 fee applies to cancellations within 12 hours of the exam that rebook
- Examiners cannot issue temporary certificates, but can provide a confirmation number showing your application was submitted to ISED
- International certificate mailing: arrange payment directly with your examiner instead of paying online
Not sure you're ready?
Take our free 25-question ROC-A practice exam. It matches the real exam's length and pass mark. If you want more than a pass, our ROC-A study course ($24.95) was built by the same examiners who will test you, with realistic radio scenarios that make the exam feel routine. Most candidates who study with us pass on the first attempt.
Student pilots: once your certificate arrives, sign it and present it to your flight instructor, who will sign your PTR before you solo. You also need the PSTAR before solo, and our PSTAR exam prep course is free. Both courses are included in our Private Pilot Ground School.
Contact an ISED-Accredited Examiner
Email one of our examiners below to arrange a date and time for your 30-minute video exam. Include your preferred dates, and mention if you'd like the exam conducted in French. Once your booking is confirmed, email your application form and ID to your examiner and complete your payment below.
Pay only after your booking is confirmed with an examiner. Payment secures your appointment when made at least 24 hours in advance.
Documents You'll Need
The application form is on page 2 of the Exam Information Sheet. Complete it and email it to your examiner, dated the day of your exam.
What Is the ROC-A? Canada's Aviation Radio Operator Certificate
ROC-A stands for Restricted Operator Certificate with Aeronautical Qualification. It authorizes you to operate aeronautical radio equipment in Canada. You will also hear it called the radio operator's certificate, the aviation radio licence, or just "the radio exam".
The ROC-A is issued by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), which governs radio use and the frequency spectrum in Canada. Transport Canada does not issue it. The rules for aircraft radio come from two places: the Radiocommunication Act and the Canadian Aviation Regulations. The certificate itself is a radio authorization issued by the Minister under section 5(1) of the Radiocommunication Act.
Who needs a ROC-A?
Anyone who operates aeronautical radio equipment in Canada needs one. In practice that means:
- Student pilots, before their first solo
- Licensed pilots, including foreign licence holders converting to a Canadian licence
- Drone (RPAS) pilots who transmit on aviation frequencies
- Airport vehicle operators, ground crew, and dispatchers
To get one, you pass an examination with an ISED-accredited examiner. Our examiners conduct that exam remotely, and you can book yours on this page.
Radio station licence vs. radio operator certificate
These are two different documents, and they get mixed up constantly.
A radio station licence belongs to the station, not the person. It can be issued to an aircraft station or a ground station, and it lists the station's call sign, authorized frequencies, station type, conditions, and any additional authorized equipment such as HF radios, DME, and weather radar. Aircraft flown only within Canada do not need a radio station licence. Aircraft flown outside Canada do.
A radio operator certificate belongs to you. The ROC-A is required by anyone who may operate any type of aeronautical radio equipment, in any aircraft or ground station, whether or not that station needs a licence.
Do I need to carry my ROC-A with me?
There is no official requirement to carry it while you operate aeronautical radio equipment. Under section 38 of the Radiocommunication Regulations, you must produce your radio authorization to an inspector within 48 hours of being asked.
Companies, flight schools, and airlines can set their own rules and require you to carry it at all times. Other countries may require it too, so we recommend carrying it whenever you fly internationally.
Can I swear on the radio?
Legally, yes. The prohibition on transmitting superfluous or profane language was removed in 2011, one year after the most recent study guide was released, and speech is protected expression under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Be professional on the radio anyway. Transport Canada's readback requirements matter far more to your flying than this does.
ROC-A Exam FAQ
What does ROC-A stand for?
Restricted Operator Certificate with Aeronautical Qualification. It is the certificate that lets you operate aeronautical radio equipment in Canada.
How do I get a ROC-A in Canada?
You pass an examination with an ISED-accredited examiner. Canadian Flight Trainers has examiners on staff who conduct the exam remotely by video, from anywhere in Canada. Book your exam here.
Who issues the ROC-A?
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) issues it. Transport Canada does not.
Is a ROC-A the same as a radio licence?
No. A radio station licence is issued to an aircraft or ground station. The ROC-A is an operator certificate issued to a person. Aircraft flown only within Canada do not need a station licence, but the person using the radio still needs a ROC-A. Read the full explanation above.
What does the exam cover?
The examiner verbally asks 25 multiple-choice, practical, and scenario-based questions covering radio regulations, phraseology, procedures, and distress and urgency communications. It is closed book, and the pass mark is 70%. Our free practice exam matches the length and pass mark.
How long until I receive my certificate?
Certificates are mailed by ISED from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and typically arrive within 2 to 4 weeks of your exam. This is a Canada-wide ISED timeline. No examiner can shorten it, and no examiner is authorized to issue a temporary certificate. Your examiner can provide a confirmation number showing your application was successfully submitted.
Do I need to be in Canada to take the exam?
Yes. You must be physically present in Canada during the examination. This is ISED policy and is non-negotiable. Foreign nationals must make their own arrangements to be in Canada for the exam.
What ID do I need?
A provincial driver's licence or Canadian citizenship document for Canadian citizens, or an international passport. Email a copy to your examiner along with your completed application form, dated the day of your exam.
Can I take the exam in French?
Yes. Contact Max directly for a French-language exam, or let any examiner know when you book so arrangements can be made.
Do I need to carry my ROC-A when I fly?
Not by law. You must be able to produce it to an inspector within 48 hours of being asked. Your flight school or employer may require you to carry it, and we recommend carrying it when flying outside Canada.
Does the ROC-A expire?
No. Once issued, your Radio Operator's Certificate is valid for life.
Thirty Minutes From Your Living Room. A Certificate for Life.
Book your official ROC-A examination with our ISED-accredited examiners today.