For the latest update, please check Transport Canada (TC) website (or Google: “faa to tc conversion”).

TL:DR

1. Do a Category 1 Medical Exam
2. Receive medical certificate
3. Make an appointment for written exam
4. Study and pass the exam (20 questions, 1 hour, 60% to pass)
5. Apply for conversion and Aviation Document Booklet

• No flight test needed
• No need to enroll into a flight school
• No recommendation letter needed
• The medical examiner WILL NOT give you your medical certificate immediately

Details

I am sure some of you out there are looking for more information regarding converting their FAA CPL licence to a TC CPL licence. There was a time I was like you, looking for the same information. I will share how I convert my CPL to start my Instructor Rating training in Canada and hope it will help clear any confusion you have.

Step 1: Get Your Canadian Category 1 Medical

1. Make an appointment with a Transport Canada (TC)
   • Go to TC’s website (or Google “TC Medical Examiner”) to find the most convenient place to get your medical done
   • For foreigners traveling to Canada for flight training:
     • You could save a little time and money by getting your medical done in your home country before traveling.
     • However, I will suggest that you travel to Canada to do your medical while attending ground school concurrently. Arrange with your flight school.
2. Things to prepare
   • Photo Identification (Driver’s Licence or Passport)
   • If you wear glasses, bring them along (do not wear contact lenses) and your optometrist prescription
   • Any other medical documents you think is necessary (Call the medical examiner and ask about it)
   • Money for payment
3. When the day comes, just be there on time and the medical examiner and nurse will take you through
   • Application forms
   • ECG
   • Urine sample
   • Etc……
   • You should be done within an hour

Unlike the US, you will not get you medical certificate immediately. The medical examiner will send all the information to TC and they will process it before mailing the medical certificate to your address. I had no issues with my medical and it took about 3 or 4 weeks for me to get my medical certificate in the mail. TC will contact you if they need more information.

The medical certificate comes with a serial number and it will follow you till the end. You need this serial number to make an appointment with TC for the written exam. This number will eventually be your licence number. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing what your serial number is until you receive your medical certificate in the mail. So, while waiting for your medical certificate to make an appointment for the written exam, STUDY!!

Step 2: Get Ready For The Written Exam (Recommendation Letter NOT REQUIRED)

1. Find out which exam you need. There are two FAA to the Transport Canada Commercial Pilot Licence exam. (You will soon find out TC likes acronyms)
   1. FAACA – for converting CPL aeroplane
   2. FAACH – for converting CPL Helicopter
2. Make an appointment for the written exam (The earliest date is probably a month away)
   1. Send an email to the nearest civil aviation regional office with your information and the exam you want to take (FAACA or FAACH)
   2. You should receive a reply within two business days
   3. Pay for the exam when you got your booking (Google “TC written exam payment”)
3. Study for the exam!!
   1. Check out Study and Reference Guide for Commercial Pilot Licence (Google “TC CPL study and reference guide”)
   2. Use CARS and AIM to study
   3. Or you can use other online courses out there
4. Things to prepare (for when you pass your exam)
   1. Print and fill up 2 forms
      • Application for aviation document booklet
      • Conversion of a FAA Airman Certificate
   2. Supporting documents
      • Passport
      • FAA Commercial Pilot Licence
      • Logbook
      • Passport size photo (Google “transport canada aviation booklet application” to see the requirement for the photo)
5. On the day of the exam
   • Be there 10 minutes early
   • Relax, enjoy and ace the exam! (Which should be quite straight forward for you if you studied)

Step 3: After Passing The Exam, 60% To Pass

1. You will get your results after you finish
2. Show them the forms and your supporting documents you prepared. They will take whatever they need.
3. Go home and celebrate!!

That’s it!! You probably need to wait for another month or two before your blue book (aka aviation document booklet) arrive in your mail. Only then can you start flight training. In the meantime, you can start ground school.

Recap

Medical Exam → Receive medical certificate → Book for written exam → Study → Pass the exam → Apply for conversion and Aviation Document Booklet

• No flight test needed
• No need to enroll into a flight school
• No recommendation letter needed
• The medical examiner WILL NOT give you your medical certificate immediately

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