DRONE TRAINING

Become a certified drone pilot & fly like a pro today.

Every Coastal Drone course, grouped by the category of operation you intend to fly. Canadian drone rules are organised around what you fly and where — so the courses are too. Start with the category that matches the work you want to do.

CategoryWhat it coversCertificateMin. age
MicroUnder 250 gNone required—
Basic250 g – 25 kg, uncontrolled airspace, away from bystandersPilot Certificate – Basic Operations14
AdvancedControlled airspace, near or over people, medium RPAS to 150 kg (VLOS)Pilot Certificate – Advanced Operations16
Level 1 ComplexLower-risk BVLOS, flown under an RPOCPilot Certificate – Level 1 Complex18

Not sure which you need? The highest certificate you hold sets your ceiling, and the ground school does not repeat as you climb — so pilots who already know they want complex work often go straight there rather than certifying twice.

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Micro Drones — under 250 g

A drone under 250 g needs no registration and no pilot certificate. That is the only thing that changes. Airspace restrictions, visual line of sight, and the rules against endangering aircraft or people all still apply to you.

095 – Micro Drones

Course · 33 lessons

Get the most out of a sub-250 g aircraft, and learn the rules that still bind you when no certificate is required.

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Basic Operations — 250 g to 25 kg

Basic covers uncontrolled airspace, away from bystanders and never over them. The exam is 35 questions at a 65% pass mark, the minimum age is 14, and there is no flight review.

110 – Basic Online Bundle

Bundle · 3 learning products

Ground school and exam prep for the Basic certificate, with Transport Canada-style practice questions.

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111 – Basic Live Bundle

Bundle · 4 learning products

Everything in the online bundle plus an SOP guide and a live one-on-one training session.

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115 – Basic Drone Business Builder

Bundle · 6 learning products

Certification plus business development — from micro drones through Basic operations, with our Make Your First $10k course.

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104 – Basic RPAS Live Training

Course · 11 lessons

One hour of live training, online or in person, focused on Basic operations.

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Advanced Operations — controlled airspace and near people

Advanced is the certificate you need to fly in controlled airspace, near people, or over them. It requires a 50-question exam at an 80% pass mark plus an in-person flight review, with a minimum age of 16. Since 4 November 2025 it also covers medium RPAS from 25 to 150 kg flown within visual line of sight.

310 – Advanced Online Bundle

Bundle · 3 learning products

Advanced ground school bundled with exam prep for the Transport Canada Advanced exam.

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311 – Advanced Pilot Bundle

Bundle · 4 learning products

Ground school, exam prep, flight review prep and the in-person flight review itself.

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312 – Advanced Pilot ROC-A Bundle

Bundle · 5 learning products

The Advanced path plus the Aeronautical Radio Operator Certificate you need to talk to ATC.

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313 – Advanced Pilot Live Bundle

Bundle · 5 learning products

Ground school, exam prep, one-on-one live training and your in-person flight review.

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315 – Advanced Ultimate Pro Bundle

Bundle · 10 learning products

The Advanced certificate plus the full Coastal Drone Pro course library and hands-on training.

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304 – Advanced RPAS Live Training

Course · 11 lessons

One hour of live training, online or in person, focused on Advanced operations.

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305 – Advanced In-Person Flight Review

Course · 13 lessons

The TP 15395 flight review session that completes your Advanced certificate, with a reviewer near you.

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306 – Advanced ROC-A VHF Radio Exam

Course · 19 lessons

Study online and complete your Restricted Operator Certificate — Aeronautical.

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Level 1 Complex — lower-risk BVLOS

Level 1 Complex builds on Advanced and opens up beyond visual line of sight operations. You must be 18 or older, pass the Advanced exam, complete at least 20 hours of ground school through a flight school, pass the L1C exam and an L1C flight review. Complex operations must be flown under an RPAS Operator Certificate.

410 – Level 1 Complex Online Bundle

Bundle · 3 learning products

TP 15530 ground school, exam prep and SOPs for Level 1 Complex operations.

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411 – Level 1 Complex Pilot Bundle

Bundle · 4 learning products

The online bundle plus your in-person L1C flight review.

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412 – Level 1 Complex Live Bundle

Bundle · 5 learning products

Ground school, exam prep, SOP guide, live training and the in-person flight review.

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413 – Level 1 Complex Total Bundle

Bundle · 6 learning products

The complete path, including RPOC application guidance — the operator certificate complex work is flown under.

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405 – Level 1 Complex Flight Review

Course · 12 lessons

The in-person L1C review session, with reviewers across Canada.

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406 – Level 1 Complex RPOC Framework

Course · 2 lessons · pre-order

Build the RPOC framework — accountable executive, SOPs, training programme and safety risk management.

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Professional Development and Recency

These are not certificate levels. They are the specialisations that turn a certificate into paid work, plus the recency training that CAR 901.65 requires you to complete every 24 months to keep flying.

201 – Making Your First $10,000

Course · 73 lessons

Start a drone business from scratch — pricing, clients and the work of actually getting paid.

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202 – Aerial Photo and Video

Course · 14 lessons

Fly and shoot like a professional, taught by working cinematographers.

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203 – Mapping and Geomatics

Course · 71 lessons

The fundamentals of survey-grade mapping and photogrammetry.

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204 – Aerial Inspections

Course · 26 lessons

Become a trusted inspections pilot. No prior inspection background needed.

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220 – Pro Monthly Subscription

Course · 70 lessons

Members-only business resources, updated as the industry moves.

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210 – Pro Pilot Bundle

Bundle · 6 learning products

Six Coastal Drone Pro courses in one package.

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250 – Recency RPAS Seminar

Course · 10 lessons

Meets the CAR 901.65 recency requirement. Updated regulations, practices and procedures.

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Specialty and International

Two courses that sit outside the Canadian certificate ladder.

501 – SFOC Foreign Pilots Guidance

Course · 31 lessons

Bringing a foreign drone into Canada — guidance for preparing your SFOC application.

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602 – USA Pilots: FAA Part 107

Course · 136 lessons

Full ground school for the FAA Part 107 exam, for pilots flying in the United States.

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Not sure where you fit?

Our instructors sat on the Transport Canada working groups that shaped these rules. Tell us the work you want to do and we will tell you the shortest legal path to it.

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FAQ

Which certificate do I need?

There are three since 4 November 2025. Basic covers uncontrolled airspace away from bystanders. Advanced adds controlled airspace and flying near or over people. Level 1 Complex adds lower-risk beyond visual line of sight work. Drones under 250 g need no certificate at all.

What training is required?

Basic and Advanced both require an online Transport Canada exam, and Advanced adds an in-person flight review. Level 1 Complex requires at least 20 hours of ground school through a flight school, its own exam, and its own flight review. We run compliant ground school for all three.

Do I have to certify twice to reach Complex?

No. The ground school does not repeat as you move up. Pilots who already know they want complex work often train straight to Level 1 Complex rather than paying for Advanced ground school first and covering much of the same material again.

Do you offer group rates for training?

We do. Get in touch and we will arrange a group discount.