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Canada · Pilot exams

The PSTAR exam: Transport Canada’s first pilot exam

Before you fly solo in Canada in anything but a glider or ultra-light, you pass the Transport Canada (TC) PSTAR exam: 50 multiple-choice questions on air regulations and air traffic control. PSTAR is TC’s code for the Student Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence for Foreign and Military Applicants, Aviation Regulations exam. The pass mark is 90%. Every question comes from TC’s own study guide, Transport Canada Publication (TP) 11919, and you write the exam at your flight school, with an authorized invigilator or at a TC Centre. It’s the first of two written exams on the way to a private pilot licence (PPL). The second, the Private Pilot Licence, Aeroplane exam (PPAER), is longer and covers far more.

  • 50Multiple-choice questions on the PSTAR
  • 90%Pass mark, then corrected to 100%
  • 14Minimum age for a student pilot permit
Where to studyHow the test works

Updated November 2026 · Written from the TP 11919, Transport Canada’s PSTAR study and reference guide (seventh edition, December 2022)

Key facts

At a glance

Set by
Transport Canada (TC), under the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) and Standard 421
Needed for
A student pilot permit (SPP), except for gliders and ultra-lights. Military and some foreign pilots write it for a Canadian PPL
Questions
50 multiple choice, selected from TP 11919
Where you write it
A flight school TC authorizes, an Authorized Examination Invigilator (AEI) or a TC Centre
Language
English or French, read and answered without help
Second written exam
The Private Pilot Licence, Aeroplane exam (PPAER), for the PPL

How it works

How the Transport Canada PSTAR exam works

PSTAR
90%
To pass you need at least 90%.
  1. It covers the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs), air traffic control (ATC) clearances and instructions, ATC procedures for visual flight rules (VFR) traffic at controlled airports, procedures at uncontrolled aerodromes, special VFR, aeronautical information circulars and NOTAMs, the notices that warn pilots of changes and hazards.
  2. The 50 questions are selected from TP 11919, the study and reference guide Transport Canada (TC) publishes for the exam.
  3. Whatever you score, the exam is corrected to 100%. At a flight school, a flight or ground instructor goes over every wrong answer with you. At a TC Centre, you get a feedback letter keyed to the questions in TP 11919.

Topics

What’s on the test

The first two topics follow the 14 sections of TP 11919, the PSTAR guide. The other four are the mandatory subject areas of the PPAER, from TC’s study guide TP 12880.

01

PSTAR: airspace, aerodromes and air traffic control

Half of the 14 sections in TP 11919 deal with where you fly and how you talk to air traffic control (ATC): signals, radio calls, aerodromes, clearances and the classes of airspace.

Key points (3)
  • In controlled airspace, flight under visual flight rules (VFR) needs at least 3 miles flight visibility and 500 feet vertically and 1 mile horizontally from cloud (CARs 602.114).
  • Inside a control zone you also need a reported ground visibility of at least 3 miles, and you stay at least 500 feet above the surface except when taking off or landing.
  • In uncontrolled airspace at or above 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL), the day minimum is 1 mile visibility, 500 feet vertically and 2,000 feet horizontally from cloud (CARs 602.115).
02

PSTAR: pilot responsibilities and aircraft operations

The other sections of TP 11919 cover your own duties as pilot: the equipment you carry, wake turbulence, fitness to fly, flight plans and itineraries, low flying and reporting occurrences.

Key points (4)
  • No one may act as a crew member within 12 hours after drinking alcohol, or while under its influence (CARs 602.03).
  • Over a built-up area, an aeroplane must stay at least 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within 2,000 feet horizontally, except for take-off, approach and landing (CARs 602.14).
  • Elsewhere, the limit is 500 feet from any person, vessel, vehicle or structure.
  • Day VFR in an aeroplane needs enough fuel to reach the destination and then fly 30 more minutes at normal cruising speed, or 45 minutes at night (CARs 602.88).
03

Air law (PPAER)

Air law on the private pilot licence exam (PPAER) covers the regulations, rules and orders, air traffic services and the licensing rules for the licence. TP 12880 lists the parts of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) and the Transport Canada Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM) it draws on.

Key points (3)
  • Air law is one of 4 mandatory subject areas, and you need at least 60% in it as well as overall (Standard 421.26).
  • Some CARs refer to their associated standards, and TP 12880 says questions may test the regulation or the standard.
  • TP 12880 also lists parts of CARs Part II, on aircraft marks and registration, and Part III, on aerodromes and airports.
04

Navigation and radio aids (PPAER)

The Navigation area covers charts, flight planning and navigating by hand and by radio, including the flight computer you bring to the exam.

Key points (4)
  • TP 12880 covers VFR Terminal Area Charts (VTA, Transverse Mercator) and VFR Navigation Charts (VNC, Lambert Conformal Conic).
  • Pre-flight preparation includes fuel requirements, weight and balance, the Canada Flight Supplement and flight plans and itineraries.
  • Navigation computers are a topic of their own: heading and ground speed, altitudes, airspeeds, time and distance, and fuel consumption.
  • Pilot navigation includes the double track error and visual alteration methods of getting back on track, and returning to your departure point.
05

Meteorology (PPAER)

Meteorology runs from the atmosphere and pressure to clouds, fronts, icing and thunderstorms, and ends with reading NAV CANADA’s weather reports and forecasts.

Key points (3)
  • The reports and forecasts covered include the aviation routine weather report (METAR), the graphical area forecast (GFA), the terminal area forecast (TAF), upper winds and temperatures (FB), the Airman’s Meteorological Advisory (AIRMET) and the Significant In-flight Weather Warning Message (SIGMET).
  • Altimetry covers pressure altitude, density altitude and altimeter settings when flying between high and low pressure or temperature.
  • Weather services covered include NAV CANADA’s Collaborative Flight Planning Services (CFPS), flight service stations (FSS) and the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS).
06

Aeronautics, general knowledge (PPAER)

The widest area: airframes, engines and systems, theory of flight, flight instruments, flight operations and human factors.

Key points (3)
  • TP 12880 puts human factors, including aviation physiology and decision-making, under this area.
  • Flight operations includes performance charts, the Canadian Runway Friction Index (CRFI), V-speeds and aircraft critical surface contamination.
  • Weight and balance covers datum, arm and moment, centre of gravity (CG) limits and maximum weights.

Test day

What to bring to the PSTAR exam

  • Photo ID with your signature, such as a passport, an aviation document booklet, a licence issued under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules or a provincial or international driver’s licence
  • Proof of medical fitness: a medical certificate in the right category or, for a student pilot permit for aeroplanes, the Civil Aviation Medical Declaration
  • Your TC file number (it begins with 5802). An AEI needs it to download the exam, and signing a medical declaration on the day doesn’t give you one

Before you go

  1. Choose a flight training unit (FTU). TC’s Flight Training Units Search lists schools by province and type of training, and TC suggests visiting the ones on your short list.
  2. Get your medical: book a Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME), or for an aeroplane student pilot permit, have a family physician countersign Part B of the Category 4 medical declaration. TC’s page says to email the Category 4 declaration to a TC Centre. Do that early, because you need a TC file number before you can write.
  3. Study TP 11919 and look up the references for each question in the CARs and the TC AIM.
  4. Ask your school whether it runs the PSTAR itself or has an Authorized Examination Invigilator (AEI).
  5. If neither can, book a seat at a TC Centre with TC’s online booking tool.
  6. Once you pass and meet the other requirements, an Authorized Person at your school issues the student pilot permit.
Transport Canada: How to book a flight crew examTo get your fee back, cancel or reschedule at least 3 business days before the exam, using the link in your confirmation email. If you don’t meet the requirements on the day, you lose the fee.

Study options

Where to study

TC’s study guide for the PSTAR is TP 11919, posted on tc.canada.ca with a separate answer key. For the PPAER, TC publishes the study and reference guide TP 12880 and a sample exam, TP 13014. Canadian Flight Trainers, Dauntless Aviation and Aviation Publishers sell courses, software and books for both exams.

OptionPriceFree to useLinks
Official
TP 11919, the PSTAR study and reference guideTransport Canada’s guide for the PSTAR: about 200 questions in 14 sections, with references and a separate answer keySeventh edition, December 2022. The 50 questions on the real PSTAR are selected from this guide, and TC asks you to work from the references rather than memorize answers. TC allows copying and reproduction with credit to TC.
No charge to read or download on tc.canada.caThe full guide, as a web page and a PDF, and the answer key PDF
TC: TP 11919 ↗TC: PSTAR answer key (PDF) ↗
TP 12880 and TP 13014, for the private pilot written examTransport Canada’s PPAER study and reference guide, and its sample exam for the recreational pilot permit and private pilot licenceTP 12880 (sixth edition, May 2025) lists every topic in the four mandatory areas, the exam rules and TC’s recommended study material. TP 13014 (fourth edition, November 2008) shows the form and type of question; its navigation exercise uses a 2006 Toronto chart.
No charge to read or download on tc.canada.caBoth documents, as web pages and PDFs
TC: TP 12880 ↗TC: TP 13014 ↗
Online courses
Canadian Flight TrainersOnline private pilot ground school, with a separate PSTAR course and a radio operator courseThe company says its PSTAR course explains all the questions in TC’s guide and has 3 full sample exams, and that payments for it go to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. It says its ground school is accepted by TC and includes the PSTAR and radio courses. The ground school page shows 4.93 out of 5 from 74 customer reviews. The 4-month plan renews until you cancel.
PSTAR course: pay what you choose, from $0, for 4 months. PPL ground school: $199 every 4 months, $299 for 9 months or $375 for 12 monthsThe PSTAR course at $0, and a 7-day trial of the ground school
Canadian Flight Trainers: PSTAR Study Course ↗Canadian Flight Trainers: Private Pilot Ground School Course ↗
Software
Dauntless Aviation: GroundSchool CanadaQuestion and answer software for the PSTAR, the recreational pilot permit and the private pilot exams, for Windows and Mac, with iPhone, iPad and Android appsDauntless says the software has more than 1,000 questions representative of TC’s, with explanations written by flight instructors. It’s a US company that charges in US dollars, so it says the Canadian price at checkout may vary slightly.
PSTAR only: CDN $28 (US $20). Private pilot, recreational pilot and PSTAR: CDN $70 (US $50)Not stated: the Windows download is unlocked with a paid code
Dauntless Aviation: GroundSchool Canada PSTAR and private pilot ↗Dauntless Aviation: Prices ↗
Books
Aviation Publishers: From the Ground Up and the answer guidesA Canadian pilot textbook, From the Ground Up, and question and answer books for the private and commercial pilot examsThe publisher calls the Canadian Private Pilot Answer Guide a question and answer book with detailed explanations of each answer, for people writing the private pilot licence exam. The Canadian Commercial Pilot Answer Guide is its review book for the commercial pilot exam. Both come with a website and app.
Not listed on its site, which links to an ebook store run by Gilmore GlobalNo
Aviation Publishers: Study guides ↗Aviation Publishers: Textbooks ↗

Prices and ratings checked November 2026.

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FAQ

Common questions

What is the PSTAR exam from Transport Canada?

It’s the written exam on air regulations that a student pilot passes before flying solo. PSTAR is the exam’s computer code in TC’s system. Standard 421.19 makes 90% on it one of the requirements for a student pilot permit in every category except gliders and ultra-light aeroplanes. Military pilots and pilots with a licence from another country who apply for a Canadian private pilot licence on that basis also write it.

Where do you write the PSTAR?

TC authorizes some flight training units to set and give the PSTAR to their own students, and TP 11919 says it can also be written at a TC Centre. Ask your school first. TC’s booking page also lists its Authorized Examination Invigilators (AEIs), a network across the country, each listed with the flight school, college or flying club it works at and a contact. If no AEI can give you the exam, you book a seat at a TC Centre with TC’s online booking tool, using your licence or file number. Online bookings are confirmed by email right away, with a reminder 3 business days before.

How much does the PSTAR exam cost?

The Canadian Aviation Regulations set a charge of $35 for writing or rewriting an exam for a flight crew permit, which covers the PSTAR for a student pilot permit when TC or an AEI gives it. An AEI may add its own service fee. TC doesn’t publish what a flight school charges when it runs its own PSTAR. The same $35 applies when a licensed pilot writes the PSTAR for recency. The private pilot exam page explains when TC’s exam charges can change. The Civil Aviation Medical Examiner sets the price of the medical exam, not TC.

What happens if you fail the PSTAR?

You can write it again once you’ve received notice of the failure and reviewed your weak knowledge areas. That’s CARs 400.04(2), and it makes the PSTAR different from the other flight crew exams, which have a waiting period of 14 days after a first failure. Use the feedback from your first try: your instructor or TC’s feedback letter shows which questions you got wrong.

Do you need a medical before the PSTAR?

Yes. Standard 421.13 asks for proof of medical fitness before any written exam. For a student pilot permit for aeroplanes, that can be a Category 1, 3 or 4 medical certificate, or the Category 4 medical declaration with Part B countersigned by a family physician. Gyroplane, balloon and helicopter permits need Category 1 or 3. If you plan to go on to a private pilot licence for aeroplanes, you’ll need Category 3 or better: a Category 4 medical has to be upgraded before you apply for the PPL. The medical for a student pilot permit is valid for 60 months at any age (CARs 404.04(6)). For the PPL, a Category 3 certificate lasts 60 months if you’re under 40 and 24 months from age 40.

Can you write the PSTAR online?

No. TC’s pages give only flight schools, AEIs and TC Centres as places to write it, and an AEI must watch you the whole time. Only the booking can be done online, for a seat at a TC Centre, and TC gives you the result right after the exam.

Is the PSTAR available in French?

Yes. Flight crew exams are written in English or French, and you must be able to read the questions and write the answers in one of them without help. TP 11919 has a French version too, linked from the top of TC’s English page for the guide.

Does a PSTAR pass expire?

Not while you train. Other flight crew exams have to be passed within the 24 months before you apply for the licence, but CARs 400.03(2) leaves out exams for a student pilot permit, and TC says they stay valid until you’re issued a pilot permit or licence. Licensed pilots may need it again. Under CARs 401.05 and Standard 421.05, a pilot who hasn’t flown as pilot-in-command or co-pilot in the last 5 years can meet the recency rule with a flight review and the PSTAR, both within the 12 months before the flight.

Sources: Transport Canada · Justice Laws Website and 6 more. Checked November 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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