Aviation Schools and Programs in Canada

Aviation Studies in Canada

Study aviation in Canada at Conestoga College.

Studying aviation in Canada means combining two things that are awarded by different bodies. Pilot licences are issued by Transport Canada, the federal regulator, after flight training at a flight school. The academic qualification, a two-year diploma or a four-year degree, comes from a college or university and adds aviation theory, business or management to the flying.

SpainExchange lists 2 schools in Canada with aviation programmes: the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Conestoga College in Ontario. Both teach in English.

Pilot licences

Transport Canada issues the permits and licences and sets a minimum age for each: 14 for the Student Pilot Permit, 17 for the Private Pilot Licence (aeroplane), 18 for the Commercial Pilot Licence (aeroplane) and 21 for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (aeroplane). Before a licence is issued the applicant must provide proof of age and citizenship and of medical fitness, and must have met the knowledge, skill and experience requirements. Medical fitness is assessed by a Civil Aviation Medical Examiner designated by Transport Canada.

Ratings are added to the licence for particular conditions and aircraft, for example the night rating, the multi-engine rating and the instrument rating.

How programmes are organised

The two schools show the usual models.

• Degree with external flight training. UFV offers a Bachelor of Business Administration (Aviation), which lasts 4 years, and a Business Administration in Aviation diploma, which lasts 2 years. Students take their Private and Commercial Pilot Licence training at an external flight school of their choice, before, during or after their UFV courses, and receive 30 to 36 academic credits towards the degree for it (30 towards the diploma). The business courses include airline management, airport planning and international air transportation, and co-op semesters give paid work experience in business roles
• College diploma with a partner flight school. Conestoga College offers Commercial Flight Operations, a two-year programme that leads to an Ontario College Diploma and is taught at its Milton campus, with some training at Burlington Executive Airport. Flight training is optional and is done with the college's partner, Spectrum Airways; it qualifies the student to apply for a Canadian Commercial Pilot Licence with a multi-engine instrument rating

Admission for international students

UFV states that both of its aviation programmes are open to international students. The degree starts in January and September; the diploma also has a May start. International students must choose a flight school that has designated learning institution (DLI) status, and UFV links to a list of such schools. Conestoga describes Commercial Flight Operations as a highly competitive programme, with applications due by 1 February for a September start; applicants from abroad should ask the college whether the intake is open to them.

Most foreign nationals need a study permit, which requires enrolment at a DLI. The application fee is CAN$150 (Government of Canada, checked October 2026).

Costs

Flight training is paid separately from tuition, and it is the larger part of the budget. Conestoga states that the fees of its partner flight school total approximately CAN$80,000 plus tax over two years, in addition to college tuition. The figure is based on an average student who completes 240 hours of flight and simulator time to obtain the Private Pilot Licence, the Commercial Pilot Licence and the night, multi-engine and instrument ratings (2026-27 academic year). At UFV the cost of flying depends on the flight school the student chooses.

For living costs, EduCanada, the Government of Canada's study portal, advises budgeting a minimum of CAN$23,000 per year (2026).

Pilots who already hold a licence

A Canadian licence is not automatic for pilots trained elsewhere. Transport Canada may credit training if the licence comes from a member country of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and holders of a certificate from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may be able to convert it under a licensing agreement between the two countries. At Conestoga, students who hold a Private Pilot Licence can apply for credit transfers for the related ground school courses.

Careers

According to UFV, graduates may work in corporate travel or charter flights, airport administration and operations management, and, once they have built up flight hours, for major airlines or as corporate jet captains. The university cites a Boeing forecast that airlines will need to hire more than 600,000 new pilots worldwide over the next two decades, 127,000 of them in North America.

Frequently asked questions

How old do I have to be to become a commercial pilot in Canada?

The minimum age for the Commercial Pilot Licence (aeroplane) is 18, and for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence it is 21, according to Transport Canada.

Can international students train as pilots in Canada?

Yes. UFV states that its aviation degree and diploma are open to international students, who must do their flight training at a flight school with designated learning institution status.

How much does pilot training cost in Canada?

It depends on the flight school and the hours flown. As an example, Conestoga College gives approximately CAN$80,000 plus tax for the flight training in its two-year programme, in addition to tuition (2026-27).

How long does an aviation programme take?

A college or university diploma takes 2 years and a bachelor's degree 4 years. The pilot licences can be completed within that time.