How to add TCCA (Transport Canada) ATPL to the FAA ATPL?

A growing number of airline pilots who hold FAA (U.S.) ATP license and are working for the airlines outside of the United States due to various reasons (lack of the U.S. work permit, preference for the residence abroad, etc) seek to add a Canadian airline transport pilot license to their credentials, due to extreme easy of this process. This conversion add-on offers several benefits, including acquisition of an additional standalone airline pilot credential, which can provide a loss-of-license safety-net and, in some cases, boosts employment prospect with the foreign airlines, especially in the Middle East (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, and so on) and Asia (Cathay, Singapore, ANA, etc). This dual-credential approach often allows airline pilots who may be unable to maintain a medical certificate for one of the licenses due to local AME (aviation medical examiner) availability, or health problems which may be acceptable by one aviation authority but not acceptable by another, to continue their careers through the use of the second ATP license, ensuring minimal disruption to their aviation careers. The Canadian ATP add-on process is made relatively straightforward due to a bilateral agreement between the US and Canada, which allows for a more time-efficient and cost-effective conversion, making it an appealing strategy for pilots looking to enhance their job security and marketability. 

The Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States and Transport Canada (Canada’s civil aviation authority) is a formal agreement that facilitates cooperation and mutual recognition of aviation safety standards between the two countries. It is designed to streamline various aviation-related processes, such as certification, licensing, and maintenance standards, to ensure that both countries’ aviation sectors operate efficiently and safely under compatible regulations. Most importantly, it acknowledges that the training and licensing procedures of both aviation authorities meet the same high standards of quality and safety. By recognizing that both the FAA and TCCA uphold equivalent rigorous standards in pilot training, operational procedures, and safety regulations, the agreement ensures that pilots, aircraft, and aviation organizations can operate seamlessly across borders and have an easy conversion from one license to another. No other ICAO aviation authority in the World has a similar agreement withe FAA or TCCA.

Converting Any ICAO ATPL to Transport Canada ATPL

Besides the reasons outlined  above, a lot of ICAO ATP license holders, who’s licenses were issued by various ICAO countries outside of North America, use the FAA ATPL to TCCA ATPL conversion agreement as an easier pathway to convert their ICAO ATPL to TCCA ATPL. So, why go an extra mile to first convert an ICAO ATPL to FAA ATPL and then an FAA ATPL to TCCA ATPL, and not just directly from ICAO ATPL to TCCA ATPL? There are several reasons:

• Simulator availability. United States has a lot of jet simulator training facilities, and many of them are provided by private companies which are much cheaper than the multi-national airline training giants like Airbus, Alteon, CAE and FlightSafety. To convert an ICAO ATPL to FAA ATPL, a pilot needs to take FAA ATPL CPT course (1 week) and take either an shortened type-rating course for the experience on type pilots (1 week), or a full type-rating course for pilots who don’t have experience on type (2 weeks). At the end of the course, pilots will need to take just one computer-based multi-choice FAA ATPL exam, and just one type-rating check-ride. The type rating check ride doubles up as an ATPL check ride, so pilots get to “kill two birds with one stone” and get the FAA ATPL issued to them by the FAA examiner on the spot. Aerocadet provides ICAO ATPL to FAA ATPL conversion course at a very competitive rate in Orlando, and the full course takes only 2 weeks for the type-experienced pilots and 3 weeks for pilots without the type experience. For more details please review this link.
• The FAA ATPL exam is easier to pass. Why? Because FAA annually authorizes release of all the exam questions to the public, and the training companies like Gleim Courses are able to provide the entire question bank to the pilots for study. The FAA ATPL question bank has 1500 questions, and just 100 of them will be on the ATP exam. The exam is allocated 3 hours, but most experienced ICAO ATPL holders take it in just 30 minutes, because they are already familiar with the aviation subjects and have an extensive aeronautical knowledge, they have reviewed all the exam questions from the question bank, understood them, memorized them, and were able to answer them quickly during the test. In contrast, Transport Canada required ICAO ATPL holders to take 3 theoretical exams: SARON, SAMRA, IATRA exams. They are lengthy, and no question bank is provided by Transport Canada – they do not authorize release of their questions to the public. In fact, in Canada it is criminally illegal to obtain and study from an actual question bank. Therefore, the failure rate on this exams is much higher and preparation takes months, not weeks. And one might say that studying from a question bank is cheating. But the NTSB data does not show that it affects aviation safety in the United States. For U.S. commercial airlines, the accident rate is approximately 0.17 accidents per 100,000 flight hours for scheduled air transport operations, while Canada shows 0.3 accidents per 100,000 flight hours, which is almost double (see Transportation Safety Board of Canada for more info on that topic).
• The FAA ATPL license is issued on the spot. This is very different from any other aviation authorities, including Transport Canada, which may take weeks or even months to process and issue a license application, even after all the exams and check rides have been passed. Unlike them, the FAA is able to cut through this bureaucracy by giving an authority to the designated examiners (DPEs) to be able to login into the FAA licensing IACRA system and endorse the FAA pilot license of any grade, for any candidate, with an immediate effect. The temporary license is printed out in a paper format, and it is valid for 90 days. Within 90 days a pilot will get a permanent plastic license. But the temporary license is just as valid as the permanent one for the purpose of exercising the ATP privileges or conversion to the TCCA format.
• FAA ATPL license is independent. The FAA ATPL license obtained as a result  of the Aerocadet’s license conversion program is standalone and independent of the applicant’s original ICAO ATPL. This means that it is convertible directly to the TCCA Transport Canada ATPL directly by taking just one Air Law exam (detailed instructions about this – below), which will also lead to a completely independent standalone Canadian ATPL. This means that if anything was to happen to a pilot’s original ATPL, he/she can fall back on the standalone FAA and TCCA licenses to continue airline employment. Sure, many airlines that employ international pilots, such as Emirates, Qatar, Singapore of Cathay have an ample multi-million dollar “loss-of-license” insurance policy for them. However, if you don’t work for such an airline, a loss of medical in one country does not mean that you will lose a medial in another, because medical standards are very different. For example, CAAC’s (China) class 1 medical takes 3 full days to obtain. It involves three different EKGs (resting, treadmill and bicycle) and bloodwork. DGCA (Indonesia) class 1 takes a full day and a pilot must visit 5 different doctor’s offices, including a dentist, in order to get it. FAA and TCCA medicals take 15 minutes and require just one doctor (AME) to issue them.

So, whether or not you want to go through this process is up to you. You can always elect to go through the direct ICAO ATPL to TCCA ATPL conversion process, without getting the FAA ATPL first. If so, here is the direct conversion program on Aerocadet’s website. Just bear in mind that the simulator availability in Canada is poor and it may take weeks or even months to get an open slot.

Here Is The TCCA ATPL Add-on Process to The FAA ATPL

The conversion and add-on process is very simple. And here is the outline on exactly how you can do it, if you already hold an FAA ATP license:

1. Take and pass the Transport Canada class one medical.  Transport Canada’s medical validity periods differ slightly from those of the FAA. While the FAA Class 1 medical is valid for 12 months for pilots under 40 and 6 months for those over 40, the Transport Canada Class 1 medical is valid for 12 months for pilots under 60, and 6 months for pilots over 60. However, for pilots over 40 who work in single-pilot aircraft operations (such as light turboprops or business jets), the Class 1 medical is only valid for 6 months. Transport Canada certifies Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) to perform and issue TCCA Class 1 medicals both in Canada and in many countries around the world. The key difference is that while FAA AMEs issue Class 1 medicals on the spot, the TCCA medical must be transmitted to Transport Canada HQ for review and approval, a process that can take 2-6 weeks. To find the nearest TCCA Medical Office, please use this link. For optimal results, select your country, or the country nearest to you, then click “Submit“, on the next page select the desired city name, or simply select “All“, and leave the “Sort By” section on “Family name” selection. Click “Submit“. On the next page you will see a list of TCCA-certified class 1 medical examiners, including their names, phon numbers and office addresses. Call to schedule an appointment.
2. Schedule Transport Canada “FAAAA” ATPL Conversion Exam. The next step is to schedule the Canadian Air Law exam, called “FAAAA”. It is a brief 25-question computer-based test focused on differences between FAA and Transport Canada aviation regulations. It doesn’t cover topics like navigation, aerodynamics, aircraft systems or meteorology, as it’s assumed that FAA ATPL holders already possess this knowledge. The exam is held infrequently, once or twice a month, at Transport Canada offices in 21 major Canadian cities and it cannot be taken outside Canada. It typically takes an experienced ATP two weeks to prepare, so it’s recommended to schedule the exam at least two weeks in advance. The passing score is 70%. Here is the direct link to schedule your exam. When you click on “Choose your exam” link, you will be taken to the exam selection page. Scroll down and select the “Airline Transport Pilot License – U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) conversion (Aeroplane)” option. The exam can be taken in 21 different locations around Canada. Select the closest city for your arrival. Then, you will be taken to a scheduling software to select the date and time, based on the exam and invigilator availability.
3. Study for the Transport Canada Air Law exam. The next step is to acquire study materials, and while there are several options available, we highly recommend the course found on the PilotTraining.ca website. (Aerocadet is not getting paid for promoting this study course in any way, we recommend it simply because it is very comprehensive and it consistently yielded positive results for Aerocadet students). Here is the direct link to the study course. This course is divided into two main sections. The first, called the “Must Know” section, includes three essential knowledge briefs in PDF format that cover all the material tested in the exam. It’s crucial to memorize this information. The second section offers general knowledge for review, though it’s not mandatory for the test. Each PDF includes a practice exam, and it’s recommended to score at least 90% on these to ensure readiness. The actual exam requires a passing score of 70%, but aiming higher will increase your exam passage assurance.
4. Take the Transport Canada Air Law exam. The exams are typically conducted in the morning, from 0830 to 1000 local time. It is important to arrive 30 minutes early for registration. Be sure to bring your international passport, Canadian Class 1 medical, FAA ATPL license, and the last 5 pages of your logbook (showing the flight-time summary), as these are required for admission to the exam. Failure to provide these documents to the invigilator may result in being denied exam room entrance. The exam takes place in a single room, on a desktop computer, with other pilots and aviation students taking different Transport Canada knowledge tests at the same time in the same room. Once you have completed the exam, you need to submit your results and leave the room. This “FAAAA” exam consists of only 25 questions, so if you have prepared thoroughly, it should take around 15-20 minutes to complete. Be sure to follow the instructions of the TCCA invigilator at all times. The information here is provided for general guidance only.
5. Apply for the Transport Canada ATPL booklet. Once you passed the exam, you will be given a passage certificate by the Transport Canada invigilator. Now, you have two options: you can either submit an application for the the TCCA ATP license booklet and FAA license verification form, right there, to the invigilator, at the Transport Canada office where you took the exam, or you can return to your home country and mail it in. We would definitely recommend preparing all the supporting documents, the booklet application form and the passport style photograph in advance, and submitting them all right after the exam passage. For the application you need to submit a photograph taken by a photo studio, preferably in Canada. Studio will need to stamp the back of the photo with the studio name and the date. That’s a mandatory requirement. Obviously, you want to get the photo taken a day before the test, so you have it on your person at the time of filing. In addition, you need to furnish a short FAA license verification form, which is a one-page document (download it here). When submitting the file, the TCCA invigilator will endorse section B of the application form as a “verifier” and counter-sign the form, as well as your passport scan and the back of your photograph, to attest to the fact that your documents have been verified and it is, in fact, you who is applying for the booklet. You can download the application form here. (As mentioned above, the application directives on Transport Canada website are controlling. This article is for general information only). Alternatively, you can complete the application form at home and then mail it in to the Transport Canada office for processing. If you do it at home, you will need to find a professional (doctor, dentist, bank clerk, etc) listed in the application form instructions to act as a verifier and counter-sign your application, passport copy and photograph. You will also need to include copies of your FAA ATPL license, back and front, a copy of your Transport Canada medical and five last pages of your logbook with the overall flight-time summary. Mail your application package in, and allow up to 3 months for processing. There is no fee for the application. You should get your TCCA ATPL booklet mailed to your home address by Transport Canada free of charge.

How much does the whole process cost?

You would be surprised, but the cost of this conversion is very low. While converting an FA license to any other aviation authority, such as EASA, could cost upwards of 25k, the FAA to TCCA conversion costs just a few hundred dollars. Here is the breakdown:

1. Transport Canada Class 1 medical: $120-180

2. Exam preparation course: $100-180

3. FAAAA conversion exam: $35

4. A flight from most major hubs in the U.S. to one of the Transport Canada offices to take the exam, including one day of hotel accommodation: $250-400. (Of course, if you are already in airline pilot, you can get a free flight to Canada using an ALPA jump-seat agreement).

Adding Transport Canada ATPL to FAA ATPL

So, what about the “reverse” conversion process? Well, again, the agreement between FAA and Transport Canada is bilateral. This means that the conversion/add-on from TCCA ATPL to FAA ATPL is similar, but not exactly the same. It is much faster, but also more expensive. You will need to take the following steps:

1. Ensure your Transport Canada ATPL and class 1 medical are current.
2. Obtain an FAA Class 1 medical (you can find a local AME here), costs $150-200.
3. Apply for FAA foreign license validation through IACRA, takes 2 weeks and costs $0.
4. Complete the ATP Certification Training Program (ATP CTP) in the U.S. Takes one week and costs around $3,500. Thats the expensive part! 
5. Pass the FAA Airline Transport Pilot Canadian Conversion (ACM) knowledge test. You can take the course here, $89.
6. Make an appointment at an FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) for final verification, and get your new FAA ATPL temporary license issued right there by an FAA inspector. You will get a permanent one mailed to you within 3 months. $0.

The total cost of TCCA ATPL to FAA ATPL conversion/add-on is approximately $4,000 USD.

So, don’t forget that adding safety to your aviation career by obtaining additional standalone Airline Transport Pilot licenses offers significant by providing a safeguard against potential disruptions in a pilot’s career, such as the loss or suspension of one license or medical certification. Having an independent ATP license from another country, such as Canada in addition to the FAA license, ensures that pilots can continue flying in a different jurisdiction if needed, maintaining their professional standing. Moreover, holding dual ATP licenses can make a pilot more attractive to airlines that operate internationally, as it demonstrates versatility and readiness to fly across borders. The added credentials boost job security and open up broader employment opportunities.

Happy flying!

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About the Author:

Russ Sherwood is a captain and a LCP (line check pilot) at a major US airline flying the A320/321 fleet, with the military flying background on the F-16th as WSO. He has logged close to ten thousand hours of flight hours and holds airline, commercial and flight instructor pilot licenses issued by the FAA (US), TCCA (Canada), CAAC (China) and DGCA (Indonesia). Russ is also Airbus fleet captain for Global Air BVI, an international aircraft repositioning company, and an aviation career development mentor at Aerocadet International.