Driver Licensing
Rules for new drivers
Out of Province Licensing
Exchanging your Non-Alberta Operator’s Licence
Canadian Driver’s Licence: A Canadian licence from outside the province can be exchanged for the equivalent Alberta class. Alberta Law dictates that a new resident to Alberta may use their out-of-province licence for a maximum of 90 days before making the exchange for the Alberta licence. No testing is required but the applicant must meet these requirements:
- Provide New Urban Registry with the acceptable identification requirements
- Surrender current Canadian driver’s licence (contact the issuing jurisdiction for a copy of your driving history report if the licence has been lost)
- Be suspension free from any jurisdiction in Canada or elsewhere
- Pass a vision screening
- Provide an Alberta medical report when applying for a professional class licence or when a medical condition could affect the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle
A United States Driver’s Licence: A US Class 5, 6, or 7 licences can be exchanged for an Alberta driver’s licence; all other classes of the licence will require full testing at a later time. Alberta Law dictates that a new resident to Alberta may use their out-of-province licence for a maximum of 90 days before making the exchange for the Alberta licence. Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Provide New Urban Registry with the acceptable identification requirements
- Surrender current US driver’s licence (contact the issuing jurisdiction for a certified copy of your driving history report if the licence has been lost)
- If the license is expired Contact the issuing jurisdiction for a certified copy of your driving history report
- Provide a certified copy of your driving history report if the licence card has no issue date or if the licence has an issue date within the past two years
- Be suspension free from any jurisdiction in Canada or elsewhere
- Pass a vision screening
- Provide an Alberta medical report when a medical condition could affect the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle
If the licence is from another nation other than Canada or the United States, click here to determine what process will apply. A reciprocal country’s licence will be accepted without testing but full testing will be required for those not included on the list.
Alberta Identification Cards
A photo identification card is available to Alberta residents who do not or cannot hold a driver’s licence. These cards do not entitle the holder to operate a motor vehicle. You may not hold a valid driver’s licence and ID card at the same time in Alberta. The applicant must meet these requirements:
- Provide New Urban Registry with the acceptable identification requirements
- Be a minimum of 12 years old (a parent or legal guardian must accompany the minor under the age of 18 to provide consent)
Boat Licencing
Requirements
Canadian Coast Guard approved test. You can challenge the test, study an approved book and write the test, or take an approved course and write the test. Of course, you will need to pass the test with a score of at least 75%. There are age-appropriate tests for those under 16. The Professional Association of Boating Instructors has an approved book and the approved
tests, which are available at one of our locations. There is no grandfather arrangement, regardless of your age and previous boat experience
made for the Boat Operator Card. Once you pass the test, you will receive a permanent Boat Operator Card that is valid for your
lifetime and is good anywhere in Canada. The following is a brief excerpt from PABI’s manual giving you the time frame of when you will
need to have your card. Remember that you can obtain your card before the compulsory time
frames, and the card does not expire.
PABI’s Board Operator Card Manual
recreational purposes – you will need proof of operator competency or a “Boat Operator
Card.”Under 12 years of age and not directly supervised: Can operate a vessel with no more than
10hp.Between 12 years of age and under 16 years of age, and not directly supervised: Can
operate a vessel with no more than 40hp.16 years of age and overNo power restrictions directly supervised means accompanied and directly supervised by a person who is 16
years of age or older. Persons under 16 years of age may operate a motorboat outside their
allowed limits if they have proof of operator competency (their Boat Operator Card), and are
accompanied and directly supervised. The person providing this supervision must be 16 years of age or older, in the boat at all
times, and not engaged in other activities (such as keeping watch on a water skier). These restrictions also prohibit persons under the age of 16 from operating personal
watercraft (PWC), regardless of whether they are accompanied by an adult or not.