# NAV CANADA Basic Training 2026: ACC, Tower and FSS Courses > NAV CANADA basic training guide: 6-month tower course, 6-8-month ACC generic course, separate flight service programmes, simulators, schedule and study skills. Canonical: https://www.atcpracticetest.com/nav-canada/basic-training/ Site guide: https://www.atcpracticetest.com/llms.txt **The phrase “NAV CANADA basic training” covers different initial courses depending on the career stream.** For **tower controllers**, NAV CANADA publishes **six months of basic classroom and simulator training**. For **area control centre (ACC) controllers**, the initial programme is called **generic training**, lasting **six to eight months**. Neither course alone qualifies a trainee to work independently. These are official programme descriptions, not guaranteed individual start or finish dates. See the employer’s [ATC training guide](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/air-traffic-control-selection-and-training.aspx). _Reviewed November 7, 2026. These figures refer to initial training, not the selection tests or a full career qualification._ ## Initial courses by operational stream _On a narrow screen, swipe the table horizontally to read all columns. Keyboard users can focus and scroll the table._ Career stream or phase Employer's published duration What comes next Tower controller - basic 6 months, classroom and simulator Assigned tower OJT; some need complex-tower training ACC controller - generic 6-8 months, classroom and simulator Specialty-specific course before ACC OJT ACC controller - specialty 6-7 months, enhanced simulator Supervised ACC OJT Flight Service Specialist - FIC initial 5-6 months, initial flight information course Separate FIC on-the-job instruction Flight Service Specialist - AAS initial 5-6 months, classroom and generic simulation Separate AAS on-the-job instruction The first three rows come from [NAV CANADA Air Traffic Control Selection and Training](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/air-traffic-control-selection-and-training.aspx). The FIC and AAS rows come from the **separate** [Flight Service Selection and Training](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/flight-service-selection-and-training.aspx). They must not be presented as additional phases for every controller. ## What does the initial controller course actually cover? NAV CANADA says students begin with **basic operational rules and phraseology**, taught through classroom instruction and simulators. That supports an introductory understanding of procedures and communication before a trainee handles specialised operations. The published schedule is **37.5 hours per week**, ordinarily Monday to Friday, at an **area control centre** for the controller initial stage. NAV CANADA also says training is intensive and uses regular evaluations; it does **not** publish a complete public assessment question bank or uniform pass score for all classes. An ACC trainee who progresses from generic training moves to a **specialty-specific course** using an enhanced simulator representing an assigned area. A tower trainee **may** require a further complex-tower simulator course if assigned to a suitable location. These are **not** universal stages in the same order for every student. The [full training guide](/nav-canada/training/) compares total training lengths and salaries. The [OJT guide](/nav-canada/on-the-job-training/) covers later supervised work. ## Flight service is a separate training programme NAV CANADA describes **Flight Information Centre (FIC)** and **Airport Advisory Services (AAS)** as distinct Flight Service Specialist paths. Each has an initial **5-6-month** course, generally **37.5 hours per week**, but they teach different functions. The FIC path includes meteorology theory and flight information; the AAS path includes operational advisory knowledge and generic simulation. After initial training, FIC and AAS students complete their **own** supervised OJT phases. A specialist does not automatically qualify as an ACC or tower controller by completing FSS training. See the [FSS career overview](/nav-canada/flight-service-specialist/) and the official [FSS programme](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/flight-service-selection-and-training.aspx). ## A practical, ethical study method Imagine the end of a training day with several new concepts and corrections. Instead of rereading everything repeatedly, create a short list of what you **can** explain without notes and what remains uncertain. Use active recall, brief spaced reviews and clarification from the assigned instructor. This is **general learning advice**, not a NAV CANADA-approved study schedule, lesson order or assessment method. Never substitute copied internal procedures, leaked examination items, simulator screenshots or peer-shared confidential materials for your authorised course instructions. Even a plausible internet answer may not fit your assigned facility. In January 2026, NAV CANADA [announced a simulation-modernisation agreement with Micro Nav](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/news/news-releases/nav-canada-and-micro-nav-partner-to-modernize-air-traffic-services-training-.aspx). That announcement describes **planned** technology under a modernization programme, **not** proof that the same simulator has already been deployed everywhere. ## Two original preparation exercises These are **original educational exercises**, not NAV CANADA training questions, recorded simulator tasks or official standards. ### Example 1 - Recognise the right initial course A fictional applicant is assigned to the **ACC controller** stream. Should they plan around the tower’s published six-month basic course as if the two were identical? Show which initial course applies **No.** NAV CANADA publishes approximately **6-8 months of generic ACC training**, compared with **six months of tower basic training**. The individual joining instructions confirm the actual course. ### Example 2 - Handle an unfamiliar rule A fictional trainee cannot explain a rule correctly without looking at notes. Should they memorise an unverified answer from a forum and move on? Show a safe study approach **No.** Check the **authorised course material**, note the exact question and seek clarification from the instructor. Practice retrieving the corrected explanation later. This is an independent study technique, not an operational procedure. ## Schedule, pay and course completion NAV CANADA says trainees are paid throughout the programme, and its **2026 controller** training salary begins at **CAD $58,606 per year**, rising to **CAD $61,337 after year one**. The dedicated 2026 FSS training page lists **CAD $50,200** for flight service trainees. Older overview pages may still show **2025 FSS pay**; do not mix those historical figures with the 2026 dedicated source. The first phase is full-time and attendance is mandatory. Successful completion of a classroom course alone does not confer a licence or guarantee an operational qualification. Details of remediation, curriculum and examination thresholds belong to NAV CANADA and the authorised training team, not to this editorial guide. ## Primary sources and independence - [NAV CANADA - Air Traffic Control Selection and Training](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/air-traffic-control-selection-and-training.aspx): ACC generic, tower basic, later specialties, schedules and current ATC training pay. - [NAV CANADA - Flight Service Selection and Training](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/flight-service-selection-and-training.aspx): FIC and AAS distinct initial courses and 2026 FSS training pay. - [NAV CANADA - Air Traffic Controller](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers/air-traffic-controller.aspx): full-time paid training and lack of aviation-experience prerequisite. - [NAV CANADA - Careers in Aviation](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers-in-aviation): regional tailoring, regular evaluations and the general training framework. - [NAV CANADA - Training Modernization News, January 2026](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/news/news-releases/nav-canada-and-micro-nav-partner-to-modernize-air-traffic-services-training-.aspx): technology plans, not confirmation of local deployment. **Editorial independence:** This page includes **no direct paid preparation or affiliate links**. NAV CANADA’s own instruction is the only source for its actual training curriculum.