An air traffic controller licence in Canada requires a Transport Canada Category 1 or 2 aviation medical certificate. This is specified in Transport Canada’s medical certificate category table and Air Traffic Controller Licence Standard 422. NAV CANADA requires applicable medical and licensing conditions before employment.
Reviewed November 7, 2026. This guide cannot diagnose a condition, assess an individual or substitute for a Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME) or Transport Canada certification.
Which requirements come from which authority?
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| Requirement | Who defines or assesses it | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| ATC medical certificate | Transport Canada: Category 1 or 2 for an ATC licence | Category 3 alone is not listed as sufficient |
| Aviation medical exam | Authorized Civil Aviation Medical Examiner, then Transport Canada review | An exam alone does not guarantee a certificate |
| Pre-employment drug screening | NAV CANADA, including cannabis for safety-sensitive roles | Separate from aviation medical certification |
| Security clearance | NAV CANADA's employer selection process | Separate from both medical and drug checks |
The NAV CANADA controller careers eligibility list requires candidates to meet Transport Canada medical requirements and pass an initial drug screening including cannabis, plus ongoing employer policy requirements. Its selection page treats medical/licensing, security clearance and drug testing as distinct pre-employment conditions.
How the Canadian aviation medical process works
Transport Canada’s How to Apply explains the initial medical process:
- Contact an authorized CAME for a medical exam following the applicable instructions.
- Provide accurate information on relevant medical history and medication to the examining professional.
- The examiner submits the medical report; Transport Canada reviews and determines medical fitness, sometimes after requesting additional tests.
- When appropriate, a certificate can be issued with restrictions or limitations. Completing the appointment itself does not imply certification.
Transport Canada’s ATC licensing standard calls for a Category 1 or 2 medical certificate. A different aviation permit’s Category 3 medical does not automatically meet that ATC licence requirement. This category statement is specific to the controller licence; requirements for a flight service specialist or other job must be checked separately.
Glasses, hearing, treatment and individual circumstances
Transport Canada’s initial medical guidance asks candidates to have details such as a lens prescription where applicable and lists possible certificate restrictions, including wearing required glasses. Therefore, glasses alone do not establish disqualification.
Vision, hearing, medical history, treatments and any necessary specialist reports are assessed under applicable Canadian aviation medical standards. This guide cannot decide whether a specific condition, medication or diagnosis meets certification standards.
Do not start, stop or change medication to influence an exam without advice from your treating clinician. Give an accurate history to the qualified examiner; ask about any missing records or follow-up tests through official channels. A past medical diagnosis does not allow this site to predict a pass or fail.
When is the medical examination needed?
NAV CANADA says selected candidates must meet medical and licensing requirements before employment. Its public selection overview does not publish one universal examination appointment date for every applicant or promise that an earlier test pass guarantees a job.
Follow the individual instructions from NAV CANADA, the appointed medical professional and Transport Canada rather than independently assuming when to schedule or whom to pay. For timing context see selection timeline and assessment results.
Two original learning examples - not medical assessments
These fictional educational examples explain document and process distinctions. They are not a vision or hearing test, not medical advice, and do not determine eligibility.
Example 1 - A pilot category is not an ATC category
A fictional candidate holds a Category 3 medical associated with another aviation permit. Does that by itself satisfy the published medical certificate requirement for an air traffic controller licence?
Show the medical category explanation
No. Transport Canada's ATC licence standard requires a Category 1 or 2 medical certificate. Ask the authorized aviation medical examiner how to follow the applicable certification process; do not extrapolate from the other permit.
Example 2 - Separate medical and drug checks
A fictional candidate completed an aviation medical examination but has not received any information about an employer-required drug test. Does the medical visit itself prove that all NAV CANADA pre-employment checks are complete?
Show the separate-screening explanation
No. NAV CANADA lists medical/licensing conditions, security clearance and initial drug screening, including cannabis, as distinct requirements. The employer's own instructions determine what remains to be completed.
Official references and professional boundaries
- Transport Canada - Medical Certificate Categories: Category 1 or 2 for an ATC licence.
- Transport Canada - Standard 422, Air Traffic Controller Licences and Ratings: ATC medical fitness and licensing standard.
- Transport Canada - How to Apply for an Aviation Medical Certificate: CAME, reports, assessments and restrictions.
- Transport Canada - Standard 424, Medical Requirements: aviation medical standards and restrictions.
- NAV CANADA - Air Traffic Controller: eligibility and ongoing medical/drug/security obligations.
- NAV CANADA - Air Traffic Control Selection and Training: conditions before employment.
Editorial independence: This site cannot issue a medical certificate, approve a candidate, or interpret a private clinical record. It carries no direct merchant links on this page.