# NAV CANADA Hiring Timeline 2026: Test Dates and Selection Stages > NAV CANADA ATC hiring timeline: November and December 2026 invitation-only testing windows, test durations, 18-month training availability and Workday updates. Canonical: https://www.atcpracticetest.com/nav-canada/selection-timeline/ Site guide: https://www.atcpracticetest.com/llms.txt **NAV CANADA does not promise a fixed time from an air traffic controller application to an offer.** It publishes approximate test durations, regional windows for **invitation-only** testing, and separate eligibility requirements. The [official Air Traffic Control Selection and Training guide](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/air-traffic-control-selection-and-training.aspx) says a successful assessment does **not** guarantee the next invitation. _Checked November 7, 2026. Testing windows below can change; your actual invitation and the [official careers calendar](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers.aspx) supersede this snapshot._ ## November and December 2026: published test windows At the time of this review, the [NAV CANADA careers calendar](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers.aspx) listed the following **in-person computer-based ATC testing periods**, **by invitation only**: _On a narrow screen, swipe the table horizontally to see the last column. Keyboard users can focus the table and scroll sideways._ Public window Locations listed What it establishes November 1-30, 2026 Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Moncton, Gander Regional testing window; invitation required December 1-31, 2026 Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal Regional testing window; invitation required **An event listing is not a vacancy or a personal appointment.** The previously listed October 2026 dates have passed. The source retrieved on November 7 placed **Montreal in December, not in the November list**; the calendar is dynamic, so recheck it before planning travel. A city omission from this snapshot does not prove that no testing can ever occur there. For actual roles and opening dates, use [NAV CANADA’s current careers listings](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers-in-aviation) and Workday. Neither an old search snippet nor a testing event confirms a recruitment round is open. ## Published durations by selection stage NAV CANADA distinguishes the **length of an assessment** from the **gap between invitations**. Stage Approximate duration Important boundary Online assessment About 30 minutes, timed and remote Invitation deadline is individual Regional in-person test One full day, about six hours Travel and check-in are extra Pre-screening interview 15 minutes, on the same day after successful cognitive testing Not offered automatically to every test attendee Assessment centre Separate half-day session Group and individual exercises plus interview Phone language testing, if needed No universal call duration published Third-party check, separate from the centre For stages and preparation, see the [online assessment](/nav-canada/online-assessment/), [in-person cognitive test](/nav-canada/assessment-test/), [15-minute pre-screening interview](/nav-canada/interview/) and [assessment centre](/nav-canada/assessment-centre/). ## Three different timing rules that must not be mixed up The [official controller careers eligibility page](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers/air-traffic-controller.aspx) requires applicants to be **available to begin full-time training within 18 months of application**. This is an **availability condition**, not an estimate of when a job offer will arrive. NAV CANADA’s [Careers in Aviation page](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers-in-aviation) describes **up to 36 months of activity before an ATS application expires**. This concerns the **application**, not guaranteed score validity, a training start or a commitment to employ someone for three years. The **one-, two- and three-year waiting periods** apply separately to candidates **unsuccessful** at the online assessment, in-person test or assessment centre, measured from the relevant assessment date. These are **eligibility-to-reapply rules**, not normal gaps between stages. See [retake policy](/nav-canada/retake-policy/) and [results](/nav-canada/results/). ## Why the full recruitment duration varies The [official general job-seeker FAQ](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers/faq-for-job-seekers.aspx) gives a **two- to three-month target specifically for roles outside Air Traffic Services**. It must **not** be advertised as an ATS or air traffic controller hiring promise. For ATC, waiting periods can be influenced by regional test availability, assessment results, third-party language checks, operational needs, security clearance, medical certification and course scheduling. NAV CANADA does not publish a universal number of days between each stage. Check your **Workday candidate account and personal email**. Silence or an unchanged dashboard alone does not establish a pass or fail. See the dedicated [results guide](/nav-canada/results/). ## Two free timing examples (not employer test questions) These are **original educational examples** illustrating how to read a timeline. They are **not** official NAV CANADA assessments or guaranteed dates. ### Example 1 - A test duration is not a notification date A fictional candidate is invited to a test that takes approximately **30 minutes**. The hypothetical test begins at **09:15**. If it runs for exactly 30 minutes in this example, what is its end time? Show the illustrative end time **09:45.** The arithmetic concerns a sample test block, not the deadline in a real invitation or how long the employer needs to issue results. ### Example 2 - A regional window is not a booked slot The public calendar lists testing from **December 1-31** in a region. A fictional candidate has not received an invitation. Can they assume a test appointment on December 1? Show why the appointment is not guaranteed **No.** The calendar shows a regional invitation-only window, not a personal appointment. A specific invitation with a date and location is required. ## What to do before you receive an invitation Keep contact details current, read Workday and personal-email messages, and arrange time and travel **only after receiving your own schedule**. Do not resign or relocate based on a calendar listing. For selected applicants, NAV CANADA requires relevant **medical/licensing, security and drug-testing conditions** before employment; see our [medical requirements](/nav-canada/medical-requirements/) and [security check](/nav-canada/background-check/) guides. Passing assessment stages does not guarantee a job offer. There are **no direct paid-preparation or merchant links** on this timetable page. Optional practice belongs in the [free-first NAV CANADA preparation guide](/nav-canada-assessment/preparation/). ## Primary references and independence - [NAV CANADA - Careers Calendar](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers.aspx): time-sensitive event windows verified November 7, 2026; invitation-only events. - [NAV CANADA - Air Traffic Control Selection and Training](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/air-traffic-control-selection-and-training.aspx): stages, durations, progression and selection. - [NAV CANADA - Air Traffic Controller](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers/air-traffic-controller.aspx): 18-month full-time training availability, medical/security conditions. - [NAV CANADA - Careers in Aviation](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers-in-aviation): Workday and general application-active period. - [NAV CANADA - FAQ for Job Seekers](https://www.navcanada.ca/en/careers/faq-for-job-seekers.aspx): two-three months explicitly concerns **non-ATS roles**. **Editorial independence:** This website does not administer NAV CANADA assessments or have access to a candidate’s scheduled appointment. 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