Checked 6 November 2026. The rules and fees on this page are from each province’s own page or from ICBC, SGI or MPI, read 6 November 2026. Alberta’s Q, Ontario’s Z and Saskatchewan’s A are on those provinces’ own pages; the other codes are from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 2026 Canadian Driver’s Licence Reference Guide, which says it is designed to be used as guidelines only. Rules and fees change, so check your own province’s page before you book.
An air brake endorsement is a letter or number added to your driver’s licence that lets you drive a vehicle with air brakes. Each of the seven provinces covered in detail here requires one for most air brake vehicles, with some exceptions (for example, some farm vehicles). The name differs by province (Saskatchewan and Manitoba both use A), and each province has its own steps. In Alberta it is Q, in Ontario Z, in British Columbia code 15, and in Saskatchewan and Manitoba A.
A major difference is the course. Alberta and British Columbia generally require an air brake course, with some exceptions. Ontario lets you choose between a course and tests at a DriveTest centre. The official pages for Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador list tests and do not mention a course. This guide sets out each province in its own table, then answers the common questions: online courses, cost, moving provinces and how to prepare.
ProSyllabus is an independent study site. It is not part of any provincial or territorial government, ICBC, SGI, Manitoba Public Insurance, DriveTest, any registry or any driver training school, and nothing here is an official test. The rules on this page are quoted or summarised from the official pages listed at the end, read on 6 November 2026.
Official provincial pages, read 6 Nov 2026.
FreeTests: Air supply: compressor, governor, tanks, dryer · Spring parking and emergency brakes · Trailer brakes and tractor protection · Pre-trip inspection and air brake tests
Canada Air Brake Practice Test: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer
Start nowabout 5 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
Air brake endorsement by province: summary
| Province | Endorsement | Course required? | Written test | Practical test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Q | Yes: licensed driver training school, at least 6.5 hours of classroom, then practical training | 30 multiple-choice, 25 to pass, at a registry agent | Yes, a one-on-one practical assessment within a 15-minute time limit |
| British Columbia | Code 15 (on-highway) | Yes. ICBC says that in some cases drivers with a lot of air brake experience (ICBC does not say how much; ask ICBC), or mechanical trade qualifications, may not have to take one | ICBC knowledge test | ICBC pre-trip inspection test, or pass a driver-certification course instead |
| Saskatchewan | A | Not listed by SGI | Air brake test paper, 18 questions | Yes, a demonstration on air brake equipment you provide, with no help and no checklist |
| Manitoba | A (S is a separate code for slack adjustment) | Not listed by MPI | Knowledge test, 30-minute limit, Class 5L needed first | Yes, the practical air brake test |
| Ontario | Z | Your choice: a course, or tests at a DriveTest centre with no course | Knowledge test at a DriveTest centre | Yes: Version 1 (tractor-trailer) or Version 2 |
| Nova Scotia | Air brake endorsement (code 03 in the CVSA guide) | Not listed | 20 multiple-choice, 16 to pass, 30 minutes, online (service down on 6 Nov 2026) or in person | Not listed on the test page |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Air brake endorsement (9A or 9 in the CVSA guide) | Not listed | Written test online at MyGovNL or at an office | Not listed on the page |
“Not listed” means the province’s own page we read does not mention it. It does not prove there is no other step. Ask the licensing office before you book.
Alberta: the Q endorsement
| Item | What Alberta says |
|---|---|
| Endorsement | Q. Needed by Class 1 to 5 drivers before operating a vehicle with air brakes. You must complete it before you can get a Class 1 licence |
| Farm vehicles | A single-motor farm vehicle does not need Q. A farm vehicle combination that needs a Class 1 licence does |
| Licence needed | A valid Alberta driver’s licence to take the knowledge test; not with a suspended licence |
| Course | Classroom training at a licensed driver training school, at least 6.5 hours, then a practical training session |
| Practical test | A one-on-one practical assessment, within a 15-minute time limit. Pass it and you get the Notice of Air Brake Program Completion |
| Written test | At any Alberta registry agent, with the completion notice: 30 multiple-choice questions, 25 correct to pass. Electronic and in English only; paper and translated tests are not available. No time limit; a retest must be on a different day |
| Cost | A government fee and a registry service charge for the test; the amounts are not printed on the Air Brake Program page. Ask the school for its course price |
| Exceptions | Heavy equipment technicians, heavy-duty equipment mechanics, truck and transport mechanics and commercial vehicle inspection technicians may be able to take the air brake tests without the classroom or practical training. Contact Examinations and Licensing to confirm |
| Renewal | No renewal requirement for Q |
For the full Alberta route, including the practical test checks and the knowledge test rules, read our Alberta air brake (Q) test guide.
British Columbia: the air brake endorsement (code 15)
| Item | What ICBC says |
|---|---|
| Endorsement | You need an air brake endorsement to drive a vehicle with air brakes on a highway (public road). The CVSA 2026 guide lists it as code 15. ICBC also has an off-highway (industrial) endorsement, generally used on logging roads. The CVSA guide lists code 18 for single trucks with air brakes on industrial roads and code 19 for truck trailers with air brakes on industrial roads |
| Who can apply | 16 or older, with at least a valid BC driver’s licence for passenger vehicles |
| Course | Required. A standard course is 7 hours of classroom theory. A driver-certification course is 7 hours of theory plus 4 hours of pre-trip air brake inspection training. Courses are run by driving schools, community colleges and companies that train their own staff |
| Written test | An ICBC knowledge test. ICBC’s pages we read do not give the number of questions or the pass mark |
| Practical test | An ICBC pre-trip inspection test. If you pass a driver-certification course, you do not take ICBC’s pre-trip test |
| Cost | $15 for each knowledge test attempt (free for seniors 65+). $20 for a pre-trip inspection including air brakes when taken separately; free when taken with a commercial road test. A licence fee may also apply |
| Exceptions | In some cases, drivers with a lot of air brake experience (ICBC does not say how much; ask ICBC), or mechanical trade qualifications, may not have to take a course |
Saskatchewan: the A endorsement
| Item | What SGI says |
|---|---|
| Endorsement | Endorsement A. Not required for Class 3 or 5 vehicles licensed as a farm truck, or for trucks with air over hydraulic brakes |
| Learners | You may drive an air brake vehicle as a learner while with someone who holds the A endorsement, if your licence lets you drive that type of vehicle |
| Course | SGI lists two steps only: the written test and the practical demonstration |
| Written test | Air brake knowledge test; SGI’s exam chart lists the air brake test paper as 18 questions. Knowledge exams can be tried once a day |
| Practical test | A demonstration without any help and without a checklist, on air brake equipment that you provide |
| Booking and cost | Phone 1-844-TLK-2SGI to book and pay for the written test or the practical demonstration. The written test can also be booked and paid for online at MySGI. The pages we read do not print the fee |
Manitoba: the A endorsement
| Item | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Endorsement | From the CVSA 2026 guide: A (authorized for air brakes), and a separate code S (authorized manual or automatic slack adjustment). The MPI page we read does not cover farm exemptions; ask MPI |
| Who can apply | You must hold a Class 5L licence before you can write the air brake knowledge test |
| Written test | Based on the Professional Driver’s Handbook and the Air Brake Manual. Not open book, no phones, 30-minute time limit. In English, French or Punjabi. A failed test can be retaken the next working day |
| Practical test | A practical air brake test. It costs nothing extra if you take a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 road test in a vehicle with air brakes |
| Cost | $12 for the knowledge test; $35 for the air brake practical test when taken separately |
| Booking | Pay and book at an Autopac agent, up to eight weeks ahead |
FreeTests: Air supply: compressor, governor, tanks, dryer · Spring parking and emergency brakes · Trailer brakes and tractor protection · Pre-trip inspection and air brake tests
Canada Air Brake Practice Test: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer
Start nowabout 5 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
Ontario: the Z endorsement
| Item | What Ontario says |
|---|---|
| Endorsement | Z. You need it to drive a vehicle with an air brake or an air-over-hydraulic brake system. A full Class AZ licence covers full air brakes on tractor and trailer |
| Two routes | An air brake endorsement course, or tests at a DriveTest centre |
| Course | From a vehicle fleet owner, a community college or a safety organization. If you hold a B, C, D, E, F or G licence, the course must be with a fleet owner. After it, take the referral envelope to a DriveTest centre within 6 months |
| Written test | An air brake knowledge test at a DriveTest centre, studied from the Official Air Brake Handbook |
| Practical test | Booked after the knowledge test. Version 1 for a tractor-trailer air brake system, Version 2 otherwise. Bring wheel chocks, a watch with a second hand and the other items on Ontario’s list, including knowing the size and type of every brake chamber on the vehicle |
| Cost | You pay a fee for the knowledge test and for the practical test. Ontario’s page links to a list of fees; the amounts are not on the page itself |
| Renewal | Since 1 September 2023, an online air brake learning module replaces the knowledge test at renewal. From age 80, the module and a practical test every year |
Nova Scotia: the air brake endorsement
| Item | What Nova Scotia says |
|---|---|
| Who can take the test | 16 or older, with a Class 1 to 6 licence (or a valid out-of-country licence), no outstanding fines or privilege reinstatement fees, and no suspension or prohibition |
| Written test | 20 multiple-choice questions, at least 16 correct to pass, within 30 minutes. It covers air brake systems, including pre-trip air brake inspections, from the Air Brake Manual |
| Online or in person | Online in English or French, on a computer with a webcam (not a phone or tablet), or at the Registry of Motor Vehicles or Access Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia’s page said on 6 Nov 2026 that the online service was down for technical reasons |
| Retakes | Pay again for each test. Online, no waiting period; in person, wait until at least the next day |
| After you pass | You cannot drive air brake vehicles yet. Visit the Registry of Motor Vehicles or Access Nova Scotia with your licence and pay the fee to add the endorsement. A pass is valid for 12 months |
| Cost | $15.03 for the Air Brake Licence Knowledge Test, plus the licence upgrade fee |
Newfoundland and Labrador: the air brake endorsement
| Item | What NL says |
|---|---|
| Endorsement | Needed to operate any vehicle equipped with air brakes. The CVSA 2026 guide lists 9A (with brake adjustment certification) and 9 (without) |
| Written test | You must pass a written test, online through MyGovNL or by appointment at an office. Study the province’s Air Brake Manual first |
| Course and practical | Not mentioned on the endorsement page |
| Cost | Not printed on the endorsement page |
Other provinces and territories
For these jurisdictions, this guide checked only the licence codes from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 2026 reference guide. Ask the provincial or territorial licensing office for the steps and fees.
| Jurisdiction | Code in the CVSA guide |
|---|---|
| Quebec | F: may drive vehicles equipped with an air braking system |
| Prince Edward Island | A: operate air brake equipped vehicle |
| New Brunswick | F: vehicles equipped with air brakes. The CVSA guide’s note for New Brunswick names an “E” endorsement instead, so confirm with New Brunswick |
| Yukon | 15: air brakes permitted |
| Northwest Territories | Q: permitted to use air brakes |
| Nunavut | Q: airbrake endorsed |
How many questions are on the air brake test?
Only three of the provinces on this page print the size of the written test. The others (BC, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador) do not, on the pages we read.
alberta.ca Air Brake Program; novascotia.ca air brake knowledge test; SGI Professional Driver’s Handbook, Examinations. Read 6 Nov 2026.
Alberta’s test also ends at the sixth wrong answer, so you can never have more than five wrong and still pass. Nova Scotia allows four wrong out of 20.
Can you take the air brake course online?
Here is what the official pages say about online courses:
- Alberta: the course is classroom training delivered by a licensed driver training school, at least 6.5 hours, followed by practical training on a vehicle. The Air Brake Program page does not mention an online option.
- British Columbia: ICBC describes courses with 7 hours of classroom theory, run by driving schools, colleges and employers. Its page does not mention an online course.
- Ontario: the online part is the renewal learning module, not a way to get Z. To get Z, take a course with a fleet owner, college or safety organization (if you hold a B, C, D, E, F or G licence, it must be a vehicle fleet owner), or take the tests at DriveTest.
- Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador: the pages we read list tests, not a course. Ask the licensing office whether any course or other step is required before you rely on study on your own.
alberta.ca, ICBC, ontario.ca, SGI, MPI, novascotia.ca and gov.nl.ca pages read 6 Nov 2026.
In short: online study material can help you prepare. If you need a course (Alberta, BC, or Ontario’s course route), check that the provider is one your province accepts. Alberta and BC list some exceptions from training. Ask the school whether its course gives you the completion document your province needs.
FreeTests: Air supply: compressor, governor, tanks, dryer · Spring parking and emergency brakes · Trailer brakes and tractor protection · Pre-trip inspection and air brake tests
Canada Air Brake Practice Test: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer
Start nowabout 5 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
How much does an air brake endorsement cost?
| Province | Official fees (6 Nov 2026) |
|---|---|
| British Columbia | $15 knowledge test per attempt (free for seniors 65+); $20 air brake pre-trip when taken separately; plus the course if you must take it |
| Manitoba | $12 knowledge test; $35 air brake practical test when taken separately |
| Nova Scotia | $15.03 knowledge test; plus the fee to upgrade your licence |
| Alberta | Government fee and registry service charge, not printed; plus the school course if you must take it |
| Ontario | A knowledge test fee and a practical test fee; Ontario’s page links to the fee list. Plus the course if you take one |
| Saskatchewan | Paid when you book (by phone, or at MySGI for the written test); not printed on the pages read |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Not printed on the endorsement page |
None of the provincial pages we read prints a course price. Ask the school for its price.
Two worked questions on the rules
Try these before you open the answers. They test the licensing rules above, not air brake mechanics.
Worked example 1 · Nova Scotia: after the test
Sam lives in Nova Scotia and passes the air brake knowledge test in person at Access Nova Scotia on a Monday. On Tuesday, Sam wants to drive the company’s air brake truck. What does Nova Scotia’s page say?
- (A) Sam can drive it, because the endorsement starts as soon as the test is passed
- (B) Sam must first visit the Registry of Motor Vehicles or Access Nova Scotia with a Class 1 to 6 driver’s licence and pay to add the endorsement
- (C) Sam can drive it if the passed test result is carried in the truck
- (D) The pass lasts only 30 days, so Sam must hurry
Show the answer
Answer: (B) Sam must first visit the Registry of Motor Vehicles or Access Nova Scotia with a Class 1 to 6 driver’s licence and pay to add the endorsement. Nova Scotia says you cannot drive a vehicle with air brakes right away. You visit the Registry of Motor Vehicles or Access Nova Scotia, show your Class 1 to 6 licence and pay the upgrade fee. The pass is valid for 12 months, not 30 days, and carrying the test result does not add the endorsement.
An original ProSyllabus question written from Nova Scotia’s air brake knowledge test page (read 6 Nov 2026). Not a question from any official test.
Worked example 2 · British Columbia: which course
Priya in BC wants to avoid booking a separate ICBC pre-trip inspection test. Which course should she take?
- (A) A standard course with 7 hours of classroom theory
- (B) A driver-certification course (7 hours of theory plus 4 hours of pre-trip air brake inspection training), and pass it
- (C) Any course, because no BC driver takes the pre-trip test
- (D) No course: the knowledge test replaces the pre-trip test
Show the answer
Answer: (B) A driver-certification course (7 hours of theory plus 4 hours of pre-trip air brake inspection training), and pass it. ICBC says that if you pass a driver-certification course, you do not have to take the ICBC air brake pre-trip inspection test. A standard course lists seven hours of theory and does not give that exemption, so you still take ICBC’s pre-trip test. BC also requires the knowledge test for the on-highway endorsement.
An original ProSyllabus question written from ICBC’s Commercial and air brake training page (read 6 Nov 2026). Not a question from any official test.
Moving to another province with an air brake endorsement
Ontario says that if you have a truck driver’s licence from another province, your Ontario licence will be the same class. But none of the pages we read says how an air brake endorsement transfers. As a practical first step (not a rule from the pages above), take your licence to the new province’s licensing office and ask whether the new province accepts your air brake endorsement or whether you need to take its test. If the new province accepts your endorsement, ask which code it will use on your licence.
How to prepare for the air brake test in any province
- Get your own province’s study book: Alberta’s Air Brake Manual (given to you on the course), ICBC’s Driving Commercial Vehicles guide, SGI’s Air Brake Manual, MPI’s Air Brake Manual and Professional Driver’s Handbook, Ontario’s Official Air Brake Handbook, or the Nova Scotia or Newfoundland and Labrador Air Brake Manual.
- Work through your manual chapter by chapter. Learn each part of the system first, then the pressures and limits in its tables.
- Practise the pre-trip air brake check out loud, in the order your province or school uses, if your province has a practical test.
- Take timed practice sets. The pass marks are 25 of 30 in Alberta and 16 of 20 in Nova Scotia. Try to get more than the pass mark in practice.
Try free air brake practice questions
These play in our practice player: press Start, answer them, and the result page explains each answer. They are our own questions written from Ontario’s and Alberta’s manuals, not questions from any provincial test.
FreeTests: Air supply: compressor, governor, tanks, dryer · Spring parking and emergency brakes · Trailer brakes and tractor protection · Pre-trip inspection and air brake tests
Canada Air Brake Practice Test: free sample
Answer 4 questions against the clock, like the real exam. You then see the right answer, the reason and your time on each. About 5 minutes · free · no sign-in.
4 questions to answer
Start nowabout 5 minThis one is free · no sign-in needed
Your result shows how long each question took you.
Practise for the air brake knowledge test
Our Canada Air Brake Practice Test has eight topic sets: “Brake basics and foundation brakes”, “Air supply: compressor, governor, tanks, dryer”, “Service brakes, chambers and valves”, “Spring parking and emergency brakes”, “Trailer brakes and tractor protection”, “Brake adjustment and slack adjusters”, “Pre-trip inspection and air brake tests” and “Driving, ABS and air system failures”. It also has three 30-question practice tests in the Alberta Q format. All are written from Ontario’s Official Air Brake Handbook and Alberta’s air brake manual. Each answer is explained, and the explanation names the manual it comes from.
It is not a copy of any province’s test, and it has no separate BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Atlantic sets. Use it with your own province’s manual.
See the Canada Air Brake Practice Test. Independent practice; not made or endorsed by any government or licensing body.
Frequently asked questions
What is an air brake endorsement?
It is a letter or number on your driver’s licence that allows you to drive vehicles with air brakes. It is Q in Alberta, Z in Ontario, code 15 in British Columbia and A in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
How do I get my air brake endorsement?
It depends on the province. Alberta: a licensed school course, a practical assessment and a 30-question test at a registry. BC: take an air brake course and pass the ICBC knowledge test. If you pass a driver-certification course, you do not take ICBC’s pre-trip inspection test; otherwise, you pass that test. Ontario: take a course and bring the referral envelope to a DriveTest centre within 6 months, or take the knowledge and practical tests at DriveTest. Saskatchewan and Manitoba: a written test and a practical test. Nova Scotia: pass the written test, then visit the Registry of Motor Vehicles or Access Nova Scotia with your licence and pay to add the endorsement. Newfoundland and Labrador: its page says you must pass a written test; ask the office what else is needed and what it costs.
Is an air brake course required?
In Alberta and BC, yes, unless an exception applies. Alberta may excuse four named mechanic and technician trades from the training; BC may excuse drivers with a lot of air brake experience (ICBC does not say how much; ask ICBC) or mechanical trade qualifications from the course. In Ontario the course is one of two routes. The pages we read for Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador do not mention a course. That does not prove no course is required, so check with the licensing office.
Can I do the air brake course online for free?
None of the official pages we read lists a free online course that gets you the endorsement. Some study books are online: Ontario’s Official Air Brake Handbook can be read online, Nova Scotia links its Air Brake Manual as a PDF, and Newfoundland and Labrador links its Air Brake Manual, and SGI’s air brake rules are in its online Air Brake Manual. If you need a course, the providers named are a licensed driver training school in Alberta; driving schools, community colleges or companies that train their own employees in BC; and a vehicle fleet owner, community college or safety organization in Ontario (a fleet owner only, if you hold a B, C, D, E, F or G licence). Ontario’s online module is for renewing Z, not for getting it.
How long is an air brake course?
Alberta’s classroom session is at least 6.5 hours, followed by practical training. In BC a standard course is 7 hours of theory, and a driver-certification course adds 4 hours of pre-trip inspection training.
How much does the air brake test cost?
On 6 Nov 2026: Manitoba $12 for the knowledge test and $35 for the practical; BC $15 per knowledge test and $20 for a separate air brake pre-trip; Nova Scotia $15.03 for the knowledge test plus the upgrade fee. Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan charge test fees that their endorsement pages do not print.
How many questions are on the air brake test?
Alberta 30 (25 to pass), Nova Scotia 20 (16 to pass) and Saskatchewan 18 on its air brake paper. BC, Manitoba, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador do not print a count on the pages we read.
What is code 15 on a BC licence?
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 2026 reference guide lists BC code 15 as permitted to operate vehicles with air brakes. Code 18 is for single trucks with air brakes on industrial roads, and code 19 for truck trailers with air brakes on industrial roads.
Does the air brake endorsement expire?
Alberta says there is no renewal requirement for Q. In Ontario, you complete an online learning module when you renew a licence with Z, and from age 80 the module and a practical test every year.
Do I need an air brake endorsement to drive a farm truck?
Not always. Saskatchewan does not require A for Class 3 or 5 vehicles licensed as farm trucks. For Manitoba, ask MPI. In Alberta, a single-motor farm vehicle does not need Q, but a farm vehicle combination that needs a Class 1 licence does.
More in this series
Sources
- official — Government of Alberta: Air Brake Program (read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — ICBC: Commercial and air brake training (read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — ICBC: Air brake endorsements, on-highway and off-highway (read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — ICBC: Driver licensing fees (knowledge test $15; separate air brake pre-trip $20; read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — SGI Air Brake Manual: Requirements for A Endorsement (Rev 2022; read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — SGI Professional Driver’s Handbook: Examinations (Rev 2024; air brake test paper 18 questions; read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — Manitoba Public Insurance: Testing for your professional driver’s licence (read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — Government of Ontario: Get a truck driver’s licence, Air brake (Z) endorsement program (updated 21 Sep 2026; read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — Government of Ontario: The Official Air Brake Handbook
- official — Government of Nova Scotia: Take a driver knowledge test, air brake endorsement (read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: Air Brake Endorsement (read 6 Nov 2026)
- official — Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance: 2026 Canadian Driver’s Licence Reference Guide (licence codes; “designed to be used as guidelines only”; read 6 Nov 2026)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
