ROC-A Preparation Guide
Choose a study path using official material and free resources.
See how RIC-21, the quick reference, practice questions and the optional course fit together.Plan your preparationPractical study material
Start with our quick reference and on-site summaries. Official Canadian sources are grouped in one section when you need to verify a formal detail.

Study here first
Use the quick reference and summaries here for day-to-day study. The official source links remain available below for formal verification.
Choose a study path using official material and free resources.
See how RIC-21, the quick reference, practice questions and the optional course fit together.Plan your preparationTry eight original sample questions with answers and explanations.
A short free study exercise, separate from the paid course and the official examination.Try the free practice sampleUse this two-page reference for the phonetic alphabet, number pronunciation and standard procedural words.
Created by ROC-A Exam Canada as a focused study aid based on ISED RIC-21. Open it in your browser or save a copy for review.Open the quick reference (opens in a new tab)Review the ICAO spelling words used to communicate letters clearly over radio.
Practice each word aloud and connect it to the letter it represents. Clear, consistent pronunciation matters more than speed.View the phonetic alphabet (PDF) (opens in a new tab)Build confidence saying figures and key radio terms in a predictable, unambiguous way.
Use the quick reference above for standard number pronunciations, then practice them in complete calls rather than in isolation.View number pronunciations (PDF) (opens in a new tab)Understand the difference between distress and urgency communications.
MAYDAY identifies grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance. PAN PAN identifies an urgent safety message that does not require immediate assistance.Recognize the standard readability scale and how to request a radio check.
Readability runs from 1 (unreadable), through 2 (readable intermittently), 3 (readable with difficulty) and 4 (readable), to 5 (perfectly readable). Listen first, include your call sign and keep the check within 10 seconds.Learn the procedural words and structured call patterns used in aeronautical communications.
Standard phraseology reduces ambiguity. Review the procedural words in the quick reference, then practice listening, thinking and responding in sequence.View procedural words (PDF) (opens in a new tab)Prepare for an approximately 30-minute examination with an accredited examiner.
For a virtual appointment, be in Canada, send a scanned copy of government-issued photo ID containing your date of birth in advance, then show the same ID again during the Microsoft Teams examination.View the exam overviewGet concise answers about course access, exam format, identification and location requirements.
The preparation course is optional and separate from the standard $70 CAD examination.Read the FAQOfficial Canadian references
ROC-A Exam Canada keeps the practical study material on this site. These external links are collected here for regulatory and operational verification.
Certificate purpose and the steps to obtain it.
ISEDThe official examination scope, procedures and terminology.
Transport CanadaCurrent Canadian aviation guidance, including communications.
NAV CANADAPhraseology and operational reference material.
Study support, not regulatory authority. ROC-A Exam Canada provides independent preparation resources. When details differ, current official Canadian material controls.