The Commercial Pilot Licence — Aeroplane is the national licence from Transport Canada that lets you fly an aeroplane for pay. If you want to be paid to fly in Canada, you need it.
Official website ↗This licence is the step between flying for fun and flying as a career. It lets you carry passengers or cargo and be paid for your flying. It is issued by Transport Canada and is valid across the whole country.
Training builds on the private pilot licence. You learn to fly more precisely, plan harder trips, and handle the responsibility that comes with paid flying. You also study aviation law, weather, navigation, aircraft systems and human factors.
Many pilots add other ratings later, such as a night rating, an instrument rating or a multi-engine rating. These open the door to more types of flying work. The licence is also the base for becoming a flight instructor, which is a common way to build experience and work toward airline and charter jobs.
There are two parts. First, a written exam tests your knowledge of air law, navigation, weather, aircraft systems and flight planning. Second, a flight test with a Transport Canada approved examiner checks your flying skills in the air. You must pass both. Most students prepare for several months with a flight school before they are ready.
The licence itself does not expire, but you must keep it valid to use it. This means holding a current medical certificate and meeting recency requirements, which means flying regularly enough to stay proficient. The type of flying you do can bring extra checks, so ask your employer or flight school what applies to you.