Policy

Clients originating from British Columbia (BC) who are lawfully entitled to be or to remain in Canada and have now established residency in Alberta may exchange their valid BC driver’s licence for an Alberta driver’s licence of an equivalent class.

• See Table 1 - Driver Licence Equivalencies to determine Alberta’s equivalent driver's licence class.
• See Table 2 – Class 1 Equivalencies for Class 1 Learning Pathway; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.
• See Table 3 - Code Equivalencies to determine Alberta’s equivalent condition/restriction codes.
• When a BC driver’s licence has not been valid within the last three years, full testing is required; see 3.15.02 Out of Province Operator First.
  • When a client has passed their vision and Class 7 knowledge test and has had the Class 7 licence issued, the client may take a road test for the class of licence (or lower class) that they held at the time their licence expired (this does not apply to the Class 6 motorcycle licence category). The client must meet all applicable licensing requirements, including passing the knowledge test for that class of licence; see 3.00.01 Driver Licence Classifications.
    • If the client fails the knowledge or road test for a Class 1 they must complete the Class 1 Learning Pathway to retain that Class of licence; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.
• Clients have a 10-day waiting period when reclassifying their Alberta non-GDL Class 5 or 6 to an Alberta Class 1, 2, 3, or 4 driver’s licence.
  • During this period Alberta confirms the client’s BC driver’s information.

Medicals

The following clients must submit a current medical report before exchanging their BC driver’s licence:

• Clients with a medical condition or physical disability that may affect their ability to drive.
• Clients exchanging for an Alberta 1, 2 or 4 driver’s licence.
• Clients who are 75 years of age or older.

Licensing Requirements

A client must:

• Provide acceptable identification; see 2.05.02 Acceptable Identification/Enrolment - Section .
• Be 18 years of age or older.
  • When the client is less than 18 years of age, consent for a minor, proof of self-sufficiency or marriage, as is applicable, is required; see 2.00.02 Minor - Consent/Self Sufficiency.
• Meet all licence class requirements for the class of driver’s licence being applied for; see 3.00.01 Driver Licence Classifications.
• Pass a vision screening and disclose all medical conditions/physical disabilities that may affect their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle; see 3.05.05 Medicals/Visions.
• Provide proof of date first licenced or length of time licenced to determine if they should be placed in the GDL Program; see 3.20.02 Graduated Driver Licence (GDL) Program and 3.05.04 Date First Licenced (DFL).
  • Clients exchanging a BC Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 driver’s licence are not subject to the GDL Program.
  • Clients exchanging a non-GDL licence with less than two years of driving experience or have been suspended/received a traffic contravention in the past year are automatically placed in the GDL Program. 
• For Class 1 drivers, provide proof of length of time licenced in that Class to determine if they are required to complete the Class 1 Learning Pathway; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.
  • Prior to issuing an Alberta Class 1 driver’s licence, see Table 2 – Class 1 Equivalencies for Class 1 Learning Pathway below.
• Surrender their BC driver’s licence (including valid temporary/interim licenses).
  • When a client has lost their BC driver’s licence, an official document (such as a confirmation letter or a driver's abstract), not dated more than 90 days, from BC’s licensing authority detailing the content of the driver’s licence may be accepted in place of the lost driver’s licence.

A registry agent must securely retain surrendered out of province licences for one week, then shred them.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the licensing requirements the client may also have to successfully complete a knowledge and/or road test when special restrictions are indicated on their BC driver's licence such as: area, speed or hours of operation.

MOVES Processing

A registry agent must:

• Complete a CCMTA Interprovincial Record Exchange (IRE) search; see 3.10.20 Interprovincial Record Exchange Searches & Close Outs for Driver’s Licences (CCMTA).
• Enter the DFL date as displayed on the BC CCMTA IRE.
  • For a BC class 7 (Never Licenced) the issue date from CCMTA IRE must be used as the DFL, unless the client provides documentation from BC displaying an earlier date (if the DFL entered was not obtained from the CCMTA IRE, a copy of the document must be forwarded to Motor Vehicles).
• Enter the OOP-LIC field requirements using the following format:
  • BC/licence #/class as displayed in BC/codes as displayed in BC/expiry date in YYYYMMDD format (do not enter the CCMTA or Alberta equivalent licence class/conditions/restrictions).
• For clients exchanging a Class 1 BC driver’s Licence, enter the MLSTN field requirements in the following format (see table 2 “Class 1 Equivalencies for Class 1 Learning Pathway” below for more information):
  • Applicable milestone/jurisdiction/today’s date.
• Process a driver's licence close out; see 3.10.20 Interprovincial Record Exchange Searches & Close Outs for Driver's Licences (CCMTA)

Amendments to a Client File

When amendments or corrections are made to a client file, a registry agent must immediately send copies of the relevant support documents to Motor Vehicles. Examples:

• Proof of date of birth is required if the date of birth is different on the CCMTA search results and surrendered BC driver’s licence.
• Proof of airbrake endorsement when adding a Condition Code Q.

Note: A client must be created using the exact name and date of birth as it appears on their BC licence. If the client identifies that a name change is required; a registry agent must complete a tracked change to the MOVES client file.  If the client identifies that a DOB change is required; a registry agent must contact Registries Assurance to complete a DOB correction to the MOVES client file.

Table 1 – Driver Licence Equivalencies

The below table displays the Alberta licence class equivalencies for licence classes from BC.

BC Classes	1	2	3	4	5, 7N	6, 8N	7, 8L, 5LDL
AB Equivalent	1	2	3	4	5	6	7

• A British Columbia Class 1 with both of the following restrictions must be exchanged for an Alberta Class 1 with condition code B (excludes hauling of dangerous goods) and condition code N (excludes Class 2 and 4).
  • 16 - Not permitted to operate Class 2 or 4.
  • 37 - Not permitted to transport dangerous goods.
• A British Columbia Class 1 restricted to towing a gooseneck trailer must be exchanged for an Alberta Class 3 or an Alberta Class 5 driver’s licence.
  • Alberta Class 3 for vehicles with more than 2 axles.
  • Alberta Class 5 for vehicles with 2 axles.
• A British Columbia Class 1 with all of the following restrictions must be exchanged for an Alberta Class 5 driver’s licence:
  • 16 - Not permitted to operate Class 2 or 4.
  • 51 - Oil & gas in convoy only north of 55 max 80 km/h permitted to operate.
  • 15 - Vehicles with air brakes.
• A British Columbia Class 7N when the client has less than two years driving experience is equivalent to an Alberta Class 5 GDL licence. When the client has more than two years driving experience, the licence is equivalent to a Class 5 non-GDL; see 3.20.02 Graduated Driver Licence (GDL) Program. 
• A British Columbia Class 5LDL is equivalent to an Alberta Class 7 learner's licence.

Table 2 – Class 1 Equivalencies for Class 1 Learning Pathway

Jurisdiction	Class	Length of time Licenced in Class	Class 1 Knowledge and Road Test?	Class 1 Learning Pathway?
BC	1 with ELT designation	N/A	No	No
	1 without ELT designation	>24 months	No	No
		12-24 months	Yes	Yes (if client failed Class 1 knowledge or road test. May apply for the Experience and Equivalency Program.)
		< 12 months	Yes	Yes

• A BC Class 1 driver’s licence with ELT designation, regardless of the length of time licenced, does not require a knowledge or road test, or the Class 1 Learning Pathway.
  • A registry agent must add the OOPELT1 milestone in the MLSTN field, which will result in the ELT1 designation being printed on the Alberta driver’s licence. A copy of the licence or CCMTA IRE search results showing successful completion of ELT must be sent for imaging.
• A BC Class 1 driver who does not have an ELT designation but has held a Class 1 licence in BC for more than 24 months is not required to complete a knowledge test, road test, or the Class 1 Learning Pathway.
  • A registry agent must enter the MANLOOP1 milestone in the MLSTN field. The Alberta driver’s licence will print with no designation.
• A BC Class 1 driver who does not have an ELT designation and has held a Class 1 licence in BC for 12 – 24 months must complete a Class 1 knowledge and road test. If they fail either the knowledge test or road test, they must complete the Class 1 Learning Pathway through the Experience and Equivalency program; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.
  • If client passes the knowledge and road test, when processing the licence exchange, a registry agent must enter the MANLOOP1 milestone in the MLSTN field. The Alberta driver’s licence will print with no designation.
  • If the CCMTA IRE Issue Date is less than 24 months and the client has more driving history, they must provide an official document (such as a confirmation letter or a driver’s abstract) from BC that states when they first obtained a Class 1 driver’s licence. A copy must be sent to Motor Vehicles and attached as a support document to the service.
• A BC Class 1 driver who does not have an ELT designation and has held a Class 1 licence in BC for less than 12 months must complete the Class 1 Learning Pathway starting at the Entry Program.
  • The licence must be exchanged and reclassed to the next allowable class. A Class 1 knowledge and road test must be completed as part of the Class 1 Learning Pathway; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.
• Clients can use their valid (not expired) BC driver’s licence for the road test.
• If a client fails either the knowledge or road test, they must be issued the next allowable Class of licence in Alberta.
  • A registry agent must place a five year alert on the client file stating “Client has failed the out of province Class 1 testing and cannot reclass to a Class 1 driver’s licence without successfully completing the Class 1 Learning Pathway and passing the Class 1 knowledge and road test.” 
    • If the client passed the knowledge test but failed the road test, the knowledge test permit results are still valid for one year from the date validated as passed.

Table 3 – Code Equivalencies

The following table shows the Alberta equivalent for condition/restriction codes that may appear on a BC driver’s licence. When the BC driver’s licence has a condition/restriction code, an equivalent Alberta condition/restriction code must be placed on the Alberta driver’s licence.

When no Alberta Equivalent code appears in Table 3 – Code Equivalences for a specific endorsement/restriction/condition code on a client’s BC driver’s licence, the registry agent must question the client to determine the reason/purpose of the code.

For more information on the Alberta equivalent codes, including requirements for adding and removing, see QR 3.3 Condition Codes / Endorsements. 

British Columbia Condition/Restriction Codes	Alberta Equivalent
6 - Ignition interlock is required.	Client to contact DFM
10 - Operation of motorcycle, daylight hours, no passengers	No Equivalent
11 - Operation of motorcycle, supervised by Class 6 driver, maximum 60 km/h	No Equivalent
12 - Daylight hours only	Condition Code - H
13 - Passenger prohibited on motorcycles	No Equivalent
14 - Not permitted on hwy 99 south of Vancouver or on hwy 1 east of Vancouver or west of hwy 9	No Equivalent
15 - Airbrake endorsement	Condition Code - Q
16 - Not permitted to operate Class 2 or 4	Condition Code - N
17 - Not permitted to operate buses	No Equivalent
18 - Permitted to operate single trucks with air brakes on industrial roads	No Equivalent
19 - Permitted to operate truck trailer with air brakes on industrial roads	No Equivalent
20 - Permitted to operate truck trailer of any GVW without air brakes	No Equivalent
21 - Corrective lenses	Condition Code - A
“21 : Ignition Interlock Required” in the comment section of the BC response	Client to contact DFM
22 – Ignition interlock [1 - see note below]	Client to contact DFM
23 - Hearing aid	No Equivalent
24 - Class 6 or 8 restricted to motor scooters only	No Equivalent
25 - Fitted prosthesis leg brace required	No Equivalent
26 - Specified vehicle modifications required	To be determined according to vehicle modifications
28 - Automatic transmission [2 - see note below]	Condition Code - K
35 - Speed maximum 60 km/h	No Equivalent
36 - Speed maximum 80 km/h	No Equivalent
37 - Not permitted to transport dangerous goods	No Equivalent
38 - GLP Class 8L motorcycle learner’s licence restriction	No Equivalent
39 - GLP qualified supervisor age 25+ required	No Equivalent
40 - GLP no operation of motor vehicle with alcohol in body	No Equivalent
41 - GLP must clearly display official new driver sign	No Equivalent
43 - GLP Class 7 learner’s licence restricted to 5 am to midnight	No Equivalent
44 - GLP no alcohol in body, must display new driver sign	No Equivalent
45 - GLP 1 passenger unless supervisor age 25+ (family exempt)	No Equivalent
46 – 0 BAC must display “L” sign; no electrical device.	No Equivalent
51 - Conditions are written on licence and may be used as an endorsement or restriction	To be determined according to restrictions or endorsement noted

 [1] When the CCMTA IRE search indicates a Code 22 – Ignition Interlock, the driver’s licence must not be exchanged and the client must be directed to contact DFM to make licensing arrangements. A “22” in the comment section of the BC response does not relate to the Ignition Interlock Program unless the text indicates “Ignition Interlock.”

[2] When the CCMTA IRE search indicates a comment that reads “Class 1 Automatic Transmission Only”, a condition code R must be added to the driver record. This applies even if the client is not obtaining a Class 1 licence in Alberta, and regardless of if there is a restriction code 28 on the BC licence or not.

For condition/restriction codes that may appear on the CCMTA IRE search, see 3.10.20 Interprovincial Record Exchange Searches & Close Outs for Driver’s Licences (CCMTA) and QR 3.6 CCMTA Condition Code Equivalencies.

Imaging

All supporting documents, including documentation from other jurisdiction showing driver record information (such as confirmation letters/driver’s abstracts) must be sent for imaging; see the appropriate sub-section in 1.15 Imaging.

Date Originally Issued: Feb 08, 2011
Date Last Revised: Apr 01, 2025