Policy

Clients originating from Nova Scotia (NS) who are lawfully entitled to be or to remain in Canada and have now established residency in Alberta may exchange their valid NS 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 NS 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 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 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, unless they are applying for a Farm-Restricted Class 1; 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 NS driver’s information.

Medicals

The following clients must submit a current medical report before exchanging their NS 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. 
• 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 NS 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.
• Surrender their NS driver’s licence (including valid temporary/interim licences).
  • When a client has lost their driver’s licence, an official document (such as a confirmation letter or a driver’s abstract), not dated more than 90 days, from NS’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 NS 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 NS CCMTA IRE.
  • For a DFL date that displays as “before 1988” a DFL date of 1987/12/31 must be entered.
• Enter the OOP-LIC field requirements using the following format:
  • NS/licence #/class as displayed in NS/codes as displayed in NS/expiry date in YYYYMMDD format (do not enter the CCMTA or Alberta equivalent licence class/conditions/restrictions).
• For clients exchanging a Class 1 NB 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 NS 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 NS 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 NS.

NS Classes	1	2	3	4	5, 5N	6, 6N	7, LM	8
AB Equivalent	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	No Equivalent

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?
NS	1	>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 NS Class 1 driver who does who has held a Class 1 licence in NS 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 copy of the licence or CCMTA IRE search results showing length of time they held a Class 1 licence must be sent for imaging.
• If the CCMTA IRE Date First Licenced for Class 1 is less than 24 months and the client has more driving history, they must provide documentation from NS 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.
• If a client has held their NS Class 1 licence for 12-24 months, they 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 a client has held their NS Class 1 licence for less than 12 months they must successfully complete the Class 1 Learning Pathway.
  • 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.
  • If the client is applying for a Farm-Restricted Class 1 licence, they are not required to complete the Class 1 Learning Pathway but must still pass a Class 1 knowledge and road test; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.
• Clients can use their valid (not expired) NS 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.
  • If the client is applying for a Farm-Restricted Class 1 licence, they are not required to complete the Class 1 Learning Pathway if they fail either test; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.

Table 3 – Code Equivalencies

The following table shows the Alberta equivalent for condition/restriction codes that may appear on a NS driver’s licence. When the NS 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 NS 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. 

Nova Scotia Condition/Restriction Codes	Alberta Equivalent
01 - Corrective lenses	Condition Code - A
02 - Valid as a learner’s licence	Issue Class 7
03 - Airbrake endorsement	Condition Code - Q
04 - Not valid for public passenger vehicles	No Equivalent
05 - Automatic transmission	Condition Code - K
06 - Approved turn indicators (right hand operated)	Condition Code - L
07 - Hand controlled gas	Condition Code - L
08 - Hand controlled brakes	Condition Code - L
09 - Hand controlled dimmer switch	Condition Code - L
10 - Spinner knob on wheel	Condition Code - L
11 - Pedal bar connecting brake & clutch	No Equivalent
12 - Hand controlled emergency brake	Condition Code - L
13 - Accelerator for left foot	Condition Code - B
14 - Outside rearview mirror, left side vehicle	Condition Code - J
15 - Valid for towing trailer over 4500 kg	No Equivalent
16 - Taxi operation & Class 5 or 8 vehicles	Issue Class 5
21 - Valid as a learner licence at age 16	Issue Class 7
22 - Restricted employment	No Equivalent
23 - Restricted vehicle	No Equivalent
24 - Restricted individual	No Equivalent
25 - No upgrade beyond Class 5	Issue Class 5
26 - Specific vehicle with PL/PD	No Equivalent
27 - Not valid for tractor trailer operation	No Equivalent
28 -Valid during daylight hours only	Condition Code - H
29 - Not valid on a 100 series highway	No Equivalent
30 - Only valid for employment purposes	No Equivalent
31 - Only valid on Tancook Island	Full Testing Required
32 - Little Narrows Gypsum Company	No Equivalent
34 - Not valid for Class 1, 2, or 4	No Equivalent
35 - Not valid for Class 2 or 4 or Endorsements B, C or E	No Equivalent
36 - No upgrade beyond Class 3	No Equivalent
37 - Zero blood alcohol	No Equivalent
38 - Restricted to certain radius, city or town	No Equivalent
39 - No upgrade beyond Class 4	No Equivalent
40 - Special conditions, hand controls	Condition Code - L
41 - Special conditions, other	To be determined according to  medical condition
42 - Valid for towing trailers in excess of 4500 kg	No Equivalent
43 - Automatic transmission only, for specified class	Condition Code - K
44 - Specific restriction	To be determined by restriction
45 - Have ignition interlock in the vehicle	Client to contact DFM
46 - Must be accompanied by an experienced driver	Issue Class 7

 

Nova Scotia Endorsement Codes	Alberta Equivalent
A - Valid for all motorcycles	Issue Class 6
B - Valid for school bus	No Equivalent
C - Valid for school bus and any motorcycle	No Equivalent for school bus. Issue Class 6 for motorcycle
D - Valid for motorcycle engine size of 100cc or less	No Equivalent
E - Valid for school bus and motorcycle engine size of 100cc or less	No Equivalent

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