3.10.06 Northwest Territories Driver's Licence
Policy
Clients originating from Northwest Territories (NT) who are lawfully entitled to be or to remain in Canada and have now established residency in Alberta may exchange their valid NT 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 NT 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, unless they are applying for a Farm-Restricted Class 1; see 3.20.06 Class 1 Learning Pathway.
- 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.
- 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 NT driver’s information.
Note:
Residents of the Northwest Territories, who are in Alberta to take Class 1 driver training, are eligible to take a Class 1 road test in Alberta without exchanging their valid NT driver’s licence for an Alberta licence; see 3.25.03 Road Test Permits / Bookings & 3.25.04 Government Road Tests.
Medicals
The following clients must submit a current medical report before exchanging their NT 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 NT 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 NT 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 NT’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 NT 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 NT CCMTA IRE.
- For a NT Class 7 learner’s licence the earliest date available for 7/1 must be entered.
- For a NT Class 5 licence the earliest date available for either 5/F or 5/2 must be entered.
- Enter the OOP-LIC field requirements using the following format:
- NT/licence #/class as displayed in NT/codes as displayed in NT/expiry date in YYYYMMDD format (do not enter the CCMTA or Alberta equivalent licence class/conditions/restrictions).
- For clients exchanging a Class 1 NT 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 NT 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 NT licence.
|
Table 1 – Driver Licence Equivalencies
The below table displays the Alberta licence class equivalencies for licence classes from NT.
| NT Classes | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| AB Equivalent | 1 | 2 | 34 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
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? |
| NT | 1 | >24 months | No | No |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-24 months | Yes | Yes (if client failed enhanced knowledge or road test. May apply for Experience and Equivalency Program.) | ||
| < 12 months | Yes | Yes |
- A NT Class 1 driver who does who has held a Class 1 licence in NT 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 Issue Date is less than 24 months and the client has more driving history, they must provide documentation from NT 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 NT 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 NT 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) NT 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.
- 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.”
Table 3 – Code Equivalencies
The following table shows the Alberta equivalent for condition/restriction codes that may appear on a NT driver’s licence. When the NT 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 NT 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.
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Northwest Territories Endorsement Codes Alberta Equivalent A - Adequate lenses Condition Code A B - Restricted to operating in NT Full Testing Required C - Requires periodic medical Condition Code - C D - Daylight driving only Condition Code - H F - Speed zones of 70 km/h or less No Equivalent G - Restricted to 100 km of address on licence No Equivalent H - Restricted from transporting dangerous goods for medical reasons No Equivalent I - Required to participate in interlock program Client to contact DFM J - Right and left outside mirrors required Condition Code - J K - Automatic transmission required Condition Code - K L - Adequate hand controls required Condition Code - L M - Under review Condition Code - M N - Restricted from carrying passengers for hire Condition Code - N Q - Airbrake endorsement Condition Code - Q S - School bus Condition Code - S U - Other conditions – must have card attached To be determined according to medical condition V - Extended length vehicle permitted No Equivalent W - Restricted from commercial operation in United States of America for medical reasons Condition Code - W
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
