Before you can fly IFR in Canada, Transport Canada requires you to meet a set of eligibility requirements. The written exam — the INRAT — is one piece of it. Here's the full picture so you know where the written fits in the process.
The requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Licence | Hold a valid Private Pilot Licence (PPL) or Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) — aeroplane |
| Medical | Category 1 Medical Certificate (required for IFR operations) |
| Total flight time | Minimum 50 hours cross-country flight time as PIC |
| Instrument time | Minimum 40 hours instrument time (actual or simulated); at least 20 hours in-flight |
| Instrument approaches | Minimum 5 instrument approaches during the instrument flight training |
| Written exam | Pass the INRAT (Instrument Rating — Aeroplane Written Exam) with 70% or higher |
| Flight test | Pass the Instrument Rating Skill Test with a Transport Canada examiner or delegated examiner |
The medical requirement
A Category 3 medical is sufficient for a PPL. To exercise instrument rating privileges, you need a Category 1. If you're working toward an IFR rating, get your Category 1 medical sorted early — don't wait until everything else is done and then discover a medical issue that delays your timeline.
The flight time requirements
The 50 hours cross-country PIC time is often the biggest bottleneck for candidates coming straight from a PPL. Cross-country for this purpose means flights with a straight-line distance of more than 25 nautical miles from the departure aerodrome. Hours accumulate quickly if you're flying regularly; slowly if you're not.
Of the 40 hours instrument time, at least 20 must be in actual flight (not simulator). The rest can be in an approved flight simulator or flight training device. This allows candidates to practice instrument procedures cost-effectively before putting those hours in the aircraft.
Where the written exam fits
The INRAT can be written at any point — you don't need to have completed your flight training first. Many candidates write it early in their instrument training, while the theory is fresh. Others write it toward the end. Either works, but writing it early has an advantage: the knowledge reinforces what you're learning in the aircraft.
The written exam result doesn't expire for the purpose of the instrument rating application, but your flight test must be completed within 24 months of your most recent instrument rating flight test attempt. Plan accordingly.
For the written exam specifically, you need to pass the INRAT with 70% or higher. The exam covers 13 subject categories — everything from meteorology and instrument approaches to holding procedures and comm failure. For a breakdown of what to expect, see what the INRAT exam looks like on test day.
The flight test
The Instrument Rating Skill Test is conducted by a Transport Canada examiner or an approved delegated examiner. It covers the practical application of everything on the written — holds, approaches, partial panel, comm failure procedures, and more. Passing the written first means you've already demonstrated theoretical understanding; the flight test confirms you can apply it.
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