How to Get a Class 7 Learner's Licence in Alberta (2026 Steps)
How do you get a Class 7 learner's licence in Alberta?
You must be 14 or older, and a parent or guardian must consent if you are under 18. Study the Driver's Guide, then take the knowledge test at a registry agent: 30 multiple-choice questions, and you need 25 correct to pass. Pass a vision test, then buy your licence card. You get a temporary licence for 30 days, and the card should arrive in 21 business days.
Where these Alberta rules come from
The steps and restrictions come from the Class 7 learner's licence page of Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors. The test details come from the knowledge test page. The consent, supervisor age, night-driving and 12-month rules come from the Operator Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation. The Driver's Guide (2026), the alberta.ca pages on licensing steps and ID requirements, and the registry agent product catalogue (fees effective October 1, 2026) add the other details. This post is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (alberta.ca) before you drive.
Age and parent consent for a Class 7 licence
You must be 14 years old or older. If you are under 18 and apply for your first licence, a parent or legal guardian must come with you to the registry office, show proof of guardianship and sign a consent form. The parent or guardian can withdraw that consent in writing until you turn 18. If they do, your licence is suspended. The Class 7 licence is the first stage of Alberta's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program.
How to get a Class 7 licence in four steps
- 1Study the Driver's Guide
Read the Driver's Guide to operation, safety, and licensing for cars and light trucks. The knowledge test uses questions taken from this guide.
- 2Take the knowledge test at a registry agent
Go to an Alberta registry agent (registry office), bring acceptable ID and pay the test fee. You can take the test once a day.
- 3Pass the vision test
A registry agent tests your vision to see if it is good enough to drive. Bring your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them.
- 4Buy your licence card
When you pass the knowledge test and the vision test, you can buy a Class 7 learner's licence card.
What the Class 7 knowledge test covers
The test has 30 multiple-choice questions about safe driving, driving laws and road signs. You need 25 correct answers to pass. You do the test on a computer. The Class 7 test is available in 25 languages, among them English, French, Punjabi and Chinese. If English is hard for you, audio, oral and translated tests are options. Oral tests are in English. Our free practice tests are in English only.
What the knowledge test costs at a registry agent (as of 2026)
| Test | Government fee | Service charge |
|---|---|---|
| Class 7 knowledge test, in any of the 25 languages, audio or translated | CAD 5.00 | Up to CAD 12.60, set by the registry agent |
| Oral test (questions read out loud in English) | CAD 5.00 | Up to CAD 26.25, set by the registry agent |
What ID to bring for a first Alberta licence
Bring acceptable ID to the registry agent. For a first licence, your documents must prove who you are, that you live in Alberta and that you may lawfully be in or remain in Canada. The guide to what to bring to the Alberta knowledge test lists the documents that count.
What happens after you pass
- 1
You get a temporary licence
It is valid for 30 days or until your licence card comes in the mail.
- 2
Your card arrives by mail
It should arrive in 21 business days.
- 3
Destroy the temporary licence
Do this when your licence card arrives.
What you can drive with a Class 7 licence
| Vehicle | What the rules say |
|---|---|
| Moped | You may ride it by yourself. |
| Car, light truck or other Class 5 vehicle | A supervisor must be with you: 18 or older, with a full (non-GDL) Class 5 licence or higher, in the front passenger seat. |
| Motorcycle | You must be 16 or older, and your supervisor must hold a full (non-GDL) Class 6 licence. A learner must not ride a motorcycle at night. |
Class 7 restrictions in Alberta
- Do not drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
- Keep your alcohol and drug level at zero whenever you drive.
- Do not carry more people than the vehicle has seat belts.
- A learner is suspended at 8 demerit points.
What comes after the Class 7 learner stage
You must hold your Class 7 licence for at least 12 months before you apply for a Class 5 licence. Time under suspension does not count. To get a Class 5-GDL (probationary) licence, you must also be 16 or older, have parent or guardian consent if you are under 18 and pass the road test. The Class 5 road test has a CAD 7.00 government fee, plus a service charge that each registry agent sets. The probationary stage lasts at least 2 years, so a full Class 5 licence takes at least 3 years. Since April 1, 2023, there is no advanced road test to leave the GDL program.
Key takeaways
- You can apply for a Class 7 learner's licence at 14. Under 18, a parent or guardian must consent.
- The four steps: study the Driver's Guide, pass the knowledge test (25 out of 30), pass the vision test, then buy your licence card.
- The knowledge test costs a CAD 5.00 government fee plus a service charge of up to CAD 12.60 (as of 2026).
- You get a temporary licence valid for 30 days, and the card should arrive in 21 business days.
- A Class 7 holder needs 12 months with the licence and must be 16 to take the Class 5 road test.
- Next step: practise on the free Alberta Class 7 practice test.
Alberta Class 7 licence: common questions
Can I get my learner's licence without a parent if I am 16 or 17?
Yes, in some cases. At 16 or 17, the law accepts proof that you are self-supporting, married or an adult interdependent partner instead of a parent's or guardian's signature. At 14 or 15, a parent or guardian must sign the application. Ask the registry agent which proof it accepts.
Do you need to be a Canadian citizen to get a learner's licence in Alberta?
No. You do not need to be a Canadian citizen to get an Alberta driver's licence. If you come from outside Canada or the United States, you must show suitable immigration documents to count as an Alberta resident. Documents that are not in English need a written translation from an approved translator.
Can someone with a GDL licence supervise a learner driver?
No. A probationary (Class 5-GDL) driver cannot be the supervising driver for a learner. Your supervisor must be 18 or older and hold a full, non-GDL Class 5 licence or higher. Our free practice question on the Class 7 supervising driver tests this rule.
What happens if I fail the vision test for my learner's licence?
You are referred to an optometrist or an ophthalmologist, who completes a Vision Referral form. If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the vision standards, your licence gets a condition code that shows this requirement.
What if my Alberta learner's licence card does not arrive?
If the card has not arrived after 21 days, call the number on the back of your temporary licence. You get instructions on what to do. Report the missing card to a registry agent within 60 days of applying, or you may have to pay for a replacement.
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