Driving Tests

How to Get a Class 7 Learner's Licence in Nova Scotia (2026 Steps)

informational·how to guide·Published October 20, 2026

How do I get a Class 7 Learner's Licence in Nova Scotia?

In Nova Scotia, you must be 16 or older, and you need written parent or guardian consent if you are 16 or 17. Pass the Knowledge Test (CAD 15.03), online or in person. At the Registry of Motor Vehicles or Access Nova Scotia, pass a vision test, show ID, pay the CAD 25.10 licence fee and have your photo taken. The licence is valid for 2 years.

Where this information comes from

The steps and fees come from the Nova Scotia page on how to take the driver knowledge test for a Learner's Licence (class 7), the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) Learner's Licence page and the Book a Road Test page. The rules for learners come from the Traffic Safety Act, which replaced the Motor Vehicle Act on October 19, 2026, and from its Driver's Licence Regulations (N.S. Reg. 226/2026) and Driver Licensing Requirements Regulations (N.S. Reg. 236/2026). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Nova Scotia Registry of Motor Vehicles (novascotia.ca) before you drive.

The steps to get your Class 7 Learner's Licence

1
Check that you can apply
You must be 16 or older. If you are 16 or 17, you also need written consent from your parent or guardian to apply for a Learner's Licence.
2
Choose online or in person
You can take the Knowledge Test online. If you cannot take it online, you can take it in person at the RMV or Access Nova Scotia.
3
Pass the Knowledge Test
The test has two parts: the Rules of the Road Test and the Road Sign Recognition Test. Each part has 20 multiple-choice questions, and you need at least 16 correct in each part. The fee is CAD 15.03.
4
Do the vision test and show ID and consent
Pass a vision test, give ID documents that show your legal name and date of birth, and give parent or guardian consent if you are 16 or 17. The learner's licence ID guide lists the documents. When you do this step depends on how you take the test (see the table below).
5
Pay the licence fee and have your photo taken
Pay the Learner's Licence fee of CAD 25.10 (no tax is charged) and have your photo taken at the RMV or Access Nova Scotia.
6
Get your temporary document
You leave with a temporary document, and your licence card comes later in the mail.

Online or in person: what is different

Online or in person: what is different
Step	Online test	In-person test
Before the test	Nothing else. You do the other requirements after you pass.	Vision test, ID and parent or guardian consent (if 16 or 17). You cannot take the test until you finish them.
What you need	A desktop computer or laptop with a web camera. You cannot use a phone or tablet.	A visit to the RMV or Access Nova Scotia.
After you pass	Visit the RMV or Access Nova Scotia for the vision test, ID, consent, licence fee and photo.	Pay the Learner's Licence fee and have your photo taken.
If you fail a part	Pay for another test and retake only the part you failed (both parts if you failed both). There is no waiting period.	Pay for another test and retake only the part you failed (both parts if you failed both). Wait until the next day.

How the online Knowledge Test works

Start with the Application Information Form online and pay the test fee with it. When the payment goes through, you can start the test at once, or come back later and sign in with the access code from your confirmation email. You should get your results right away. If your online test is flagged for review, the results should take 1 week. To check what the test covers, try the free practice question on the two knowledge areas of the Nova Scotia learner's test.

Can I drive right after I pass the Knowledge Test?

No. A pass does not give you the licence. You first finish the vision test, ID, consent, fee and photo at the RMV or Access Nova Scotia. RMV guidance says that you cannot legally drive until you have your temporary document. It is valid for 30 calendar days, and your card comes in the mail within 14 calendar days of your visit. After that, you drive only with a supervising driver.

Rules for driving with a Class 7 licence

Under the Traffic Safety Act, a Class 7 holder is a licensed learner and must drive with a supervising driver.
The supervising driver sits in the front passenger seat. Test yourself with the practice question on where the supervising driver sits.
No other passenger may ride with you. The Class 7 learner rules guide explains the few exceptions.
The supervising driver must hold a valid licence for the vehicle you drive. A learner, a newly licensed driver or another novice driver cannot supervise you.
You must have no alcohol in your blood when you drive (0 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood).

How long is a Nova Scotia Class 7 licence valid?

A Class 7 licence is valid for 2 years. Under the Driver Licensing Requirements Regulations, it expires 2 years from the month it was issued, on the same day of the month as your birthday. For example, if you get your licence in November 2026 and your birthday is May 10, it expires on November 10, 2028. To get a Class 5N licence, you must still hold a valid Class 7 licence, so take your road test before that date.

What comes next: the road test for a Class 5N licence

The next stage is the Class 5N newly licensed driver's licence. To get it, you must hold your learner's licence for at least 12 months and pass a road test. The minimum is 9 months if you complete a Class 5 driver education course (25 hours of theory and 10 hours of practical driving). You can book the road test online. A Class 5 road test lasts 30 minutes and costs CAD 52.54, HST included.

Key takeaways

You must be 16 or older. At 16 or 17, you also need written parent or guardian consent.
The Knowledge Test fee is CAD 15.03, and the Learner's Licence fee is CAD 25.10.
Online: take the test first, then visit the RMV or Access Nova Scotia. In person: do the vision test, ID and consent first.
You cannot drive until you have your temporary document. The licence is valid for 2 years, and the road test comes after at least 12 months, or 9 months with a Class 5 driver education course.
Next step: practise on the free Nova Scotia Class 7 practice test.

Nova Scotia learner's licence: common questions

How much does it cost to get a learner's licence in Nova Scotia?

CAD 40.13 in total if you pass the first time. The Knowledge Test fee is CAD 15.03 (tax included), and the Learner's Licence fee is CAD 25.10 (no tax is charged). If you fail a part of the test, you pay for another test each time you retake it. The road test for your next licence has its own fee.

Can I get a learner's licence if I have unpaid fines?

Not until you pay them. To take the Class 7 Knowledge Test in Nova Scotia, you must not have any outstanding fines or privilege reinstatement fees. Your licence must not be suspended, and you must not be prohibited from getting a licence for another reason. Pay any outstanding fines before you fill in the online form.

I got my learner's licence before October 19, 2026. Is it still valid?

Yes. Under the Traffic Safety Act, a licence issued under the old Motor Vehicle Act that was in effect just before the new Act started continues in force until it expires or is cancelled, suspended or revoked. The terms and conditions of the new Act for the same licence now apply to it, for example the supervising driver and passenger rules.

Is a learner's licence the same as a beginner's licence in Nova Scotia?

Yes. The Registry of Motor Vehicles also calls the Learner's Licence a Beginner's Licence. For cars, it is the Class 7 licence. It is the first stage for a new driver: you drive only with a supervising driver, and after the practice period and a road test you move up to the Class 5N licence.