Mandatory Entry-Level Training for Class 1 and 2 driver’s licences

Step 1. Complete MELT program

You must participate in training delivered by an Alberta licensed driver training school. Refer to the list to find a school that provides the MELT program.

• Class 1 MELT program will take 113 hours to complete. This total does not include the Air Brake program, which is approximately 8.5 additional hours.
• Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT program will take 40 hours to complete. This total does not include the Air Brake program, which is approximately 8.5 additional hours. For details on the program eligibility, visit the Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT program section.
• Class 2 MELT program will take 50 hours to complete.
• Class 2-S MELT program will take 53.5 hours to complete.

Classroom training

The standardized classroom session is:

• Class 1: 40.5 hours
• Experience and Equivalence Class 1: 11 hours
• Class 2: 18 hours
• Class 2-S: 18.5 hours

In-yard training

The standardized in-yard training session is:

• Class 1: 15.5 hours
• Experience and Equivalency Class 1: 6.5 hours
• Class 2: 10.6 hours
• Class 2-S: 11 hours

Practical training

The standardized practical training session is:

• Class 1: 57 hours
• Experience and Equivalency Class 1: 22.50 hours
• Class 2: 21.25 hours
• Class 2-S: 24 hours

Costs

To ensure training costs are fair and accessible, the maximum amount a driver training school or organization can charge is:

• up to $10,000 for Class 1 MELT
• up to $4,000 for Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT
• up to $5,000 each for Class 2 and Class 2-S MELT

Driver training providers may choose to charge less, depending on their organization.

Step 2. Pass driver knowledge test

Once you complete the MELT program, go to any Alberta registry agent to complete the Class 1 or 2 MELT driver's knowledge test.

Step 3. Schedule road test

You have the option to schedule a Class 1 or 2 MELT driver's road test (as applicable) through the Alberta Road Test Scheduler online or in person at any Alberta registry agent.

You must provide a vehicle for the road test that meets all legal requirements and has the following configuration.

Class 1

• a tractor-trailer with gross vehicle weight of at least 11,794 kg and a:
  • 13-speed manual transmission
  • full-air brake system on both tractor and trailer
  • minimum tandem axle tractor and a tandem axle trailer
  • fifth wheel coupling device
  • single trailer with a minimum length of 48 feet and a minimum distance of 35 feet measured from the kingpin to the centre of each rear axle

Class 2

• a bus with a seating capacity of more than 24 passengers, excluding the driver. If the vehicle is equipped with air brakes, you must have either air brake training (Q-Endorsement) or a course completion certificate from an approved air brake organization.

Step 4. Pass road test

You must pass the pre-trip inspection and the driver’s road test.

Step 5. Go to the registry agent

Once you have passed the pre-trip inspection and road test, you can go to any Alberta registry agent to get your Class 1 or 2 driver’s licence.

For more information, go to the Upgrade to a commercial licence page.

Licence received before October 11, 2018

If you got a Class 1 or 2 driver’s licence before October 11, 2018, you are not required to take the MELT program or road tests.

Transition drivers — licence received between October 11, 2018 and February 28, 2019

If you got a Class 1 or 2 driver’s licence between October 11, 2018 and February 28, 2019, you will be put on a probationary period that ends two years from the date you received your Class 1 or Class 2 licence. You must maintain a clean driving record during that time.

A clean driving record is defined as:

• No high-risk driving offences within the last 10 years. A high-risk driving offence is one that has incurred 6 or 7 demerits.
• No driving-related suspensions within the last 10 years. This does not include a 24-hour suspension or the 3 day Immediate Roadside Suspension.
• No demerit points accumulated since the Class 1 or Class 2 licence was issued.

Drivers who maintain a clean driving record for the two-year period will keep their commercial driver’s licence without having to take the MELT knowledge or road tests.

• If you do not have a clean driving record, you will have to pass the MELT knowledge and road tests by February 28, 2020 to keep your commercial licence.
• If you receive any demerits, driver’s licence suspensions, cancellations or any serious violations during your two-year probation, you will have to pass the MELT knowledge and road tests within 90 days of receiving notice from the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, in order to keep your commercial licence.

If you want to check the status of your driving record, you may request a copy of your driver abstract from any Alberta registry, for a fee.

If you are identified for MELT testing, you will get a letter from Alberta Transportation with details on how to take the MELT knowledge and road tests. You will have 2 attempts to pass these tests.

• Government will pay for your first MELT knowledge and road tests. You must pay for all other costs, including the vehicle rental.
• If you fail either test on your first attempt, you will have one more chance to take the tests at your own expense.

If you fail your second attempt at either the MELT knowledge or road tests, your driver’s licence will be re-classed to the class of licence you held previously (for example, a Class 5) and you will have to take the MELT program to get a Class 1 or 2 licence.

If you transfer your Class 1 or Class 2 driver’s licence from another Canadian jurisdiction to Alberta after March 1, 2019, you will be subject to Alberta's new commercial driver training policies.

Canadian jurisdictions with MELT programs

If you have successfully completed an equivalent MELT program in another Canadian jurisdiction, you are not required to take Alberta’s MELT program or the MELT knowledge or road tests to get an Alberta Class 1 or Class 2 driver’s licence.

Canadian jurisdictions without MELT programs

Drivers with a Class 1 or 2 driver’s licence for more than 24 months

If you have held a Class 1 or Class 2 driver’s licence from another Canadian jurisdiction for more than 24 months when you apply for an Alberta driver’s licence, you are not required to take Alberta’s MELT program or the MELT knowledge or road test.

Drivers with a Class 1 or 2 driver’s licence for 12 to 24 months

If you have held a Class 1 or Class 2 driver’s licence from another Canadian jurisdiction for 12 to 24 months when you apply for an Alberta driver’s licence, you can choose to:

• pass the Class 1 or Class 2 MELT knowledge and road tests; if you fail either of these tests on the first attempt you must complete Alberta’s MELT program, or
• complete Alberta’s MELT Program and take the Class 1 or 2 MELT knowledge and road tests

Drivers with a Class 1 or 2 driver’s licence for less than 12 months

If you have held your Class 1 or Class 2 driver’s licence from another Canadian jurisdiction for less than 12 months when you apply for an Alberta driver’s licence, you must complete Alberta’s MELT Program prior to taking the MELT knowledge and road tests.

To recognize the experience gained by drivers operating commercial trucks that require at least a Class 3 driver’s licence to operate, a shorter version of the Class 1 MELT program is available.

For more information on the Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT program, read the Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT Program Overview.

Step 1. Apply to Alberta Transportation

To take the Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT program, drivers must:

• have a valid Alberta Class 3 driver’s licence
• have held an Alberta Class 3 driver’s licence or the equivalent driver’s licence from another Canadian jurisdiction for 2 or more years
• have 2 or more years of work experience operating a motor vehicle with 3 or more axles (vehicles that requires at least a Class 3 licence to drive)

To apply, please submit a completed Experience and Equivalency Class 1 Mandatory Entry Level Training Application to [email protected].

As part of the application, you will need to submit documentation that demonstrates you have at least 2 years of experience driving vehicles with 3 or more axles commercially. Acceptable documentation is:

• A signed letter(s) from an employer that states you have a minimum of 2 years work experience operating a single motor vehicle with 3 or more axles. The letter must include the employer’s contact information.
• A signed letter(s) from customers or suppliers that specifies that you operate a vehicle with 3 or more axles to provide your service to them and have provided the service for a minimum of 2 years. The letter must include the customers’ or suppliers’ contact information.
• A daily log book for a 2 year-period that meets the requirements under outlined in the Drivers’ Hours of Service Regulation or the Government of Canada’s Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations.

Step 2. Receive approval from Alberta Transportation

You will receive emailed approval of your eligibility after your application has been reviewed.

Step 3. Provide approval to driver training school to schedule training

You must provide the Alberta Transportation approval to the driver training school before they will schedule you for the Experience and Equivalency Class 1 MELT program.

Please ensure you have an approved Alberta driver’s medical examination report completed by a physician or nurse practitioner and approved by a registry agent or Alberta Transportation’s Driver Fitness and Monitoring before taking MELT training. This will ensure you are medically eligible for a Class 1 or Class 2 licence prior to investing in training.

Farmers and farm workers have until November 30, 2020 to apply for an extension to comply with the MELT program, and until March 1, 2021 to pass the MELT knowledge and road tests.

Apply for an extension

To be eligible farmers must apply for the extension by filling out the application form (PDF, 163 KB) on behalf of their employees. Email the completed application form to Alberta Transportation at [email protected].

Drivers must meet all other Class 1 eligibility requirements.

More information on the application process and how to get and keep your farmer's extension Class 1 licence is included in the MELT: Agriculture Industry fact sheet (PDF, 51 KB).

How it works

Drivers approved for an extension will have until March 1, 2021 to:

• study the Commercial Driver's Guide to prepare for pre-MELT testing
• pass the pre-MELT knowledge and road tests to get a Class 1 driver's licence
• study the MELT Curriculum to prepare for MELT testing
• pass the MELT knowledge and road tests to keep your Class 1 driver's licence
  • you will have two attempts to pass the MELT knowledge and road tests
  • the first MELT knowledge and road tests will be paid for by government, but the driver is responsible for all other costs of testing, such as the rental of a commercial vehicle for the road test

If you do not pass the MELT knowledge and road tests before March 1, 2021, your driver's licence will revert to the class of licence you held when you first applied for the commercial driver's licence (for example, a Class 5 driver's licence). You will no longer be authorized to drive Class 1 commercial vehicles.

Thank you for your interest in the School Bus Extension. The deadline to apply has now passed and applications for the School Bus Extension are no longer being accepted. New school bus drivers must refer to the “Overview” section of this page for information on the Class 2 MELT requirements.