How to Get Your Class 1 Licence in BC: The 6 Steps

Getting a Class 1 licence in British Columbia is a defined process with six steps. Most people can finish it in two to three months from first knowledge test to licence in hand, and the training itself takes 5 to 12 weeks depending on the school.

Here is the whole path, in order, with what each step actually requires.

Step 1: Check you are eligible

Before anything else, you need to be:

• 19 years of age or older
• Holding a full-privilege BC driver’s licence (Class 5) or an out-of-province equivalent. An N licence is not enough.
• Able to meet ICBC’s medical fitness standards for commercial driving

The medical is worth sorting early. You will need a driver’s medical examination completed by a physician, and if anything on it needs follow-up, that can add weeks. Medical fitness is required for licensing and for employment, though not to begin training.

Step 2: Pass two knowledge tests

At an ICBC driver licensing office you must pass:

1. The Class 1 knowledge test, covering commercial driving rules, safety and regulations
2. The air brake (Code 15) knowledge test

Study for both properly. They are not difficult if you have read the material, and failing costs you a re-test fee and another trip. ICBC’s commercial driving guides are free.

Step 3: Get your Class 1 learner’s licence

With both knowledge tests passed and your medical on file, ICBC issues your Class 1 learner’s licence. You cannot start MELT training without it, so this is the gate that determines when you can actually begin.

Step 4: Complete MELT, 140 hours

Since October 2021, every new Class 1 applicant must complete an ICBC-approved Mandatory Entry-Level Training program before attempting the road test. There is no way around it and no equivalency for experience.

The program is a minimum of 140 hours, structured by ICBC:

You must complete the program within 12 months of enrolling. Choose your school from ICBC’s approved MELT list. A program from a school not on that list does not count.

It is also worth checking ICBC’s list of driving schools suspended and terminated, which names schools whose licence has been suspended or cancelled and schools whose MELT agreement has ended. Two minutes on that page before you pay a deposit is time well spent.

The training is on manual transmission

Class 1 MELT is a manual transmission program. Up to 10 of the 50 required on-road hours may be completed on an automatic where appropriate, and the rest are on manual.

If you have never driven a manual, that is normal and expected. The program is built to teach it from the beginning, and shifting is one of the main things your 50 on-road hours are for. It also means you finish able to take manual work, which is still a large share of the commercial fleet in BC.

Who does not need MELT

• Drivers who already hold a valid Class 1 licence
• Drivers whose Class 1 expired less than three years ago
• Anyone applying for Class 2, 3 or 4. MELT applies to Class 1 only.

Step 5: Pass your road test

After your school issues the Declaration of Completion, you book your Class 1 road test with ICBC. The test covers a pre-trip inspection, an air brake check, yard manoeuvres and on-road driving.

Two practical points. Book early, because road test availability varies by location and can add weeks. And confirm your school provides the truck. If you have to source your own ICBC-compliant vehicle, that is a problem best discovered now rather than the week of your test.

Step 6: Start working

With the road test passed you hold a Class 1 licence. Most new drivers then look at what endorsements their target employers want. Air brakes is already covered, but heavy trailer (Code 20) and others may matter depending on the work.

How long the whole thing takes

The training window is the part that varies most between schools, and it is worth asking about directly. A program that runs 12 weeks rather than 5 is roughly seven additional weeks before you start earning.

What it costs

Class 1 MELT in BC generally runs $10,000 to $20,000, plus ICBC fees and your medical. Substantial funding is available through WorkBC, the BC Employer Training Grant, Indigenous Skills and Employment Training and other programs. See our full breakdown of Class 1 MELT costs and funding.

Training with Integrity

We are ICBC-approved to deliver Class 1 MELT throughout British Columbia, with training locations in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Kelowna, Kamloops and Prince George. Manual transmission training, mountain and highway driving on real corridors, road-test vehicle included, and most students licensed in 5 to 7 weeks. New cohorts start every second Monday, with scheduling built around your availability.

Call 604-744-1222 or toll-free 1-877-744-1231, or see our Class 1 MELT training.

Common questions

How long does it take to get a Class 1 licence in BC?
Two to three months is typical, end to end. The training itself is 5 to 12 weeks depending on the school.

Is Class 1 MELT manual or automatic?
Manual. Up to 10 of the 50 required on-road hours may be completed on an automatic where appropriate, and the rest are on manual transmission.

Do I need my air brake endorsement first?
You need to pass the air brake knowledge test to get your Class 1 learner’s licence. The practical air brake content is part of MELT.

Can I skip MELT if I have driven trucks before?
No, unless you hold a valid Class 1 or held one that expired less than three years ago. Off-road or out-of-country experience does not exempt you.

What if I hold an Ontario AZ licence?
Transferring an out-of-province commercial licence follows a different path, usually including an air brake upgrade. Call us and we will tell you what applies to your situation.

Do I need to be 19?
Yes, for Class 1.

How long is my Declaration of Completion valid?
Complete MELT within 12 months of enrolling, then book your road test. Ask your school to confirm timelines for your own enrolment date.