Practical study material

ROC-A Study Hub

Start with our quick reference and on-site summaries. Official Canadian sources are grouped in one section when you need to verify a formal detail.

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A stack of aviation and radio study books with an antenna and signal waves

In this hubROC-A Quick Reference Phonetic Alphabet Numbers & Radio Pronunciation MAYDAY vs PAN PAN Signal / Radio Checks Radio Phraseology What to Expect on the ROC-A Exam ROC-A FAQ

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Core concepts, clearly organized.

Use the quick reference and summaries here for day-to-day study. The official source links remain available below for formal verification.

ROC-A Quick Reference

Use this two-page reference for the phonetic alphabet, number pronunciation and standard procedural words.

Created by ROC-A Exam Canada as a focused study aid based on ISED RIC-21. Open it in your browser or save a copy for review.Open the quick reference

Phonetic Alphabet

Review the ICAO spelling words used to communicate letters clearly over radio.

Practice each word aloud and connect it to the letter it represents. Clear, consistent pronunciation matters more than speed.View the phonetic alphabet (PDF)

Numbers & Radio Pronunciation

Build confidence saying figures and key radio terms in a predictable, unambiguous way.

Use the quick reference above for standard number pronunciations, then practice them in complete calls rather than in isolation.View number pronunciations (PDF)

MAYDAY vs PAN PAN

Understand the difference between distress and urgency communications.

MAYDAY identifies grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance. PAN PAN identifies an urgent safety message that does not require immediate assistance.

Signal / Radio Checks

Recognize the standard readability scale and how to request a radio check.

Readability runs from 1 (unreadable), through 2 (readable intermittently), 3 (readable with difficulty) and 4 (readable), to 5 (perfectly readable). Listen first, include your call sign and keep the check within 10 seconds.

Radio Phraseology

Learn the procedural words and structured call patterns used in aeronautical communications.

Standard phraseology reduces ambiguity. Review the procedural words in the quick reference, then practice listening, thinking and responding in sequence.View procedural words (PDF)

What to Expect on the ROC-A Exam

Prepare for an approximately 30-minute examination with an accredited examiner.

For a virtual appointment, be in Canada, send a scanned copy of government-issued photo ID containing your date of birth in advance, then show the same ID again during the Microsoft Teams examination.View the exam overview

ROC-A FAQ

Get concise answers about course access, exam format, identification and location requirements.

The preparation course is optional and separate from the $80 examination.Read the FAQ

Official Canadian references

Primary sources, when you need them.

ROC-A Exam Canada keeps the practical study material on this site. These external links are collected here for regulatory and operational verification.

ISED