Choose your air brake course
Tricon offers three air brake options. All three lead to ICBC’s air brake requirements, so pick the one that matches your licence and what you drive.
General air brake course
7 hours theory + 4 hours practical (11 hours). The standard course for Class 3 students and for Class 2 and 4 drivers, and it is the course RV drivers take for the same Code 15 endorsement.
Air brake certification for Class 5 and 7 licences
7 hours theory + 4 hours practical with our in-house practical assessment. For Class 5 or 7 (7N) drivers adding the Code 15 endorsement to their current licence.
Ontario AZ to BC Class 1 upgrade
9 hours theory + 6.5 hours practical (15.5 hours). For Ontario Class AZ drivers exchanging to a B.C. Class 1 when ICBC requires air brake training.
Not sure which one is yours? Call (778) 549-1727 and we will tell you before you book.
What is the air brake course and Code 15 endorsement?
To drive a vehicle equipped with air brakes on a highway in British Columbia, ICBC requires a B.C. driver’s licence with an air brake endorsement, shown as code 15 in the restrictions section of your licence. The air brake course is how you qualify: 7 hours of classroom theory plus 4 hours of hands-on practical training, followed by the ICBC knowledge test and an air brake pre-trip inspection assessment.
Air brakes behave very differently from the hydraulic brakes on a car. A slow leak, a worn slack adjuster or a misunderstood warning light can turn into a real problem on a B.C. grade. That is why ICBC does not let anyone drive an air-brake vehicle on a road test alone; the course makes sure the system, its warning signs and its inspection points are understood before you are behind the wheel of one.
The endorsement is added to the licence class you already hold. It does not upgrade your licence class on its own. ICBC also requires it for most vehicles with air-over-hydraulic brakes.
Already training for Class 1 or Class 3?
You don’t need to book this course separately. ICBC builds air brake training into the Class 1 MELT course, and it is also part of our Class 3 program, so you earn the endorsement as part of that program. This standalone course is for drivers who need the Code 15 endorsement without taking a full commercial course.
Who actually needs this course
Most people who ask us about air brakes fall into one of a handful of situations. If you're not sure which one describes you, that's a quick phone call, not a guessing game.
The rule itself is simple: anyone driving a vehicle equipped with air brakes on a public road needs the air brake endorsement on their B.C. licence, whether the vehicle is a truck, a bus or an RV. Off-highway (industrial) endorsements for logging roads are a separate ICBC category.
You probably need the standalone course if:
- You own or drive a motorhome or RV with an air brake system — common on larger diesel-pusher units — and hold a Class 5 licence.
- You already hold a Class 1 or Class 3 licence but never wrote the air brake test — often because it was completed differently, or not at all, in another jurisdiction.
- An employer needs you Code 15-endorsed for a specific air-brake vehicle, without putting you through a full Class 1 or Class 3 program.
- You're an out-of-province Class 1 driver whose air brake training doesn't carry over to B.C. Ontario Class AZ drivers with less than 24 months of Class 1 experience should see our Ontario AZ air brake upgrade.
You don't need to book it separately if:
- You're enrolling in Class 1 MELT — air brake theory and practical training are already part of that course.
- You're enrolling in Class 3 training — same as above, it's built into the curriculum.
Not sure which category you're in? Call us at (778) 549-1727 and we'll tell you honestly whether you need the standalone course before you book anything.
Already have air brake training or experience?
ICBC says drivers with substantial air brake experience or mechanical trade credentials may be exempt from the course, but they still have to pass the knowledge test and the air brake pre-trip test. Ask an ICBC driver licensing office whether you qualify. If you trained elsewhere, see air brake testing on-site to find out whether you can go straight to a practical assessment with our certified assessment officer.
Course structure: 7 hours theory + 4 hours practical
Our air brake course follows ICBC’s certified format: 7 hours in the classroom, then 4 hours of practical training on an air-brake-equipped vehicle, 11 hours in total. If your schedule needs it, we can split the course over more than one session. Call us for current dates.
Theory (7 hours)
How air brakes work
Why heavy vehicles use air, compressed air and pressure, brake lag, stopping distance and following distance, and how brake fade and overheating happen.
System components
Compressor, governor, air dryer, reservoirs and drain valves, foot valve, the dual (primary and secondary) system, brake chambers and gauges.
Foundation brakes & slack adjusters
S-cam and air disc brakes, brake chambers, and how pushrod travel shows whether a brake is in adjustment.
Spring brakes & warning devices
Spring parking brakes, the low-air warning, what compounding does to brake parts, and what to do the moment a warning activates.
Safe use on the road
En-route checks, engine retarders, runaway lanes and ABS, plus what to do when you lose air pressure.
Licensing & test preparation
How to apply for the endorsement and how the ICBC knowledge test works, so nothing on test day is a surprise.
Practical (4 hours)
Air brake pre-trip inspection
Step-by-step inspection of the air system on a real vehicle: in-cab checks, governor cut-in and cut-out, low-air warning, compressor build-up and leak checks.
Checking & adjusting brakes
Walking the vehicle, finding major and minor defects, and measuring and adjusting pushrod travel at the foundation brakes.
Brake response & assessment
A brake response check, then your air brake pre-trip assessment with our certified assessment officer.
The practical hours are what make this a certified course under ICBC’s Driver Certification Program. A non-certified course is theory only, so it leaves you to take the pre-trip test at ICBC separately.
The RV air brake course
Larger motorhomes and diesel-pusher RVs are sometimes built on an air brake chassis, which means Code 15 still applies even though the vehicle is driven on a Class 5 licence. Our dedicated RV air brake course covers the same curriculum with examples and practical work suited to motorhome systems, so RV owners can get endorsed without enrolling in commercial truck training.
Watch: how air brakes work
Two short videos that show the parts of an air brake system and how an S-cam brake applies and adjusts. They cover the same ground as our theory session and the pre-trip inspection.
The ICBC knowledge test and pre-trip test
ICBC asks for two things before the endorsement goes on your licence. You do not need a road test for an air brake endorsement.
1. The air brake knowledge test
- Multiple choice, taken at an ICBC driver licensing office. Book it online at icbc.com.
- 20 out of 25 correct answers to pass. English only, no translators.
- If you don’t pass, wait seven days to try again. Three attempts are allowed, and after that you must take the course again.
- Bring primary and secondary ID and your course card or certificate. ICBC lists the knowledge test fee as $15; check icbc.com for the current fee.
- A pass is valid for one year. If the endorsement isn’t on your licence within a year, you must retake the test.
- Study the air brake chapters of ICBC’s Driving Commercial Vehicles guide, and try our free air brake practice test.
2. The air brake pre-trip inspection test
This is a hands-on inspection of the air brake system, not a driving test. You bring a vehicle equipped with air brakes and the same ID you used for the knowledge test. If you complete a certified course like ours and pass the provider’s pre-trip assessment, ICBC says you may not need to take the pre-trip test with an ICBC examiner.
Check current rules with ICBC
Fees, test booking and exemptions are set by ICBC and can change. Confirm the details at icbc.com or your driver licensing office before you book.
Practical assessment on-site at our yard
At many schools, finishing the course is only half the job: you still have to book a separate appointment for the air brake pre-trip test, often on a different vehicle than the one you trained on.
Tricon has a certified assessment officer on staff. Your 4 practical hours end with the air brake pre-trip assessment, done with us on the same air-brake-equipped vehicle you trained on, at the same yard. The ICBC knowledge test is taken separately at an ICBC driver licensing office.
What you get: the Code 15 air brake endorsement
- A course completion card or certificate, which you present at ICBC when you take the knowledge test.
- After you pass the tests and pay the licence fee, ICBC gives you a temporary licence with the air brake endorsement (code 15). Your new photo licence is mailed to you.
- The endorsement is added to your current licence class. You keep the class you already hold.
Before you enrol and what to bring
The air brake course has fewer prerequisites than a full commercial program. You are adding an endorsement to a licence you already hold, not applying for a new class.
Requirements
- Be at least 16 years old and hold a valid B.C. driver’s licence.
- If it’s for an RV, confirm with your insurer that your policy covers an air-brake-equipped unit once the endorsement is added.
What to bring
- Your B.C. driver’s licence and a second piece of ID. ICBC requires primary and secondary ID for its tests.
- Glasses or contact lenses if you need them to drive.
- Weather-appropriate clothes and sturdy footwear for the practical hours in the yard, plus lunch and water for an 11-hour course.
Not sure where you stand? Call us at (778) 549-1727 and we’ll confirm what you need before you book anything.
Your path to the Code 15 endorsement
From your first phone call to a licence with the air brake endorsement, here is the whole sequence.
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Confirm you need the standalone course
If you’re already booked into Class 1 or Class 3, you don’t need this separately. Call us and we’ll check before you commit to anything.
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Take 7 hours of theory
Classroom training on how the air brake system works, its components and its failure modes.
With us -
Take 4 hours of practical training
Hands-on air brake pre-trip inspection and brake adjustment on a real vehicle, then your pre-trip assessment with our certified assessment officer.
With us -
Pass the ICBC air brake knowledge test
20 of 25 multiple-choice questions, taken at an ICBC driver licensing office with your course card and ID. Warm up with our free air brake practice test.
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Get the Code 15 endorsement
Once ICBC has your passed tests, you receive a temporary licence with the air brake endorsement. Your photo licence follows by mail.
Ready to get endorsed?
Tell us what you’re driving (truck, RV or something else) and we’ll tell you exactly what the course involves.
Why train with Tricon
The air brake curriculum is set by ICBC everywhere in B.C. What separates schools is how the assessment actually happens, and whether the person teaching you has done the job.
Certified assessment officer on staff
Complete your air brake pre-trip assessment with us, so you may not need a separate ICBC pre-trip test.
Train and test on the same vehicle
The air-brake-equipped unit you learn on is the one you're assessed on, so nothing about assessment day feels unfamiliar.
Instructors who have done the job
Taught by instructors who've held a commercial licence themselves, not just a curriculum binder.
Yards in Surrey and Langley
Two Metro Vancouver training yards, so getting to a course doesn't mean a long drive first.
Open 9am to 9pm, every day
Including weekends and holidays, so booking the course doesn't mean taking a day off work to fit ours.
4.6★ Surrey · 5.0★ Langley on Google
We're a BC Trucking Association member school with the same instructors teaching this course as our full Class 1 and Class 3 programs.
Booking & how it's priced
We quote current pricing for the air brake course over the phone so you get an accurate number for your situation — RV air brake, standalone Code 15, or anything else. See our course fees page for how we think about pricing across every program, and ask about in-house payment options when you call.
Already enrolling in Class 1 or Class 3?
The air brake endorsement is included in the price of those programs — see our funding options page for the full picture on paying for commercial training.
Air brake training near you
We train and test at our Surrey and Langley yards, with students from across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Pick your city for drive times and local details.
Air brake course — frequently asked questions
What is a Code 15 endorsement?
ICBC requires a B.C. driver’s licence with an air brake endorsement (code 15) to drive a vehicle equipped with air brakes on a highway. The code appears in the restrictions section of your licence. You earn it by completing an air brake course and passing ICBC’s knowledge and pre-trip tests, whatever class of licence you hold.
How long does the air brake course take?
The course is 7 hours of classroom theory plus 4 hours of hands-on practical training, 11 hours in total. The ICBC knowledge test and the air brake pre-trip assessment follow the course. If your schedule needs it, we can split the course over more than one session.
What is the difference between a certified and a non-certified air brake course?
Per ICBC, a certified course has 7 hours of classroom theory plus 4 hours of practical training on the air brake pre-trip inspection. If you pass the provider’s pre-trip assessment, you may not need to take the pre-trip test with an ICBC examiner. A non-certified course is 7 hours of theory only. Our 7 + 4 hour course follows the certified format.
Do I need this course if I'm taking Class 1 or Class 3?
No. ICBC covers air brake training inside the Class 1 MELT course, and it is part of our Class 3 program too, so you earn the endorsement without booking anything extra. This standalone course is for drivers who need Code 15 without a full commercial program, such as RV owners.
For Class 3, ICBC requires an air brake course (or proof of air brake experience) before the air brake knowledge test, not before the Class 3 knowledge test.
What is on the ICBC air brake knowledge test?
It is a multiple-choice test of 25 questions, and you need 20 correct to pass. It is available in English only, with no translators. If you fail, you wait seven days to retry, and after three attempts you must take the course again. ICBC lists the fee as $15; check icbc.com for the current fee.
Do I have to take a road test for the air brake endorsement?
No. ICBC requires the knowledge test and an air brake pre-trip inspection test, but not a road test. If you pass a certified course’s pre-trip assessment, you may not need the ICBC pre-trip test either.
Can I be assessed with Tricon instead of booking an ICBC pre-trip test?
Yes. We have a certified assessment officer on staff, so your air brake pre-trip assessment happens with us, on the same vehicle you trained on. The ICBC knowledge test is taken at an ICBC driver licensing office. Confirm current requirements with ICBC.
Can I skip the course if I already have air brake experience?
ICBC says drivers with substantial air brake experience or mechanical trade credentials may be exempt from the course, but they still must pass the knowledge test and the pre-trip test. Contact an ICBC driver licensing office to find out whether you qualify.
What is the RV air brake course?
Some larger motorhomes and diesel-pusher RVs are built on an air brake chassis, so the air brake endorsement still applies even though the vehicle is driven on a Class 5 licence. Our dedicated RV air brake course covers the same curriculum with examples and practical work suited to motorhome systems.
Who can take the air brake course?
You must be at least 16 and hold a valid B.C. driver’s licence. You keep the licence class you already hold, because the endorsement is added to it. Call us if you are not sure which category applies to you.
I already hold Class 1 or Class 3 from another province. Do I still need B.C. air brake training?
It depends on where and how you trained. For Ontario drivers, see our Ontario AZ air brake upgrade course. ICBC makes the final call based on your driving record and training history. Call us with the details and we will tell you honestly where you stand before you spend anything.
Where do you offer the air brake course?
From our Surrey yard at 12511 82 Ave and our Langley yard at 8380 216 St, with students coming from across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. We answer the phone from 9am to 9pm every day, weekends and holidays included.
Which air brake course should I choose?
Take the general air brake course (7 hours theory + 4 hours practical) if you are training for Class 3, 2 or 4, or you drive an RV. Take the Class 5 and 7 certification (also 7 + 4 hours, with our in-house practical assessment) if you are adding Code 15 to your current licence. Take the Ontario AZ upgrade (9 hours theory + 6.5 hours practical) if you are exchanging an Ontario Class AZ for a B.C. Class 1.
How many hours is the Ontario AZ air brake upgrade?
It is 9 hours of theory plus 6.5 hours of practical training, 15.5 hours in total. ICBC says drivers in this situation must complete 15.5 hours of air brake theory and practical training at a MELT-approved Air Brake Certification Facility. See the Ontario AZ upgrade page.