Aircraft Broker Course Guide

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Aircraft Broker Course

Aircraft Broker Certifications Compared

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· Facts checked

There is no government licence for aircraft brokers in the United States, as our US licence guide explains. That leaves a fair question. If nobody licenses brokers, which aircraft broker certifications do exist, who can get them, what do they cost, and what are they worth?

This page lists each broker credential we could confirm from the issuing body's own pages, by the same criteria in the same order. Many require an employer that is already a member. None is a licence.

Key points

  • No aircraft broker certification is a government licence, and no regulator requires one before you broker a sale or a charter.
  • Most individual broker credentials are tied to an employer. IADA's Certified Broker requires work at an IADA-accredited dealer or OEM, and the ACA Broker Qualification is for staff of ACA member companies.
  • Several "certifications" certify a company, not a person: IADA dealer accreditation, the ARGUS Certified Charter Broker audit and the Wyvern Wingman Broker audit.
  • NBAA's Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) is a flight department management credential, not a broker credential.
  • An individual with no employer can usually reach only two things: the ACA's Air Charter Essentials Certificate and private course certificates.

Aircraft broker certifications compared

Prices are the issuing body's published figures, read on 17 October 2026. "Not published" means the body's own site gives no figure. Trade terms are defined in the glossary.

CredentialIssuing bodyWhat it isWho may applyPrerequisitesExam or auditCost (published)RenewalA government licence?
IADA Accredited DealerInternational Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA)Accreditation of a dealer companyAircraft dealer companiesSponsorship from 3 current IADA Accredited Dealers; evidence of meeting IADA Accreditation Standards; IADA board voteApplication review by IADA's administrator; no individual exam$500 application fee, $3,000 one-time accreditation fee; IADA dues separate and not published$1,000 a yearNo
IADA Certified BrokerIADACertification of an individualBrokers employed by an IADA-accredited dealer or OEM for at least a year (AIN, 2023)Two years of transaction experience; from after NBAA-BACE 2026, a Certified Broker Study Course and at least three months' preparation (trade press, October 2026)Exam, administered by a third partyNot publishedContinuing education through IADA U; designation does not transfer if the broker leaves an accredited dealerNo
GLADA Broker Education ProgramGlobal Aircraft Dealers Association (GLADA)Membership education requirementGLADA Broker Member organisations onlyRequired within six months of joining for new Broker Members with fewer than ten years of aircraft sales experienceOnline learning portal; AIN reported an exam leading to accreditation (2025)Included in Broker Membership, $3,500 a yearTied to membershipNo
ACA Broker QualificationThe Air Charter Association (ACA)Course certificate, three levels"Only available to persons employed by a member company" of the ACALevels 1 and 2 before Level 3Assessment at each levelLevel 1 £445, Level 2 £545, Level 3 £445, Level 1 online £495None statedNo
ACA Air Charter Essentials CertificateThe Air Charter AssociationCourse certificate, introductoryMember-company employees and non-membersNone stated"A defined assessment"Non-member £495; member employee or age 18 to 25 £295None statedNo
Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)Certification of an individual (management, not brokerage)Anyone who reaches 100 application pointsTwo years of business aviation experience; points for employment, education, licences and continuing education; two recommendation lettersExam across five domains at testing centresApplication $535 member / $635 non-member; exam $485 / $620Every 36 months: four points and a fee ($425 / $625 on NBAA's costs page)No
ARGUS Certified Charter BrokerARGUSAudit of a charter broker businessCharter brokers that subscribe to the programmeDocumented proof of the Charter Broker Standard's requirementsOn-site auditNot publishedAudit every two yearsNo
Wyvern Wingman BrokerWyvernAudit of a charter broker organisationCharter broker organisationsNone publishedVirtual audit of ethical, safety and legal standardsNot publishedRecertification by audit; interval not publishedNo
Private course certificateThe training providerCourse certificateUsually anyone who enrolsSet by the providerSet by the providerSee the course comparisonUsually noneNo

IADA: dealer accreditation and the Certified Broker

IADA calls itself "the world's only aircraft dealer accreditation program". It runs two separate credentials. The first is accreditation of the dealer company. A firm needs sponsorship from three current Accredited Dealers, pays a $500 application fee, shows evidence that it meets IADA's standards, and goes to a final vote of the IADA board. IADA's administrator, which manages applications, charges a $3,000 one-time accreditation fee and $1,000 a year to renew. Member dues are extra and not published.

The second is the Certified Broker, held by a person. IADA lists certified brokers by name under each accredited dealer but does not publish the rules or the exam fee. AIN reported in December 2023 that a broker must have worked for an IADA-accredited dealer or OEM for at least a year to apply, that a third party administers the exam, and that the designation does not transfer if the broker leaves an accredited dealer. IADA says its online school, IADA U, meets the continuing education requirements for certified brokers.

In October 2026, GlobalAir reported a revised broker certification, Version 2.0. Candidates after NBAA-BACE 2026 must complete an extended study course and at least three months of preparation before the exam, on top of two years of transaction experience. The syllabus grows from seven knowledge domains to nine. We could not find these details on iada.aero, so treat them as reported.

GLADA: an education programme for member firms

GLADA is a dealer and broker network. Its Broker Membership costs $3,500 a year and includes off-market listings, a member Slack, events and access to the Broker Education Program. GLADA's page says the programme is "available exclusively to GLADA Broker Member organizations". New Broker Members with fewer than ten years of aircraft sales experience must complete it within six months of joining.

Topics run from ethics and the purchase agreement to escrow and closing. When GLADA announced the programme in October 2025, AIN reported a one-year deadline and an exam leading to an accreditation certificate. GLADA's current page gives six months and does not describe the exam. We report GLADA's own wording.

The Air Charter Association: Broker Qualification and Air Charter Essentials

The ACA is the UK-based trade body that was called the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) until July 2019. Its Broker Qualification has three levels. Level 1 is foundation knowledge, Level 2 covers operational aspects and managing flights, and Level 3 is advanced broker skills. There is an assessment at each level and a course certificate at each stage. Completing all three earns the full Broker Qualification certificate. Levels 1 and 2 are prerequisites for Level 3.

The ACA lists Level 1 at £445, Level 2 at £545, Level 3 at £445 and Level 1 online at £495. It says members get a subsidised rate but does not label which prices are member prices. The qualification is "only available to persons employed by a member company" of the ACA.

The Air Charter Essentials Certificate is the ACA's entry-level course, open to non-members. It covers the charter industry, aviation geography, aircraft fundamentals and airport operations, and ends with an assessment. Non-members pay £495. Member-company employees and people aged 18 to 25 pay £295. The October 2026 session ran as a single day, 9:00 to 17:30, at London Gatwick. The next listed date is 3 February 2027, with an online version due in January 2027.

For how the UK and Europe treat charter brokers in law, see the UK and Europe licence guide.

NBAA's CAM: a management credential

CAM shows up in searches for broker certification. NBAA says CAM "identifies qualified professionals to lead flight departments and companies that use business aircraft". The exam covers business management, human resources, leadership, aircraft maintenance and operations. Brokerage is not one of the five domains.

To sit the exam you need 100 points from employment, education, licences and continuing education, at least two years of business aviation experience, and two letters of recommendation. NBAA lists the application fee at $535 for members and $635 for non-members, and the exam at $485 and $620, for costs through 30 June 2027. Recertification is every 36 months with four points of credit and a fee ($425 member, $625 non-member on the costs page; the recertification page says $415 and $615).

ARGUS and Wyvern: audits of charter broker companies

Two aviation safety auditors offer broker programmes. Both audit the company, not an individual.

  • ARGUS Certified Charter Broker. ARGUS audits subscribing brokers against its Charter Broker Standard, covering organisation and management, brokerage operations and customer considerations. Certified brokers provide documented proof of compliance and have an on-site audit every two years. ARGUS also runs a broker registry. No price is published.
  • Wyvern Wingman Broker. Wyvern says an organisation "must undergo a comprehensive virtual audit" of ethical, safety and legal standards. Brokers are recertified, but the interval and price are not published.

These audits matter mostly to charter clients who want evidence that a broker vets operators. They sit alongside the US disclosure rules in Part 295 and do not replace them.

Private course certificates

Private course certificates are the broker credential most people can earn without an employer. Each provider sets its own syllabus, exam and price, and the certificate is worth what the course teaches. This guide is published by IABI, which sells such courses. Provider-by-provider facts are on the course comparison, the checklist is in how to choose a course, and budgets are in first-year cost.

Associations and networks brokers join

Membership is not a certification. This is what each body says it gives.

  • IADA. Membership for dealers runs through accreditation. Products and services firms can join as Verified Members, with three dealer sponsors, at least three years in business and a $250 application fee. IADA was previously called NARA.
  • GLADA. Broker Membership ($3,500 a year) gives member-only listings and alerts, a Slack portal, events, discounts and the Broker Education Program.
  • The Air Charter Association (formerly BACA). Corporate membership is for brokers, operators and related companies that have traded in air charter for at least 12 months. Members agree to the ACA Code of Practice, and brokers must declare whether they act as principal or broker. Annual fees are £450 for 1 to 10 staff, £675 for 11 to 25 and £825 for 26 or more.
  • NBAA. Membership categories are Operating, Business and Professional. Dues are not published. Benefits listed include networking and a member directory.
  • EBAA. The European Business Aviation Association says it represents more than 700 companies in European business aviation. We could not read its membership rules, so its terms for brokers are unconfirmed.

What any of these is worth

None of these credentials gives legal permission to broker. No regulator issues, requires or recognises them as a licence. In the US, charter brokers follow Part 295 whether or not they hold any of them, and sales brokers face only the state rules described in the licence guide.

Their value is practical. Employer-tied credentials show you passed an industry exam. Company audits show clients the firm was checked. A course certificate shows you finished a course. Ask three questions of any credential: who issues it, what it actually tested, and whether you can keep it if you change jobs. If you have not yet chosen charter or sales, start with how to become an aircraft broker. This page is general information, not legal advice.

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Frequently asked questions

Is there an official aircraft broker certification?

No government issues one. The credentials that exist come from trade associations (IADA, GLADA, the Air Charter Association), safety auditors (ARGUS, Wyvern) and private training providers. None is a licence, and none is legally required to broker an aircraft sale or charter.

How do I become an IADA certified broker?

You need a job first. AIN reported in 2023 that applicants must have worked for an IADA-accredited dealer or OEM for at least a year. Trade press in October 2026 reported two years of transaction experience, a study course and three months of preparation before the exam. IADA does not publish the fee.

Can I get a broker certification without an employer?

Only a few. The ACA's Air Charter Essentials Certificate is open to non-members at £495, and private course certificates are open to anyone who enrols. IADA's Certified Broker, GLADA's programme and the ACA Broker Qualification all depend on your employer being accredited or a member.

Is NBAA's CAM a broker certification?

No. The Certified Aviation Manager is for people who lead flight departments and companies that use business aircraft. Its five exam domains are business management, human resources, leadership, maintenance and operations. It does not test brokerage.

How much does the Air Charter Association Broker Qualification cost?

The ACA lists Level 1 at £445, Level 2 at £545 and Level 3 at £445, with Level 1 online at £495 (read 17 October 2026). It is open only to employees of ACA member companies, and the ACA says prices may change.

Sources

Every source below was checked on 17 October 2026.

About this guide. Aircraft Broker Course is published by the International Aircraft Broker Institute (IABI), which sells aircraft broker training. Where a page mentions an IABI course, that is our own product. No course can promise a job, an income or a license. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. How this site works.