I85PREP
⌘ K

ANAC ICAR Theoretical Exam (AVSEC Cargo Instructor)

More study resources

Cheat sheet

Keep the key ideas within reach.

Explore

Key terms

Get comfortable with the vocabulary.

Explore

Study plan

Give each week a clear focus.

Explore

Common mistakes

Understand the traps and how to avoid them.

Explore

Case studies

Put your knowledge to work in context.

Explore

Exam-day guide

Prepare for the day ahead.

Explore

About this exam

The ANAC ICAR theoretical examination for air cargo and mail security instructors is Argentina's civil aviation knowledge check for people who will design and deliver aviation security training inside regulated cargo organisations. Candidates are typically designated instructors, security managers, known consignor coordinators, regulated agent trainers and screening supervisors who already work in cargo operations and now need to prove they can teach the rules as well as apply them. The paper is multiple choice and tests both regulatory understanding and instructional judgement: how Annex 17 obligations translate into a national programme, how consignor and regulated agent approval works, how screening methods are selected and their limits understood, how a secure chain of custody is maintained, and how training is designed, delivered, assessed and evaluated. Expect questions that ask you to choose the best action in a realistic scenario rather than simply recall a definition. Preparation should combine a close reading of the current regulatory texts with practical revision of screening technology, human factors and quality control, and with practice at explaining decisions clearly, since instructor questions reward reasoning about why a control exists. ANAC publishes the current examination logistics and syllabus directly; confirm details there before you register.

What you'll study

International and national regulatory framework for air cargo and mail security (ICAO Annex 17, Annex 9 facilitation interfaces, ICAO Doc 8973 guidance, EU/ICAO aligned national regulations, ANAC resolutions and directives)15% Threat environment and acts of unlawful interference: explosive devices, improvised explosive devices, incendiary devices, insider threat, sabotage and attack methods relevant to cargo operations12% Known consignor / regulated agent concepts, approval and validation processes, security programmes and site security plans15% Cargo acceptance, screening and inspection methods (X-ray, explosive trace detection, explosive detection systems, physical search, screening exemptions and their conditions)15% Chain of custody, secure storage, access control, tamper-evident sealing, documentation and transport of secured cargo to the aircraft10% Cargo security training programme design and delivery: needs analysis, learning objectives, competency-based training, instructional methods, assessment and evaluation of training effectiveness13% Instructor competencies and professional conduct: communication, adult learning principles, classroom and practical exercise management, coaching, feedback and record keeping8% Security equipment operation, calibration, testing and maintenance oversight; human factors and performance limitations in screening6% Contingency planning, incident response, reporting of security occurrences, quality control, internal audit and corrective action in cargo security6%
Common questions

About ANAC ICAR Theoretical Exam (AVSEC Cargo Instructor) preparation

What is the format of the exam?

It is a multiple-choice theoretical examination delivered under supervised conditions. Questions are scenario-based as well as factual, so read each stem for the role you are playing: instructor, supervisor or security manager. ANAC publishes the current format, number of items and administrative rules in its official announcement; check that document rather than relying on second-hand descriptions.

How difficult is it?

Most candidates find the regulatory domain manageable and the instructional and screening-limits domains harder, because those questions ask for the best judgement rather than a remembered clause. If you already work in cargo security, your operational experience helps, but you must still be able to justify a control in training language. Depth of reasoning matters more than trivia.

How long is the exam and what score do I need?

ANAC sets the duration, item count and passing score for each examination cycle and publishes them in the official announcement. Those figures change, so this page does not quote them. Confirm the current values on the ANAC website before you plan your timing or your revision schedule.

Can I retake it if I fail?

Retake rules, waiting periods and any fees are set by ANAC and can be revised between cycles. Consult the current official announcement for the applicable policy. In practice, candidates who fail usually do so on a small number of domains, so request your result breakdown if it is available and rebuild your study plan around those areas.

In what order should I study the domains?

Start with the regulatory framework, because every later question assumes it. Then study threat awareness and the consignor and regulated agent concepts, which explain why screening exists. Move to screening methods and chain of custody, then to training design, instructor competencies, equipment oversight and finally contingency planning and quality control, which draw on everything before them.

What do candidates most often get wrong?

Three patterns recur: treating screening exemptions as automatic rather than conditional; confusing the responsibilities of the regulated agent, known consignor and carrier; and answering instructor questions with what a rule says instead of how you would teach and assess it. A fourth is ignoring human factors, such as fatigue and vigilance limits, when asked about screening performance.

Do I need practical experience to pass?

The examination is theoretical, but the scenario questions assume familiarity with real cargo operations, so candidates without operational background often struggle to choose between two plausible answers. If you lack that experience, work through case-style questions and discuss real acceptance and screening decisions with colleagues before sitting the paper.

Is this page affiliated with ANAC?

No. This is an independent study resource and is not endorsed by, connected to, or acting on behalf of ANAC or ICAO. Use it for revision alongside the official regulatory texts and the current ANAC examination announcement, which remain the authoritative sources for requirements, logistics and results.