The Complete Checkride Guide: Oral Exam + Flight Test

A checkride -- formally called a "practical test" by the FAA -- is the final evaluation you must pass to earn a pilot certificate or rating. It is administered by a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), an experienced pilot authorized by the FAA to conduct practical tests on its behalf.

Every checkride has two parts: an oral examination (ground portion) and a flight test (practical portion). You must pass both parts. If you fail the oral, the DPE will not proceed to the flight test. If you pass the oral but fail the flight, you keep credit for the oral and only need to retest the flight portion.

The DPE is not your enemy. Their job is to determine whether you meet the standards set out in the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for the certificate or rating you are seeking. They are evaluating your knowledge, risk management, and skills. Most DPEs are professional, fair, and want you to succeed -- but they will not pass you if you are not ready.

Think of the checkride as a demonstration of everything your flight training has taught you. If you have been flying consistently, studying the material, and your CFI has endorsed you, you have already done the hard part. The checkride is the final confirmation.

The oral exam is where many checkrides are won or lost. It typically lasts 1-2 hours for a private pilot checkride (longer for CFI). The DPE will sit across from you with your cross-country plan, your logbook, and the ACS, and ask you questions about a wide range of topics.

This is not a rapid-fire quiz. The DPE is having a conversation with you about flying. They want to know that you understand the material well enough to make safe decisions as pilot in command. Many questions will be scenario-based: "You are planning your cross-country and you see this METAR -- what do you do?" or "Your engine starts running rough on the downwind leg -- walk me through your actions."

You are allowed to reference the FAR/AIM, POH, and other publications during the oral. The DPE expects you to know where to find information, not to have every regulation memorized verbatim. However, you should know the commonly tested regulations (cloud clearances, required equipment, pilot currency) from memory, and use the books only for specific numbers or procedures.

After passing the oral exam, you will move to the aircraft for the flight test. Plan for 1 to 1.5 hours of flying. The DPE will typically have you begin your cross-country flight plan, then divert you after 10-20 minutes to begin the maneuver portion. Some DPEs integrate maneuvers into the cross-country; others fly to a practice area and work through them sequentially.

You are the pilot in command for the entire flight. That means you are responsible for all preflight actions, radio communications, traffic scanning, and aeronautical decision-making. The DPE is observing and directing which maneuvers to perform, but you run the show. If ATC gives you an instruction, you comply. If weather deteriorates, you make the call.

Communicate with the DPE. Before each maneuver, briefly state what you are about to do: clear the area, set up, execute. After the maneuver, do not ask "How was that?" -- just move on to the next task. The DPE will tell you if something needs to be repeated.

The Airman Certification Standards (ACS) define exactly what you must demonstrate on the checkride. The ACS replaced the older Practical Test Standards (PTS) and adds two critical dimensions beyond just skill: knowledge (what you know) and risk management (what decisions you make). Each task in the ACS lists specific knowledge elements, risk management considerations, and skill tolerances.

The DPE evaluates you against these standards. They are published and freely available on the FAA website. You should download the ACS for your specific certificate and study it. Knowing the exact tolerances gives you a clear target for every maneuver.

Finding an available DPE can be one of the most frustrating parts of the checkride process. In many parts of the country, DPEs are booked 4-8 weeks out. Here is how to navigate the system.

Ask your CFI and flight school first. They will have a list of DPEs they work with regularly. A DPE who is familiar with your airport and training area can make the experience smoother.

Contact your local FSDO. The Flight Standards District Office maintains the official list of designated examiners for your area. You can call them directly or search the FAA Designee Management System online.

Be flexible on location. If your local DPEs are booked out for months, consider traveling to a DPE in a less busy area. Some applicants fly 1-2 hours to a DPE with shorter wait times. Factor in the aircraft rental and fuel costs when making this decision.

Expect to pay $500-$900. DPE fees vary by certificate, rating, and region. The fee is paid directly to the DPE, usually on the day of the checkride. Some require payment in advance. This is separate from aircraft rental, fuel, and your flight school's fees. If you fail and need a retest, you will pay the DPE fee again (often a reduced rate for retests -- typically 50-75% of the original fee).

Schedule early. Once your CFI says you are within a few weeks of being checkride-ready, start reaching out to DPEs. Canceling or rescheduling is much easier than trying to book a last-minute appointment.

If you do not meet the ACS standards, the DPE will issue a Notice of Disapproval (commonly called a "pink slip"). This is documented on FAA Form 8060-5 and specifies exactly which task areas were unsatisfactory. It is not the end of the world -- it is a clearly defined path to your next attempt.

Under 14 CFR 61.43, you may apply for a retest after receiving additional training from an authorized instructor in the specific areas identified on the Notice of Disapproval. Your CFI must provide a new logbook endorsement certifying you are proficient in those areas. The retest covers only the failed areas, not the entire checkride.

There is no mandatory waiting period. You can retest as soon as you and your CFI feel you are ready and you can schedule with a DPE (who can be the same examiner or a different one). Most applicants retest within 1-3 weeks.

A failure stays on your record but it does not prevent you from getting any certificate or being hired by an airline. Airlines are far more interested in what you learned from the failure than the fact it happened. Many successful airline captains have one or more checkride failures in their history.

The key is to debrief thoroughly with your CFI, identify exactly what went wrong, train specifically on those areas, and come back prepared. Most retest applicants pass on their second attempt.