Before You Schedule

Ensure you are 100% prepared before requesting a date.

Before You Schedule

  • Before selecting a date, please ensure you meet the following:
  • All aeronautical experience requirements are complete
  • Your knowledge test (if required) has been passed
  • Your logbook endorsements are complete and accurate
  • You have access to an airworthy aircraft for the checkride
  • Your IACRA application is ready or nearly complete
  • Scheduling applicants who are not fully prepared often results in delays or rescheduling.

Required Information

  • Please be prepared to provide:
  • Certificate or rating sought
  • Aircraft make and model
  • Checkride location (airport)
  • Preferred date(s) and time(s)
  • Instructor name and contact (if applicable)

Important Notes

  • Checkrides are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis
  • Incomplete applications or missing endorsements may delay scheduling
  • Weather, maintenance, or administrative issues may require rescheduling
  • Final approval of the checkride is contingent upon eligibility review

Ready to Schedule?

Use the calendar to request your checkride date.

Save Time – Be Prepared

Applicants who review the “Practical Test Page” of this website prior to scheduling typically experience a smoother process and fewer delays.

Request a Checkride Date

Common Items That Prevent a Checkride from Beginning

To help ensure your FAA practical test starts on time and avoids discontinuance, verify these items before arriving. Deficiencies in eligibility, paperwork, endorsements, or aircraft airworthiness are among the most frequent causes of delays or test cancellation before it begins (per FAA guidance and DPE reports).
  • Application not submitted, not finalized, or not electronically signed by the recommending instructor (and applicant).
  • Wrong certificate level, rating, or aircraft category/class selected.
  • Missing or incorrect flight instructor recommendation/endorsement.
  • Errors, inconsistencies, or inflated/deficient aeronautical experience entries (e.g., total time, PIC time, or training mismatches with logbook).
  • IACRA not accessible (forgotten username/password or unverified FTN).
  • Missing or incomplete required endorsements (e.g., practical test endorsement, knowledge test deficiency remediation if applicable).
  • No recent 3 hours of flight training within the preceding 2 calendar months (or equivalent for certain certificates).
  • Missing knowledge test endorsement (if required).
  • Solo, cross-country, or complex/high-performance endorsements incomplete, incorrectly worded, or expired.
  • Instructor signature, date, certificate number, or expiration missing on any endorsement.
  • Logbook entries illegible, inconsistent, or missing required details (e.g., aircraft type, registration, conditions of flight).
  • No valid government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, passport).
  • Pilot certificate (or student pilot certificate) not presented.
  • Medical certificate not presented, expired, or with limitations not addressed.
  • For non-U.S. citizens: passport or required verification/visa documentation missing (if applicable).
  • Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) not provided or lost.
  • Knowledge test expired (more than 24 calendar months old, or 60 months for certain ATP cases).
  • Missing instructor endorsement addressing deficiencies (if questions were missed).
  • Missing or incomplete onboard documents (ARROW: Airworthiness Certificate, Registration, Radio Station License (if international), Operating Limitations/POH, Weight & Balance).
  • Maintenance logs/record books not available, inaccessible, or incomplete.
  • Required inspections not current (AAV1ATE: Annual, Airworthiness Directives, VOR check (if IFR), 100-hour (if applicable), Altimeter/Transponder (24 months), ELT (12 months), ELT battery).
  • Inoperative equipment not placarded, deferred per MEL/operations specs, or improperly addressed.
  • Aircraft not in condition for safe operation (e.g., obvious discrepancies, squawks).
  • Required equipment missing or inoperative per 14 CFR §91.205 (VFR/IFR day/night).
  • Navigation equipment unsuitable or not current for planned test (e.g., expired charts, outdated database in GPS/EFB).
  • Weight & balance not computed or unrealistic for the test profile.
  • Applicant does not meet minimum aeronautical experience requirements for the certificate/rating sought.
  • Required training (e.g., cross-country, night, instrument) not completed or improperly logged.
  • Endorsements do not match the exact certificate, rating, or privileges sought.
  • Examiner fee not paid or not arranged in advance (cash/check as specified).
  • Any required pre-test paperwork (e.g., FAA Form 8710 via IACRA) incomplete.
  • Applicant unable to demonstrate readiness (e.g., lack of confidence in basic knowledge during initial review).
  • Required materials missing (current charts, EFB with current databases, flight computer, plotter, planned nav log/flight plan, kneeboard, etc.).
  • No backup plans for common contingencies (e.g., spare EFB battery, printed backups).

Final Note

It is solely the applicant’s responsibility to arrive fully eligible, prepared, and documented per 14 CFR Part 61 and the relevant Airman Certification Standards (ACS). A thorough pre-checkride review with your CFI—using the ACS practical test checklist—greatly reduces the risk of discontinuance. Arriving well-prepared leads to a smoother, more professional evaluation for everyone involved.