A new survey from the Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) shows that the cost of a check ride has been going up for the last six years, with the national average coming in between $700 and $800.
FSANA officials note that “training providers, CFIs, and the applicants for certificates and ratings are investing heavily in their time and financial resources to complete their certifications. The price of the individual check ride is the most directly visible cost, but there is no doubt that delays in the ability to source these tests from authorized FAA Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) certainly cause additional training costs as applicants work to remain current awaiting a testing event.”
Price
The most common practical tests, such as private and commercial pilot certificates and instrument ratings, typically take about half of a day. More than 65% of the respondents to the survey indicated that the average price for these tests was over $650. In comparison, back in 2018, only 17% of respondents reported the same.
“From the current survey data it appears average pricing is now more frequently ranging in the $700-$800 range,” FSANA officials report.
Check rides for the initial CFI certificate, which typically takes a full day, are costing more than $750, according to 66% of the survey’s respondents. That’s up from 45% in 2018, according to FSANA officials.
Similar price increases are being seen in “add on” practical tests, tests in rotorcraft, and in retest fees, the survey discovered.
How You Pay is Changing Too
How examiners allow applicants to pay for their testing services is changing. Just a few years ago, most DPEs accepted only cash or a check.
The 2022 survey indicates that more DPEs are now allowing test applicants to pay through credit or debit cards, as well as digital payment methods such as PayPal, Cashapp, Zelle, and others. As technology allows payment directly between parties on mobile devices, it appears many examiners are adopting these digital payment methods, according to the survey.
Of special note is a significant increase in DPEs who are accepting payment through the flight training provider.
“As sourcing of practical tests has become constricted in many areas, flight training providers themselves have in many cases engaged in sourcing DPEs to provide services for their customers,” FSANA officials said. “In these cases, many DPEs are directly billing and being paid by the businesses that are providing the training. This appears to be most common in university and collegiate operations, large scale academy style training events, and 141 training programs that are providing training for customers who are using loans or other funding sources.”
Increasing Delays in Availability
Approximately five years ago FSANA and a group of industry representatives met with FAA staff to discuss changes to practical tests.
“One of the key concerns at that time was a backlog of practical tests that was increasing,” association officials said. “At that time, the group targeted a wait time of no longer than 14 days from the time an applicant was signed off for a practical test to the time they could source such a test.”
Unfortunately, this hasn’t happened.
In the 2022 survey, 77% of the respondents indicated they had to wait more than two weeks to get a practical test scheduled.
A full 38% reported their wait was more than a month.
When considering initial CFI practical tests, 83% indicated a need to wait more than two weeks.
Retest time periods were similarly delayed, according to the survey.
Who responded to the survey?
“While responses from practical test respondents, CFIs, and the training providers is valuable, we found that in this particular survey a large percentage of respondents were DPEs themselves,” FSANA officials report, noting more than 150 DPEs, representing more than 15% of the DPEs in the United States, provided input.
“If anyone knows how long or how much it takes to get a practical test, these are the people,” officials said.
Want to know more? You can see the full survey results here.
Why do examiners get paid in cash? I assume they are all claiming that cash with the IRS. $800 cash for a check ride. Interesting….
Perhaps it’s taking advantage of shortage due to considerable increase in hobby flight.
In 1975, Pueblo Co., There were no delays or shortage. One retired ATC guy and two FBO owners took care of it all. Notice too they weren’t trying to make their living off of it.
I did my private pilot training in 1972 for $1999 (Piper “Blue Skies” Program). That sounds cheap that would be over $15K in today’s dollars. Flying has *never* been “inexpensive.”
Golf instructors and auto mechanics make much more than flight instructors. CFIs are definitely underpriced in the larger market considering the dost or training and proficiency. DPE rates are similarly quite reasonable in a historical context; availability clearly is the big problem.
$250 in 2001, FWIW…
In 1973 I had my private pilot check ride at my DPE’s usual fee of $35. I know that has been a long time but my goodness. With no limitations on the current fees and increased demand a system of price fixing has evolved through the fellowship of associations. No doubt the is a topic of conversations at the meetings. I once heard a gas station owner tell someone “I don’t price fix, I just look out the window and see what my competitor is charging,”
Here in the Birmingham AL area it’s taking months. One the other day stated he was booked til March. Another is usually 2-3 months until he has availability. Our flight school has sent applicants to locations 60+ miles away for a pin available DPE, one has a DPE in a neighboring state. Appears to me a couple more DPEs are needed.
My private, in 1979, was $50. Of course, the 2 yr old Cessna I took the test in was $35/hr and the CFI charged $12/ hr.
In case no one has noticed, a 2 yr old Cessna now rents for upwards of $200/hr.
I personally don’t have a problem with these designated examiners charging what their they are. These people are at the GA level where it all starts, and need to be compensated. The old saying how to make a small fortune in general aviation is to start with a large one holds true. It’s why I (an A&P w/ IA and 35 years of GA experience) make way more money in the landscaping business and I ever did turning wrenches. I think I paid $200 for my Private Pilot check ride in 1988 and maybe $250 for my commercial a couple of years later.