FAA Written Test Cost and What to Expect on Test Day

What It Costs

An FAA knowledge test typically runs around $175 at an authorized testing center, though the exact price is set by the testing provider and can vary a little by location. That fee is per attempt, so if you don't pass you pay it again for the retest — one more reason to walk in genuinely ready rather than hoping to squeak by.

Booking and Checking In

You schedule through the FAA's current provider (PSI) and bring a government photo ID plus your instructor endorsement (or approved course completion). Arrive early. Testing centers are secure environments: you'll store personal items in a locker, and phones, notes, and smartwatches stay out of the room.

Inside the Test Room

The test is delivered on a computer, one multiple-choice question at a time, with a printed supplement of charts and figures for the questions that need them. You may use an approved E6B and a basic non-programmable calculator. Question counts and time limits depend on the certificate — a Private Pilot test is 60 questions with roughly two and a half hours allowed, which is ample if you've prepared.

Getting Your Results

Scoring is immediate. When you finish, the center prints your Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) with your score and the ACS codes for anything you missed. The passing score is 70%. Keep that report safe — you'll need it for your checkride, and it stays valid for 24 calendar months, within which you must complete the practical test.

If You Don't Pass

A failed attempt isn't the end of anything. You get additional instruction on the weak areas, a new endorsement, and you reschedule — there's no mandatory waiting period, just the re-endorsement and another test fee. Most people who fall short were close, close a couple of gaps, and pass the retest quickly.

How to Get Your Money's Worth on the First Try

Because every attempt costs money and every miss reappears at the checkride, the cheapest path is to over-prepare slightly: study by ACS area and practice until your scores are consistently in the mid-80s or higher. Confidence at the testing center comes from knowing you've already answered questions this hard, correctly, many times.

Aviation Test Prep organizes every question by ACS area and uses spaced repetition to resurface your weak spots, so you can watch your practice scores climb past the 70% line — and keep climbing — before you ever schedule the real test.