Find a DPE

A Designated Pilot Examiner is an FAA-authorized private examiner who administers pilot checkrides on behalf of the FAA. They issue your temporary certificate after a successful oral exam and flight test. DPEs are independent contractors, not FAA employees, and they set their own fees.

DPE fees vary by market and certificate. Typical 2026 ranges: Private Pilot $800 to $1,000, Instrument Rating $900 to $1,100, Commercial $900 to $1,200, CFI Initial $1,200 to $1,800. Aircraft rental adds another $400 to $700 for the flight portion.

Search the FAA Designee Management System, ask at your home airport, or use a directory that mirrors the FAA list with better filters. The AviPrep directory lets you browse every FAA-listed DPE by state and certificate.

Start identifying candidates four to six weeks before your target window. In busy markets like Phoenix, Florida, and North Texas, popular DPEs book six to ten weeks out. Lock the date once your CFI is ready to endorse you, and ask to be on the short-notice waitlist for cancellations.

Many DPEs will travel within roughly 100 nautical miles of their home base, especially for less common designations. Travel typically adds $100 to $300 in fees plus aircraft fuel. Ask before scheduling, since some DPEs only test from their home field.

The DPE issues a Notice of Disapproval listing the specific tasks that did not meet standards. Get focused training on those tasks with your CFI, then schedule a retest, usually with the same DPE. The retest fee is typically half to three quarters of the original fee, and only the deficient tasks are re-evaluated.