To schedule an FAA written exam, get a free FAA Tracking Number from IACRA at iacra.faa.gov, then create a PSI account at faa.psiexams.com, choose your exam code and testing center, and pay the $175 fee by credit or debit card. The whole booking runs about 15 minutes once you have your tracking number, a valid photo ID, and either an instructor endorsement or a Part 141 graduation certificate in hand. Most centers have appointments open within a week or two.
Get Your FAA Tracking Number First
Nothing else works until you have an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). It’s your permanent identifier in the FAA’s system and follows you through every knowledge test, practical test, and certificate application you’ll ever file. You get it for free through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) at iacra.faa.gov.1Federal Aviation Administration. FAA Tracking Number (FTN) Frequently Asked Questions
Click Register on the IACRA homepage, select Applicant, accept the terms, and fill in your profile. Use your full legal name exactly as it appears on the government-issued ID you plan to bring to the testing center. Any mismatch between IACRA and your ID will cause problems at check-in. Enter a valid email, set a username and password, and submit. Your FTN displays on screen immediately.2Federal Aviation Administration. IACRA New User Guide Save it somewhere reliable. If you don’t already hold an FAA certificate, leave the certificate section blank.
Documents the Portal Will Expect
Photo ID
Federal regulations at 14 CFR 61.35 require a valid, government-issued photo ID showing your photograph, signature, and date of birth. A driver’s license or passport typically covers it.3eCFR. 14 CFR 61.35 – Knowledge Test: Prerequisites and Passing Grades A residential address is specifically required only if your permanent mailing address is a P.O. box, but the FAA’s testing matrix instructs that identification should include a physical residential address, so bring a utility bill, lease, or bank statement as backup in case a proctor reads the rule strictly.4Federal Aviation Administration. FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix Recent name change through marriage or a court order? Update IACRA first, or bring the legal documentation.
Instructor Endorsement or Graduation Certificate
Most knowledge tests require a logbook endorsement from a certified flight instructor confirming you’ve completed the appropriate ground training and are prepared to test.3eCFR. 14 CFR 61.35 – Knowledge Test: Prerequisites and Passing Grades The endorsement typically includes the instructor’s name, certificate number, signature, and date. If you graduated from an FAA-approved Part 141 pilot school, a certificate of graduation satisfies the requirement instead. Have the details ready before you start booking.
English Proficiency
FAA regulations require certificate applicants to read, speak, write, and understand English at no less than ICAO Operational Level 4. This applies across 14 CFR Parts 61, 63, 65, and 107.5Federal Aviation Administration. FAA English Language Standard for an FAA Certificate Issued Under 14 CFR Parts 61, 63, 65, and 107 Applicants who cannot hear or speak due to a medical condition may still be eligible for a certificate with operational limitations.
Book Through the PSI Portal
All FAA Airman Knowledge Tests run through PSI at faa.psiexams.com.6Federal Aviation Administration. Airman Testing Create a PSI account using your FTN. PSI requires multi-factor authentication through an authenticator app, so install one on your phone before you start; otherwise you’ll stall mid-registration.7Talogy. FAA Airman Knowledge Testing
Once your account is active, pick the exam code that matches the certificate or rating you’re pursuing. Each test has its own code, question count, and time allotment. Common ones:
- PAR: Private Pilot Airplane, 60 questions, 120 minutes
- CAX: Commercial Pilot Airplane, 100 questions, 150 minutes
- IRA: Instrument Rating Airplane, 60 questions
The full list is in the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix.4Federal Aviation Administration. FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix
After selecting your exam, search testing centers by location, pick an available date and time, and confirm. Before you submit, verify that the exam code, your name, and your FTN are all correct. A confirmation email with the center’s address and check-in instructions arrives shortly after. Keep it. If there’s ever a dispute at check-in, that email is your proof.
Fees and Payment
The exam costs $175 per attempt, plus applicable tax, paid by credit or debit card in the PSI portal at the time of booking.8PSI Services. FAA Testing Programs There’s no separate payment at the center. Fail the exam and the retest costs another full $175.
Veterans and eligible dependents using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill (Active Duty or Selected Reserve), or Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance can seek reimbursement. The VA covers up to $2,000 per test, well above the $175 fee, and will reimburse even if you don’t pass. Submit VA Form 22-0803 with a copy of your receipt and test results.9Veterans Affairs. Licensing and Certification Tests and Prep Courses
Rescheduling and Cancellation
You can reschedule or cancel through your PSI account without losing your fee, as long as you do it at least two business days before the appointment.10PSI. Test Taker Support Miss that window and the $175 is gone. You can still book as late as one day before the exam if a seat is open, but any change inside that two-business-day buffer triggers the forfeiture. Late arrival on exam day is treated the same as a no-show. Check the portal a day or two before your appointment to confirm the center’s hours and location haven’t changed.
Requesting Testing Accommodations
If a documented disability affects your ability to test under standard conditions, PSI provides accommodations under the ADA. Register for the exam first, then submit an accommodation request through the PSI platform. The request needs documentation from the medical professional or institution that diagnosed you, printed on their letterhead, describing the disability, the recommended accommodation, and the specialist’s name, title, phone number, and original signature.11PSI Online. Exam Accommodations Extended time and separate testing rooms are common accommodations. Submit early; processing takes time.
Timing Your Test Against the 24-Month Clock
A passing knowledge test score is valid for 24 calendar months. You must complete your practical test within that window or the score expires and you retake it.12eCFR. 14 CFR 61.39 – Prerequisites for Practical Tests The exception is applicants pursuing an Airline Transport Pilot certificate with a multiengine class rating who completed the ATP certification training program; their window extends to 60 calendar months.
Two years sounds generous, but flight training delays add up. Nothing requires you to sit the written at the start of your training, and scheduling closer to your checkride can protect you from the clock.