Knowledge Tests Include Preparation of the Applicant, Location

An instructor reminds us to respect the testing process while pointing out its limitations.

Tuesday, December 06, 2022 at 11:21 AM ET

Verified

When you take your knowledge exam, you should know how to use a mechanical E6-B because some testing centers will not allow an electronic one. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

PSI Services, Inc., the sole administrator of FAA knowledge tests, will significantly cut payments to FBO testing centers from $65 to $22 per test starting January 1, 2023.
This drastic reduction in compensation is expected to prompt many FBOs to stop offering pilot knowledge tests, making it more challenging for aspiring pilots to find convenient testing locations.
To take the $175 test, applicants must have a proper endorsement from a flight instructor or an approved ground school, and thorough preparation, including practice tests with high scores, is strongly advised to ensure success and inform the subsequent checkride.

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It’s true: $175 is a lot of money to pay for a two hour, 60-question test. Just ask anyone who has taken the private pilot airplane knowledge exam recently at a flight school or FBO.

In reality, the tests are offered by PSI Services, Inc. The FBOs that provide testing are contractors, offering the tests as a convenience to their customers. The FBOs are currently paid $65 for each test, but as of January 1, 2023, payment to the FBOs will drop to $22 per test—and that is making some FBOs reconsider offering the service.