Airworthy PrepThe Instrument Rating Airplane written test (IRA) costs $175 per attempt, paid to PSI, the FAA’s testing company, when you book. That is the figure testing centers publish, for example Bridgewater State University’s testing center, which says “All FAA Exams cost $175” (Bridgewater State University, FAA knowledge exams, checked October 25, 2026). The FAA’s own pages do not print the fee, so confirm it on the PSI booking screen. You also need an instructor’s endorsement to take the test, and if you fail, extra training before a retake.
The costs at a glance
| Item | Cost | Required? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Tracking Number (FTN) in IACRA | No fee listed | Yes | FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix, p. 1 |
| Ground training or home-study course on the instrument knowledge areas | Varies: free FAA handbooks up to a paid course | Yes, one or the other | 14 CFR 61.65(a)(3) |
| Instructor endorsement (or pilot school graduation certificate) | Set by your instructor or school | Yes | FAA Testing Matrix, p. 11; 14 CFR 61.65(a)(4) |
| Knowledge test (IRA) at a PSI testing center | $175 per attempt (confirm when you book) | Yes | Testing center fee pages; see below |
| Retake after a fail | Another test fee, plus extra instructor training | Only if you fail | 14 CFR 61.49(a) |
| FAA study materials and current charts | Free | Optional | faa.gov |
| Paid prep course or practice test | Varies by seller (free options exist) | Optional | Seller pages |
Instrument flight training, aircraft and simulator time and the checkride examiner’s fee are costs of the rating, not the written. Your school and examiner set them, so ask them for current prices.
The test fee in detail
You pay PSI when you schedule. The PSI IRA Information Bulletin (March 2024) explains how to book and cancel but prints no dollar amount, and neither does the FAA’s testing page.
The $175 comes from testing centers that publish their fee for all FAA knowledge exams, such as Bridgewater State University (linked above). We have not seen a different figure for IRA, but we cannot confirm it from an FAA or PSI page, so check it on the booking screen. The same fee applies to the Private Pilot test: see how much the Private Pilot written test costs.
Two ways to lose it, from the PSI bulletin: arriving late, when you may not be admitted and may forfeit the registration fee, and missing your appointment, which can forfeit your chance to test. You can cancel and reschedule only if PSI receives your notice 24 hours before the exam time (PSI IRA bulletin, p. 2). PSI recommends arriving at least 15 minutes early.
The endorsement
To take the IRA test you need one of these: a certificate of graduation or statement of accomplishment from an FAA-certificated pilot school’s ground school, or a written statement or logbook endorsement from an authorized ground or flight instructor certifying that you are prepared (FAA Testing Matrix, p. 11). If your instrument instructor is training you, the endorsement usually comes as part of training. If you study at home first, you need an instructor to review your home study and sign you off. Some paid online ground schools include an endorsement when you finish their course. Practice-test-only products usually do not.
What a retake costs
Part 61 sets no waiting period for a failed knowledge test. Before you retest you need additional training from an authorized instructor who has decided you are proficient to pass, and that instructor’s endorsement (14 CFR 61.49(a)). You hand the failed test report to the testing center too (FAA Testing Matrix, p. 11).
So failing once costs a second test fee, plus your instructor’s time for the extra training. In calendar year 2025 the FAA recorded 27,143 IRA tests with a 94.38% pass rate (FAA CY2025 Airman Knowledge Test statistics). Those figures are from before October 26, 2026, when the test started using images from current FAA charts that are not in the supplement (FAA Airman Testing Community Advisory, September 2026 Special Edition, p. 6). Prep that only drills memorized questions may not cover those.
Total cost: three examples
These count only the written test, not flight training.
| Example | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Free FAA materials, endorsement included in training, pass first time | $175 test = $175 |
| A $39 practice test bank, pass first time | $39 + $175 = $214 |
| A $299 video ground school, fail once, then pass | $299 + $175 + $175 + instructor time = $649 plus instructor time (less any guarantee refund) |
The $175 is the testing center figure above. The $39 line uses the price of our Instrument Rating course, and the $299 line is an example price for a full video ground school. Course prices change, so check the seller’s page before you buy.
Do not let the pass expire
You must pass the knowledge test within the 24 calendar months before the month you complete your instrument practical test (14 CFR 61.39(a)(1)). If you take the written early and your flight training stalls, you could pay for it twice. The usual approach is to take it once your instrument training is under way, so you can finish the checkride well inside the 24 months.
How to spend less
- Use the free FAA books. The Instrument Flying Handbook, the Instrument Procedures Handbook, the Aeronautical Information Manual, the Instrument Rating ACS and the FAA IRA sample questions are all free.
- Study the two biggest areas first. Preflight Preparation and Instrument Approach Procedures are 26% of the test each (PSI IRA bulletin, p. 4). Start with Instrument Approach Procedures.
- Practice on current charts. The new image questions use current enroute and approach charts, which the FAA publishes free.
- Take full timed practice tests before you book. Try the free 10-question Instrument Rating mock, no sign-up. The full Instrument Rating course is $39.
- Doing Private as well? A bundle of both can cost less than buying them separately. See taking the Private and Instrument written tests together.
For the format, areas and chart questions, read our Instrument Rating written test guide.
Common questions
How much is the instrument written test?
$175 per attempt, paid to PSI when you book, as listed by testing centers in October 2026. Confirm it on the booking screen.
Is the instrument written fee the same as the private pilot written?
Testing centers list one fee for all FAA knowledge exams, $175 as of October 2026, so yes as far as we have seen.
How much does an instrument written retake cost?
Another test fee, plus additional instructor training and an endorsement before you retest (14 CFR 61.49(a)).
Can I take the instrument written without paying for a course?
Yes. You need ground training from an instructor or a home-study course (14 CFR 61.65(a)(3)), and the FAA’s handbooks are free. You still need an instructor’s endorsement to take the test.