Airworthy PrepThe Private Pilot written test (PAR) 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. On top of the fee you need an instructor’s endorsement 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 | Varies: free FAA handbooks up to a paid course | Yes, one or the other | 14 CFR 61.35(a)(1) and 61.103(d) |
| Instructor endorsement to take the test | Set by your instructor (often part of training) | Yes | FAA Testing Matrix, p. 13 |
| Knowledge test (PAR) 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 | Free | Optional | faa.gov |
| Paid prep course or practice test | Free up to about $300 | Optional | See our comparison |
Flight training, the medical certificate and the checkride examiner’s fee are separate costs of the certificate, not the written test. They are set by your school, your aviation medical examiner and your examiner, so ask each of them for a current price.
The test fee in detail
You pay the test fee to PSI when you schedule, not to the FAA. The PSI PAR Information Bulletin (March 2024) explains how to book and how to cancel, but does not print a dollar amount, and neither does the FAA’s testing page.
The $175 figure comes from testing centers that publish it, such as Bridgewater State University (linked above), whose page covers all FAA knowledge exams, not only Part 107. We have not seen a different price for PAR, but we cannot confirm it from an FAA or PSI page, so check it on the booking screen.
Two ways to lose the fee, from the PSI bulletin:
- Arriving late. If you arrive late you may not be admitted and may forfeit the registration fee (PSI bulletin, p. 2). PSI recommends arriving at least 15 minutes early.
- Canceling late or not showing up. The bulletin lets you cancel and reschedule only if PSI receives your notice 24 hours before the exam time (a voice mail does not count), and says a missed appointment can forfeit your chance to test (PSI bulletin, p. 2). Read the current rules when you book.
Endorsement: the cost people forget
You cannot take the PAR test without authorization. The FAA accepts a graduation certificate from an FAA-certificated pilot school, or a written statement or logbook endorsement from an authorized ground or flight instructor saying you completed a ground training or home-study course and are ready for the test (FAA Testing Matrix, p. 13).
If you are training at a flight school, the endorsement usually comes from your instructor as part of training. If you are studying on your own first, you need an instructor (flight or ground) to review your home study and sign you off. Some paid online ground schools include an endorsement when you finish their course: our prep comparison shows which ones say so. Practice-test-only products usually do not.
What a retake costs
Part 61 sets no waiting period for a failed knowledge test. Instead, before you retest you need additional training from an authorized instructor who decides you are proficient, and an endorsement from that instructor (14 CFR 61.49(a)). At the testing center you also give them the failed test report (FAA Testing Matrix, p. 13).
So the cost of failing once is a second test fee, plus whatever your instructor charges for the extra training session, plus the time. In calendar year 2025 the FAA recorded 44,657 PAR tests with an 89.56% pass rate (FAA CY2025 Airman Knowledge Test statistics), so about 1 in 10 tests was not a pass.
Total cost: three examples
These count only the written test, not flight training.
| Example | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Free FAA materials, instructor endorsement included in training, pass first time | $175 test = $175 |
| A $29 practice test bank, pass first time | $29 + $175 = $204 |
| 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 course prices are from our Private Pilot prep comparison, checked October 28, 2026. Several paid courses offer a refund if you fail, with conditions, which would change the last line.
Does a pass expire?
Yes, for the checkride. You must pass the knowledge test within the 24 calendar months before the month you complete your practical test (14 CFR 61.39(a)(1)). If your training stalls and your result runs out, you pay for a new test. Taking the written partway through training, and keeping your training moving, avoids paying twice.
How to spend less
- Use the free FAA books. The Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, the Airplane Flying Handbook, the Private Pilot ACS and the FAA sample questions cost nothing.
- Study the biggest areas first. Preflight Preparation is 22% of the test and Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds is 20% (PSI bulletin, p. 4). Start with the Preflight Preparation topic.
- Take full timed practice tests before you book. A $175 retake costs more than most practice tests. Try our free 10-question Private Pilot mock, no sign-up; the full Private Pilot course is $29.
- Ask about the endorsement up front. Know who will sign it before you pay for anything.
- Planning an instrument rating too? Read our guide on taking the Private and Instrument written tests together.
For the test format and what is on it, see our Private Pilot written test guide.
Common questions
How much is the private pilot written test?
$175 per attempt, paid to PSI when you book, as listed by testing centers in October 2026. The FAA’s pages do not print the fee, so confirm it on the booking screen.
Do you pay the FAA for the knowledge test?
No. You pay PSI, the FAA’s testing company, when you schedule.
How much does it cost to retake the private pilot written?
Another test fee, plus additional training and an endorsement from an instructor before you retest (14 CFR 61.49(a)).
Is the endorsement free?
There is no FAA fee for it. Your instructor sets any charge, and it is often part of your training.
What is the cheapest way to take the private pilot written?
Study from the free FAA materials, get your endorsement from your own instructor, and pass first time: $175 in total.