Module MOD-01 · 7 min · ACS PA.I.A

The Tests and What Your Certificate Lets You Do

← Becoming a Private Pilotdraft — pending CFI review

Why this matters in flight: Passing the knowledge and practical tests is the final gate to your certificate, and knowing your privileges and limitations keeps you legal afterward. Misunderstanding what a private certificate allows is a common source of inadvertent violations.

Two tests stand between a trained applicant and the certificate. The aeronautical knowledge test is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam requiring a score of 70 percent to pass. The practical test, or checkride, is given by an FAA examiner and combines an oral portion with a flight portion, all evaluated against the Airman Certification Standards. Once certificated, a private pilot may act as pilot in command of aircraft for which they are rated and may carry passengers, but generally may not fly for compensation or hire. A key allowance is that a private pilot may share the operating expenses of a flight with passengers on a pro rata basis, limited to fuel, oil, airport expenditures, and rental fees. The rule includes narrow exceptions, but the guiding principle is that private flying is personal, not commercial.

Key terms

Airman Certification Standards (ACS)
The standards defining knowledge, risk management, and skill for each test task.
Pilot in command (PIC)
The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of the flight.
Pro rata share
An equal per-person split of allowed operating expenses among occupants.

Summary

Pass the 70-percent knowledge test and the ACS-based practical test to earn the certificate. A private pilot may carry passengers and share expenses pro rata but generally may not fly for compensation or hire.

Quick check ▾

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Objective mastery: 15%

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What is the minimum passing score on the private pilot aeronautical knowledge test?

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Sources

Every claim traces to a source — paraphrased knowledge elements pointing at the governing FAA publication; not yet verified against a retrieved source.

  • Private Pilot ACS / 14 CFR 61.35 — Private Pilot — Airplane Airman Certification Standards unverified
  • Private Pilot ACS — Private Pilot — Airplane Airman Certification Standards unverified
  • 14 CFR 61.113 — 14 CFR Part 61 — Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors unverified

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