What Is the Pre-Checkride Checklist?

The pre-checkride checklist is a comprehensive list of everything you need to have ready before your checkride day. It covers regulatory requirements (medical certificate, knowledge test results, endorsements) and administrative items (IACRA application, photo ID). Arriving without the required documents or eligibility can result in a discontinuance before the checkride even starts -- the checklist helps you catch these issues well in advance.

Your checklist is accessible from the checkride detail view. Open a confirmed checkride from the Checkrides page to see all items and their completion status.

How Checklist Items Are Generated

The checklist is automatically generated and tailored to your situation. The platform considers your checkride type (Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, ATP, etc.) and, if you have linked your FAA Airman Registry account, your existing certificates and ratings. This means the checklist only includes items relevant to you -- if you already hold a certificate that satisfies a requirement, that item may be pre-checked or omitted.

Types of Checklist Items

  • IACRA Application — Confirm you have submitted your IACRA application and provide your FTN. Work with your instructor to complete it if you have not started -- your instructor must sign it electronically before the DPE can process it.
  • Photo ID — Confirm you have a valid, government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, military ID). Make sure it is not expired.
  • Medical Certificate — Verify your medical is current and the correct class for your certificate level (e.g., Third-Class or BasicMed for Private). Check the expiration date -- medical validity depends on class and age. If it will expire before your checkride, schedule a new exam promptly.
  • Endorsements — Confirm all required flight instructor endorsements are in your logbook. The specific endorsements depend on your checkride type. Review 14 CFR 61.39 and the relevant sections for your certificate level.
  • Knowledge Test — Verify you have passed the applicable FAA knowledge test and results have not expired (generally valid for 60 calendar months). Plan accordingly if results are close to expiring.
  • Aircraft Airworthiness — Confirm the aircraft you plan to use has a current annual inspection, current registration, and meets all regulatory requirements. Your instructor can help verify this.
  • Fees — Acknowledge the DPE's fee and confirm your payment arrangement. Message your DPE if unsure about accepted payment methods.

How to Complete Items

Checklist items use different completion methods:

  • Self-attestation — You check off the item to confirm you have met the requirement (e.g., IACRA submitted, fees acknowledged, aircraft airworthiness).
  • Document upload — You upload a photo or scan of a document (medical certificate, endorsement pages, photo ID, knowledge test results). Your DPE can review any documents prior to your checkride.
  • Automatic verification — Some items are verified automatically through the FAA Airman Registry (e.g., prerequisite certificates and ratings).
Complete self-attested items first, and upload documents early to give your DPE time to review them. Begin working through your checklist as soon as your checkride is confirmed and the checklist is available.

Uploading Required Documents

From your checkride detail view, click on the checklist item that requires a document. You will see an upload button to select a file (JPG, PNG, or PDF). On mobile, you can take a photo directly.

For more detail on document management, see the Uploading and Managing Documents article.

Upload documents early. If the DPE requests a resubmission, you want time to fix the issue before your checkride date.

Certificate Verification via FAA Airman Registry

If you have linked your FAA Airman Registry account (by entering your certificate number in your Profile), the platform retrieves your certificate data -- certificate types, ratings, and medical certificate status. This data is used to tailor your checklist and automatically verify prerequisites.

If your data looks wrong, verify the certificate number in your profile settings. A typo will pull up incorrect records. If recently earned certificates do not appear, the FAA database may take days to weeks to update -- wait and refresh. Student pilots without an FAA certificate number will have an empty certificate section, which is normal; default checklist items for first-time applicants will be used.

The Packing Checklist

The packing checklist is separate from the pre-checkride readiness checklist. While the readiness checklist covers documents and eligibility, the packing checklist is a day-of list of physical items to bring. Find it in your checkride detail view under a separate tab.

Standard items for most checkrides include: current charts, E6B, plotter, fuel sampler, headset, kneeboard, logbook with endorsements, photo ID, medical certificate, knowledge test results, and aircraft documents. Additional items vary by checkride type (e.g., view-limiting device for Instrument, lesson plans for CFI).

The night before or morning of your checkride, go through the packing checklist and check off each item. Forgetting a required item could result in a discontinuance.

How Your DPE Sees Your Progress

Your DPE can see your checklist progress in real time, including which items are complete and incomplete, as well as the dates and details entered into any checklist items. Keep your checklist up to date -- a well-prepared applicant makes for a smoother checkride for everyone.

The checklist is a preparation tool, not a substitute for the regulatory requirements of 14 CFR Part 61. Your DPE will still verify all documents and eligibility on checkride day.