Setting Your Base Fee

Each checkride type in your configuration has a base fee field. To set or update your fee, open Settings from the user menu, open the Checkride Types tab, click Edit on a group, and enter the fee for each type. The base fee represents what you charge for the checkride itself, before any travel fees.

A group of checkride types being edited, with a base fee for each type
A group of checkride types being edited, with a base fee for each type

How Fees Appear to Applicants

Your fees are publicly visible to applicants in several places:

  • Your profile — When applicants choose a checkride on your profile, whether they found you by name or on the map, it shows your base fee for it, and each location's travel fee.
  • Waitlist joining — When an applicant joins your waitlist, they see the fee for the checkride type they are selecting.
  • Checkride details — The fee is displayed on the checkride detail page along with any applicable travel fee.

Transparent pricing helps applicants make informed decisions about which DPE to choose.

The base fee for the chosen checkride, and each location's travel fee, on a DPE's profile
The base fee for the chosen checkride, and each location's travel fee, on a DPE's profile

Base Fees and Travel Fees

The total fee an applicant sees is the combination of your base fee for the checkride type plus the travel fee for the testing location (if any). For example, if your base fee for a Private Pilot checkride is a certain amount and the testing location has a travel fee, the applicant sees the combined total. Locations with no travel fee (such as your home base) only show the base fee.

Fees and the Scheduler

If you use the MAXIMIZE_REVENUE scheduler priority, the scheduler considers the combined fee (base plus travel) when deciding which checkrides to schedule. Higher-fee checkrides are prioritized to maximize your overall revenue from available slots.

Updating Fees

You can change your fees at any time. Fee changes apply to future checkrides only and do not retroactively affect checkrides that have already been offered or confirmed. If you need to communicate a fee change to applicants with pending offers, reach out through the messaging system.

DPE Waitlist does not process payments on your behalf. Fees displayed on the platform are informational. You collect payment directly from applicants using your own payment methods (check, cash, electronic transfer, etc.).
Research what other DPEs in your area charge for similar checkride types to ensure your fees are competitive. Your fee information is one of the first things applicants compare when choosing a DPE.