Can I Take FAA Written Exam Online?

The FAA written test is required for those who want to become a pilot or flight instructor. This test is conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

You can take the FAA written test at various locations such as airports, aviation schools, etc.

Can I Take FAA Written Exam Online

But is it possible to take the FAA Written Exam online? With the rise of working from home thanks to the global pandemic, there are becoming more opportunities to carry out tasks at home where they would have previously been conducted in a controlled setting. 

So, it’s not unreasonable to ask whether exams, such as the FAA Written exam, could be done online. Let’s find out the answer to this question now. 

Taking The FAA Written Exam Online

The answer to the question as to whether you can take the exam online is unfortunately no. You cannot take this exam online, you will need to travel to a test center to do so.

This is because the FAA has strict security measures that must be followed when conducting an examination. These include:

  • You must be physically present at the testing location
  • Your identity must be verified before being allowed into the test room
  • Your personal belongings must be searched and confiscated if necessary
  • You must sign a waiver stating that you understand these rules

These steps are taken to ensure that any potential threats to your safety are dealt with immediately.

If you fail to comply with all of these requirements, then you may be subject to prosecution under federal law. 

Sounds dramatic, but these are the rules that the FAA have put in place to ensure that people do not cheat while taking their written exam.

You will need to go to a testing center to carry out your exam. The good news, however, is that the testing centers are strict about their COVID-19 safety measures. 

You will need to wear a mask around others and all surfaces will be sanitized before you take your test.

Each testing center will have their own safety protocol, so you should look this up before heading to your exam to ensure that you are complying with it. 

How To Book Your FAA Written Exam

If you thought that you were able to take your FAA written exam online, then you might have been confused with the booking system. You are now able to book your written exam online through the FAA website. 

There are certain steps that you need to follow before booking your FAA written test online. First, you need to register yourself at the official website of the FAA and create an account.

You will need your FAA tracking number to do this. After creating an account, you need to fill out the application form.

In the application form, you need to provide details such as name, date of birth, address, contact number, etc. Once you complete the application form, you can proceed further.

Now, you need to pay the fee through credit card or debit card. The current fee for all FAA Airman Knowledge exams is $175. 

Once you successfully submit the payment, you will receive a confirmation mail from the FAA. Finally, after receiving the confirmation mail, you can log into your account and book your FAA written test.

You should pick the testing center closest to you so that you don’t have any trouble traveling there on the day of your test.

Why Do Exams Need To Be Taken In Person? 

Why Do Exams Need To Be Taken In Person

The reason why the FAA requires that you take your written exam in person is simple. It’s because they want to make sure that you are safe during the process. They also want to verify that you are who you say you are. 

This is done by having someone else take a photo of you in order to match your face against your ID. If you are found to be cheating, then you could face serious consequences. 

One of the main reasons why the FAA has made it mandatory for you to take your written exam in a testing center is so that you cannot cheat on the test.

You cannot just sit down at home and write your FAA test while looking up the answers in a textbook or online. You need to visit a testing center and take the test in a controlled environment.

Taking the FFA test brings you one step closer to being a pilot, in charge of a large volume of people’s wellbeing while flying them thousands of feet off of the ground.

You need to know the knowledge in the exam through and through to be trusted with such an important job. 

For this reason, it is imperative that people are not allowed to do the test online at home so that they can cheat on the answers.

If this were to happen, people might pass the exam without actually knowing the content and being allowed to pilot planes dangerously. 

Now that we’ve explained it this way, it makes sense that you aren’t allowed to complete the FAA written exam online – right?

What Are The Steps Involved In Taking A Flight Test?

The first thing that you need to do when taking a flight test is to get your medical clearance. Medical clearance is needed if you have any health issues that prevent you from doing physical activities like running around and jumping over things. 

After getting your medical clearance, you need to go to the nearest FAA office and apply for your flight permit.

This is where you will give them information about your age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, etc. You will also need to show them proof of your citizenship. 

Now that you have gotten the all clear from both medical and the flight permit office, you can schedule your flight tests. 

Once you have scheduled your flight test, you will need to pay $150 for the license fee. You will also need two forms of identification:

One form of identification must be a driver’s license or state-issued ID card; the other must be a passport or military ID card. 

You will need to bring these documents with you to the testing center. You will now be able to take your written flight test! 

How To Prepare For A FAA Written Exam? 

If you’re planning on taking the FAA written exam, you should start preparing early. There are many resources available online that can help you prepare for the exam.

However, there are some things that you should keep in mind before diving into the material.

When studying for the test, make sure that you focus on what you’ll be tested on. Don’t spend too much time reading about topics that you don’t need to learn yet.

The written test will be focused around a section of the FAA’s rules, so make sure that you know which section this is and only study these rules. You can learn the rest at a later date. 

Make sure that you understand how each question works. Many questions require you to use your knowledge of aviation law to answer correctly.

Make sure that you read every question carefully and try to figure out how to solve each problem. 

There are example written exams online that you can take at home to practice. This will help you get a feel of the real exam and make you feel more prepared for the real thing. 

Summary

So, there you have it! We hope that this article helped you learn everything that you need to know about the FAA written exam.

Unfortunately you cannot take it online and will need to head to a test center to complete it. Good luck on your upcoming test!

Jacob Stern
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