When should you take the private pilot written test?
Most instructors recommend taking the written test early in your training, ideally in the first few weeks. It must be passed before your checkride, and getting it done early lets you focus on flying.
The knowledge test is valid for 24 calendar months, so taking it early in training is low-risk and frees you to concentrate on flying skills later.
The written must be passed before you can take the practical test.
Many students knock it out in the first month using a focused test-prep program, which also reinforces the ground knowledge they’ll apply in the air.
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Thinking About Flying as a Career?
The private pilot certificate is the first step toward the flight deck. But if you’re thinking about a career as a pilot you’ll need more then that. Zero Time to Airline is a structured program that takes you from no experience all the way to airline-qualified, with every certificate and rating along the way.