How to Choose a DPE for Your Checkride

The examiner you fly with shapes your checkride experience as much as your own preparation. Two DPEs can run very different rides — different oral emphasis, different pacing, different tolerance for nerves. Choosing well starts with knowing what to look for.

Confirm the authorization

Every DPE holds specific FAA function codes that define which practical tests they can give. Before anything else, confirm the examiner is authorized for your certificate and category/class. On DPERank, each profile lists the examiner's FAA function codes and the ratings they examine.

Read the reviews and the pass rate

Look past the star average to what applicants actually say: Was the oral fair? Were expectations clear? How did the examiner handle mistakes? A verifiable pass rate and multi-dimension ratings (fairness, clarity, demeanor, difficulty) tell you more than a single number.

Match location and logistics

Filter by state and city to find examiners near your training airport, then confirm fees, aircraft requirements, and scheduling lead time directly with the examiner. Availability and authorizations change, so verify before you book.

Prepare for that examiner

Once you've picked an examiner, read their study guide and any submitted gouges for patterns in how they run the ride — then prepare to the current FAA ACS. The goal isn't to memorize questions; it's to walk in knowing what to expect.