If you've started researching flight training in the past few years, you've probably heard the phrase "DPE shortage." It's become part of the conversation—something that affects timelines, costs, and how long it takes to get your certificate. But what actually is a DPE shortage, and why does it matter so much?
A Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) is an FAA-authorized individual who conducts practical tests for pilot certificates and ratings. They're the person who gives you your checkride. Without a DPE, you can't officially earn your certificate, no matter how well-trained you are. And right now, there aren't enough of them to meet demand.
This creates a real problem for flight schools and students. It causes delays, adds costs, and sometimes forces students to keep flying just to stay proficient while waiting for an appointment. Understanding why this happened, and what options exist, can help you make smarter decisions about your training.
The Shortage: What Actually Happened
The DPE shortage isn't a sudden crisis that appeared overnight. It's the result of several pressures converging over the past decade.
The FAA created the bottleneck themselves. The minimum requirements to become a DPE are strict: you need at least 1,000 hours as pilot-in-command, specific commercial certificate requirements, and a demonstrated ability to pass a demanding check yourself. The FAA also limits DPE authority geographically and by aircraft type. This is actually a good thing from a safety perspective—you want experienced people running checkrides. But it also means the pool of eligible examiners is small.
Flying instructor shortages made it worse. After 2008 and the financial crisis, fewer people became flight instructors. That meant fewer experienced pilots had the hours and background to become DPEs later in their careers. The industry is still recovering from that gap.
Demand skyrocketed. Post-pandemic, interest in aviation exploded. Flight schools got busier. More students needed checkrides at the same time the examiner pool hadn't grown to match that demand. In some areas of Florida, the wait for a DPE can stretch to 3–6 months or longer.
People left the job. Some DPEs retired or reduced their workload, and others take on fewer examinations because they've figured out the economics: with limited examiners available, they can charge premium rates. DPE fees have skyrocketed; many are now charging $1,500 or more per checkride, taking full advantage of the shortage. The supply-and-demand problem has become very real for students trying to budget for their training.
The result: a backlog. Students finish their training and then wait. And wait.
Why the Wait Costs You Money (And Not Just Time)
Here's what many people don't realize about DPE delays: they cost money in a way that's hard to see coming.
When you finish your training, you're not automatically done flying. The FAA requires that you stay current before your checkride. That means you have to keep paying for flight time to maintain your skills. If your checkride is scheduled three months out, you might need to fly 5–10 hours per month just to stay sharp. In Florida, that's $1,000–$2,000 in extra costs you didn't budget for.
And if you're paying to keep current in an aircraft while waiting for a DPE, you're also paying for insurance, airplane rental, and your instructor's time, which can all add up very quickly.
There's also the practical reality: the longer between your training completion and your checkride, the higher the chance you'll have degraded some skill or lost confidence in something you learned months ago. Students sometimes fail checkrides not because they weren't trained well, but because they lost proficiency waiting for the appointment.
For pilots working toward a career, every week you wait to earn your rating is a week you're not building time toward your next certificate or not starting a job that requires that certificate. For those chasing airline minimums, delays compound fast.
What Examining Authority Actually Means
Some flight schools hold what's called "FAA Examining Authority" for specific certificates and ratings. This is rare. It means the school itself is authorized to conduct the final practical exam in-house, using the school's chief instructor or assistant chief instructor as the examiner.
This isn't a shortcut or a "participation trophy" checkride. The standards are identical to what you'd face with an outside DPE. The difference is logistics.
How it works: Instead of waiting months for a DPE appointment, your school schedules your end-of-course check with one of their authorized examiners; typically the chief or assistant chief instructor. That usually means scheduling within days, not months. The check itself is the official test. Once you pass it, and you've earned your certificate.
The advantage for you: You maintain momentum. You finish your training, you take your test, you move on. There's no extended waiting period where your skills atrophy. You don't rack up extra flight time costs staying current while waiting. Your training stays cohesive.
The cost difference: Most DPEs charge $1,500 or more for a checkride in the current market. Schools with examining authority typically charge an examiner processing fee, GoFly's being the $300 ACR Processing Fee. That's substantial savings, especially if you're doing multiple ratings.
Why it's rare: The FAA doesn't grant examining authority lightly. Schools have to prove they maintain rigorous standards, have proper facilities, and have instructors with solid track records. It's something you earn through years of consistent performance. In Florida, very few schools hold this authority for Part 141 training.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters to Training Quality
The DPE shortage has had an interesting secondary effect: it's highlighted why examining authority, when done right, can actually improve training quality.
When your school is responsible for the final exam, there's built-in accountability. The instructors know these checkrides reflect on them directly. The curriculum has to be tight because there's nowhere to hide. If students are consistently struggling with certain maneuvers or concepts, the school's examining authority can be revoked. That creates pressure to maintain high standards.
It also means students get examined by instructors who know the school's syllabus inside and out. There's continuity between what was taught and what's being tested. You're not facing an unknown examiner with different preferences or standards, you're being tested on what you've actually learned.
This doesn't mean outside DPEs are poor examiners. Many are excellent. But there's a structural advantage to schools that manage their own checkrides: the incentive to teach well is built into the system.
What This Means If You're Choosing a Flight School
If examining authority matters to you—and for many students it should—here are the questions worth asking:
Does the school have Part 141 examining authority? For PPL and/or IR? Ask them directly. If they do, it's a meaningful advantage.
What's the typical wait time for a checkride? Even without examining authority, some schools have better DPE relationships than others. A school that regularly works with a particular DPE might get faster appointments.
What happens if you don't pass the first time? With examining authority, retesting is often quicker and more affordable. Without it, you're back in the DPE queue, waiting months to try again.
What does the school charge for testing? Some DPE fees are built into tuition. Others are separate. Understanding the total cost helps you budget.
The DPE shortage is a real factor in your training timeline. But it's also something that highlights why some schools have structured themselves differently, and why those differences can directly affect your experience.
The DPE shortage exists because there aren't enough FAA-authorized examiners to meet the surge in pilot training demand. It's a real bottleneck, and it affects timeline, cost, and sometimes even proficiency. High DPE fees—often $1,500 or more—make the problem worse for students already stretched financially.
For schools with FAA examining authority, it's a way to cut through that bottleneck entirely. You finish training, take your test within days with an instructor you know at a facility you're familiar with, and move forward. There's no months-long wait. There's no degradation of skills. There's continuity.
If you're researching flight schools in Miami and examining authority is something you value, it's worth asking whether schools have it and how it affects your training path. It's one of those details that doesn't make headlines but meaningfully impacts your experience.
If you're considering flight training in the Miami area and want to learn more about how examining authority fits into a training program, we're happy to discuss how it works and what it means for your timeline and costs.