A Designated Pilot Examiner is an FAA-authorized examiner (14 CFR 183.23) — not an FAA employee, but empowered to issue official FAA certificates, ratings, and limitation removals. Many certificate actions are administrative (no checkride) and can be done over video. Daytona DPE handles those virtually for $200 flat.
What is a Designated Pilot Examiner?
A Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) is a private citizen the Federal Aviation Administration designates, under 14 CFR 183.23, to act on the Administrator’s behalf. A DPE is not an FAA employee — but the certificates, ratings, and endorsements a DPE issues are official FAA credentials, identical to what an FAA inspector would issue. The designation exists because there are far more pilots needing certification than there are FAA staff to test and certify them.
DPEs are appointed and overseen by their local Flight Standards office and operate under FAA order and policy. Each DPE holds specific authorizations for the certificates and ratings they may issue.
What is a DPE authorized to do?
A DPE’s work falls into two buckets:
- Practical tests (checkrides): the in-person oral-and-flight evaluations for private, instrument, commercial, ATP, CFI, and type ratings. These are conducted in person.
- Administrative certificate actions: issuances and limitation removals that are document-and-eligibility based — no checkride. Under current FAA guidance many of these can be conducted over a secure video meeting.
Daytona DPE focuses on the second bucket — the administrative actions — and processes them virtually.
Administrative examiner actions handled virtually
Each of these is an FAA administrative action a DPE can process over video. Same price, every service: $200 flat.
What a DPE must do in person
Not everything can be done over video. Practical tests — any checkride with a flight portion — are conducted face-to-face. Remote technology covers administrative functions only, and only the ones marked Remote Technology Authorized on the examiner's own Certificate Letter of Authority; here's how that works.
Practical tests are not offered here; for a checkride, find an examiner at designee.faa.gov.
How to find a designated pilot examiner near you
To find a DPE near you, use the FAA’s official designee locator at designee.faa.gov and click Find Designee, or ask your local flight school or Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). For a checkride, you’ll want a DPE within driving distance.
For an administrative action, though, “near me” doesn’t matter — the action is processed over video, so any authorized DPE can help regardless of location. Daytona DPE serves pilots in all 50 states and internationally, which is why pilots who can’t find local availability come here.
Why pilots choose a virtual DPE
- No travel, no FSDO backlog. Most administrative actions are scheduled within a few business days of inquiry.
- Flat, predictable pricing. $200 for any listed service — no travel fees, no cancellation fees, no charge if you’re not eligible.
- Same-appointment temporary certificate. Valid immediately; the permanent follows by mail in 4–6 weeks.
- Worldwide. As long as we can verify your identity on video and your documents check out, location isn’t a barrier.
Pricing — $200 flat
Every administrative examiner service is $200 flat, paid by card through a secure Stripe link once eligibility is confirmed, before the appointment. No cancellation fees, no unqualified-applicant fees. View pricing details.
Need an administrative certificate action handled by a DPE?
Tell me which service you need — I’ll confirm eligibility and get you scheduled, usually within a few business days.
Schedule with a Designated Pilot Examiner →