FAA Virtual Examiner Guidance — How Virtual DPE Appointments Work

The regulatory basis

Designated Pilot Examiners are private individuals authorized by the FAA to perform many of the functions of an FAA aviation safety inspector. Their authority comes from:

• 14 CFR Part 183 — establishes the FAA designee program
• FAA Order 8900.2 — the Designee Management Handbook (operational rules for DPEs)
• FAA Notices — periodically issued to clarify or update designee policy
• DMS — Designee Management System — the digital oversight platform where every appointment is logged before it occurs

Virtual administrative examiner work operates within this same framework. Nothing about "virtual" lowers the standard — the same examiner, the same DMS scrutiny, the same FAA standards apply.

What "administrative" actually means

Administrative examiner actions are eligibility-and-documentation actions. They do NOT involve a flight component. By definition:

• The pilot has already met all qualifying experience requirements
• The pilot has already passed all required knowledge tests
• The remaining step is verification, IACRA processing, and certificate issuance

Examples of administrative examiner actions virtually eligible at Daytona DPE:

What's NOT eligible for virtual examination

These actions require an in-person examiner because they include a practical-test flight component or specific FAA in-person requirements:

• Initial private, instrument, commercial, ATP practical tests
• Initial CFI practical tests
• Foreign-based certificate issuances under §61.75
• SIC type ratings
• Type ratings with practical-test components
• Recurrent or initial competency checks requiring a flight evaluation

For these, use designee.faa.gov to find a DPE in your area.

How DMS oversight works for virtual appointments

Every examiner appointment — in-person or virtual — is logged in the Designee Management System (DMS) before it occurs. The minimum advance notice is typically 24 hours. The DMS entry includes:

• Pilot's name and FTN
• Type of examination
• Scheduled date/time
• Examiner identification

This pre-appointment entry allows the FAA's Designee Management Inspector (DMI) or Principal Operations Inspector (POI) to monitor designee activity and, if desired, observe an appointment.

Identity verification on a virtual appointment

The DPE verifies identity on the video call using the same standards as in-person:

• Government-issued photo ID held up to camera, with the photo and name visible
• Verbal confirmation of full legal name, date of birth, and FTN
• Cross-reference against the IACRA application

Some categories of action (notably foreign-based issuances under §61.75) require in-person identity verification per FAA guidance — those remain in-person only.

Document review for a virtual appointment

The pilot returns required documents by email after submitting the contact form. The DPE reviews them in advance of the appointment. During the video meeting:

• Documents are confirmed live (logbook pages, supervising-instructor endorsements, knowledge test reports, etc.)
• The IACRA application is reviewed together
• The DPE signs the IACRA

The pilot does NOT sign physical paperwork — IACRA is electronic.

What happens if technology fails mid-appointment

If the video connection drops mid-appointment, the DPE reschedules to the next available slot. The DMS entry is updated. There is no charge for the rescheduled session — the original $200 covers the rescheduled appointment.

Where to verify a DPE's authority

Every DPE is listed at designee.faa.gov. The public listing shows the examiner's name, FSDO of oversight, authorized examination types, and status. Always verify that a DPE you're considering is currently active. If you can't find them on designee.faa.gov, do not book.

Why this matters for pilots

Virtual DPE work is a time and money saver, not a regulatory shortcut. The pilot saves:

• Travel time and cost (no need to fly to a FSDO or examiner's location)
• Schedule friction (virtual appointments fit modern schedules)
• Geographic constraint (pilots in remote locations or overseas can be examined)

The pilot doesn't save:

• Any underlying eligibility (you still need the FIRC, the hours, the knowledge test, etc.)
• Oversight scrutiny (same DMS framework)
• Time during the appointment itself (20–30 minutes regardless of in-person or virtual)

Pilot's perspective: who is virtual best for?

• Active-duty / deployed military pilots
• Pilots in remote or rural areas without a nearby DPE
• Pilots renewing during busy seasons when local DPEs are booked
• Pilots traveling for work who need a quick turnaround
• Any pilot who'd rather not spend a day driving to a FSDO