Theory examination

Persons wishing to obtain a pilot licence or instrument rating are required to pass an official theory examination. Candidates must pass the theory examination before they can take the practical examination.

Theory examination — © imago

Enrolment

New:

Registration for the theory exam is done through the dLIS platform.

Examination dates

• Theoretical examinations 2026 - ATPL CPL IR BIR CB-IR

  PDF144.73 kB18 November 2025

• Theoretical examinations 2026 - PPL/LAPL(A), PPL/LAPL(H), SPL, BPL

  PDF124.79 kB14 January 2026

Premises for theory exams

• Ittigen (BE)

  The exams are held in the FOCA building in Ittigen. The entrance to the exam centre is at the side of the building: see map below.

  • Address: Federal Office of Civil Aviation FOCA, Papiermühlestrasse 172, 3063 Ittigen
  • Public transport stop: Ittigen, Papiermühle
  • Parking: No parking is available at the FOCA building. Please use the public parking or the multi-storey car park in the Talgut centre.

  

• Lausanne (VD)

  The exams are held at the Lausanne-Blécherette aerodrome.

  • Address: Aéroformation, Avenue du Grey 119, 1018 Lausanne
  • Public transport stop: Lausanne-Blécherette
  • Parking: Parking spaces are available.

  

• Illnau (ZH)

  The exams are held at the Hotzehuus in Illnau.

  • Address: Hotzehuus, Usterstrasse 2, 8308 Illnau
  • Public transport stop: Illnau, train station
  • Parking: Parking is available in Kempttalstrasse and in the car park in Effretikonerstrasse. Further information about parking can be found on the Hotzehuus website.

  

• Bellinzona (TI)

  The exams are held at the Hotel Internazionale in Bellinzona.

  • Address: Hotel Internazionale, Viale Stazione 35, 6500 Bellinzona
  • Public transport stop: Bellinzona, train station
  • Parking: No parking is available at the Hotel. Please use the public parkings.

  

Deadlines and validity

The theory exams must be successfully completed within 18 months (to the end of a calendar month). 
Once the last theory examination has been passed, candidates have 24 months to take the practical test for LAPL, PPL, BPL or SPL and 36 months to take the CPL and IR tests.

Guidelines

• LAPL/PPL/SPL/BPL theory examinations

  • FOCA GM/INFO - Theorieprüfung für Privatpiloten

    PDF562.69 kB13 July 2021

  • Regulations theoretical examinations

    PDF217.28 kB1 July 2025

  Als Inhaber einer EASA Lizenz existiert ein Theoriekredit beim Erwerb einer anderen Lizenzkategorie. Zwischen PPL/BPL/SPL werden die allgemeinen Fächer kreditiert. Zwischen PPL(A) und PPL(H) wird zusätzlich das Fach 060 Navigation angerechnet. Für die spezifischen Fächer muss eine Theorieprüfung abgelegt werden. Gegenteilige Auskünfte diesbezüglich, welche zu einem früheren Zeitpunkten durch die Behörden erteilt wurden, sind nichtig.

  Allgemeine Fächer
  010 Luftrecht
  040 Menschliches Leistungsvermögen
  050 Meteorologie
  060 Navigation (nur zwischen PPL(A) und PPL(H))
  090 Kommunikation VFR
  

  Spezifische Fächer
  020 Allgemeine Luftfahrzeugkenntnis
  030 Flugleistungen und Flugplanung
  060 Navigation (Für BPL et SPL)
  070 Betriebsverfahren
  080 Grundlagen des Fluges

• ATPL/CPL/IR theory examinations

  For more information, please visit the EASA website.

  • Regulations theoretical examinations

    PDF217.28 kB1 July 2025