Regulation Text
§ 61.33 Tests: General procedure.
Tests prescribed by or under this part are given at times and places, and by persons designated by the Administrator.
Research Notes
Research Notes — § 61.33 Tests: General Procedure
Regulatory Context
Section 61.33 is one of the shortest sections in Part 61 — a single sentence establishing that all knowledge tests and practical tests under Part 61 are administered at times, places, and by persons the Administrator has designated. This is the authority delegation clause underpinning the entire testing infrastructure: the FAA's Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs), testing centers, and approved Knowledge Testing Centers all derive their authority from this delegation.
The Testing Infrastructure This Section Enables
Knowledge Tests: Written knowledge tests are administered at FAA-authorized testing centers (currently PSI and CATS are the primary providers) under protocols the FAA has approved. The Administrator has designated these centers under the authority of § 61.33.
Practical Tests: Practical (checkride) tests are given by Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) appointed by the FAA under 14 CFR § 183.23, or by FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASIs) at Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs). Both derive their designation authority from the Administrator's delegation under § 61.33.
Cross-References
The substantive test requirements — what must be demonstrated, what prerequisites must be met, what aircraft and equipment must be provided — are in the sections that follow: § 61.35 (knowledge test prerequisites), § 61.37 (cheating prohibited), § 61.39 (practical test prerequisites), § 61.43 (practical test procedures), and § 61.45 (practical test aircraft and equipment).
The DPE system is governed by 14 CFR Part 183, Subpart C. FAA Order 8900.2C is the Designated Pilot Examiner Handbook, which defines exactly how examiners operate under the authority delegated by this section.
Amendment History
Section 61.33 has been amended only once (as of the data used for this page), reflecting that the core delegation principle has been stable since the original Part 61 rulemaking. The section's simplicity is intentional — it sets the framework; the specifics live in the subsequent sections.