Instrument Rating Checkride Requirements (2026 Guide)

Who is eligible for the instrument rating checkride?

You must hold at least a current Private Pilot certificate, or be concurrently applying for one, with a rating appropriate to the instrument rating sought, per 14 CFR 61.65(a). There is no separate medical requirement written into 61.65 itself; the medical certificate (or BasicMed, where the operation qualifies under Part 68) that applies to the flight you're conducting governs.

Two additional eligibility items sit in 61.65(a): you must be able to "read, speak, write, and understand the English language," with an exception allowing the Administrator to place operating limitations on applicants who cannot meet this due to a medical condition. You also need two logbook or training-record endorsements from an authorized instructor before you can proceed: one certifying you are prepared for the instrument-rating knowledge test, and one certifying you are prepared for the practical test. Both are separate from, and in addition to, the general practical-test prerequisites in 14 CFR 61.39.

There is no minimum age specified in 61.65 for the instrument rating itself, age requirements attach to the underlying pilot certificate, not the instrument rating.

Medical eligibility is operation-dependent rather than rating-dependent. The instrument rating itself doesn't carry a unique medical standard; whatever medical basis is valid for the flight you're conducting: a third-class (or higher) medical certificate, or BasicMed under Part 68 where the aircraft and operation qualify, governs whether you can act as PIC on that flight, checkride included. Because BasicMed has weight, seating, and speed limits under Part 68, confirm with your CFII well before test day that your checkride aircraft and route qualify if you intend to test under BasicMed rather than a standard medical.

How many flight hours do you need before the instrument rating checkride?

You need 50 hours of cross-country time as pilot in command (10 of which must be in an airplane) and 40 hours of instrument time (15 of which must come from an authorized instructor), per 14 CFR 61.65(d). The table below breaks out every hour requirement exactly as written in the regulation.

Two figures get confused constantly, so it's worth separating them clearly. The 250 nm cross-country flight in 61.65(d)(2)(ii) requires "three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems". It does not specify a total approach count for the certificate. The commonly cited "6 approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting/tracking courses" figure comes from a different regulation entirely: 14 CFR 61.57(c), the instrument currency requirement that applies every 6 calendar months to maintain IFR privileges after you already hold the rating, not the initial aeronautical-experience requirement for the checkride itself.

The 40 hours of instrument time must be logged across the eight areas of operation listed in 61.65(c): preflight preparation, preflight procedures, ATC clearances and procedures, flight by reference to instruments, navigation systems, instrument approach procedures, emergency operations, and postflight procedures. These same eight areas map directly onto the Instrument ACS Areas of Operation covered below.

What endorsements do you need before the instrument rating checkride?

You need two logbook endorsements from an authorized instructor under 14 CFR 61.65(a): one certifying readiness for the knowledge test, and one certifying readiness for the practical test. A third, broader endorsement requirement applies to every practical test under 14 CFR 61.39(a).

The 61.39(a)(6) endorsement exists specifically to close the gap between passing the knowledge test and sitting for the practical, if there was a deficient subject area on your written test, the DPE will expect your CFII's endorsement (and your own answers) to reflect that it's been addressed.

How long is the instrument rating checkride?

The practical test has two parts, an oral examination followed by a flight test, administered by a Designated Pilot Examiner, per the AOPA Flight Test Prep FAQ. Neither the FAA nor AOPA publishes a fixed duration for either portion; the length depends on how quickly you demonstrate proficiency on each Task and how many follow-up questions the DPE needs to ask.

Structurally, the oral covers Knowledge and Risk Management elements across the ACS Areas of Operation: heaviest in Preflight Preparation (weather, cross-country planning, aircraft systems) and ATC Clearances and Procedures (lost communications, holding). The flight test evaluates Skill elements to the ACS tolerances: altitude, heading, airspeed, and course-tracking standards applied throughout non-precision and precision approaches, the missed approach, and emergency operations. AOPA's guidance notes that weather permitting, examiners may split the oral and flight portions across separate days rather than compress both into one sitting, so plan your schedule with flexibility rather than assuming a fixed block.

What ACS governs the instrument rating checkride?

The DPE evaluates you against FAA-S-ACS-8C Change 1, the current edition of the Instrument Rating Airman Certification Standards, published August 2022. It organizes the checkride into 8 Areas of Operation and 21 Tasks, each with discrete Knowledge, Risk Management, and Skill elements that map directly onto the eight training areas required by 61.65(c).

For a full Area-by-Area, Task-by-Task breakdown with every K/R/S element and its source citation, see the complete Instrument ACS guide and the ACS explainer article. Understanding the ACS structure before your checkride tells you exactly what's testable, nothing more, nothing less.

Each ACS Task carries its own Knowledge, Risk Management, and, where flight-evaluated, Skill elements: and each element cites the specific FAR, AIM paragraph, or handbook chapter it's drawn from. That means every oral question a DPE asks during your checkride traces back to a document you can study directly, rather than to examiner discretion. If you fail a single element within a Task, the whole Task is graded unsatisfactory and the DPE issues a Notice of Disapproval citing that Area and Task code. Under 14 CFR 61.43(f), you may then retest only the affected Area rather than the full checkride: but only if you retest within 60 days of the disapproval, present the original Notice of Disapproval, complete any required additional training with an instructor endorsement, and submit a properly completed application.

What are the most common reasons applicants fail the instrument rating checkride?

The most frequently cited failure points are regulatory memorization gaps and weak weather/airspace knowledge, not stick-and-rudder skill. Boldmethod's 2026 IFR checkride question review identifies inspection-interval confusion (static system, transponder, VOR checks), fuel-reserve versus alternate-fuel requirements, and uncertainty about which instruments are actually required for IFR flight as recurring weak spots.

AOPA's review of common checkride errors adds two more patterns that show up across certificate levels: weak understanding of weather information and the National Airspace System, and unfamiliarity with the aircraft's maintenance logbook and required inspection items, both squarely within Area I of the Instrument ACS.

On technique, Boldmethod's list of common checkride mistakes flags a behavioral pattern that costs applicants points independent of knowledge: rushing to answer instead of taking a moment to think, skipping checklist verification in favor of memorized flows, and over-answering questions well past what was asked. None of these are instrument-specific, but they compound under the added workload of instrument flying, where task saturation is already the primary risk factor the ACS Risk Management elements are designed to probe.

What is the pass rate for the instrument rating checkride?

The FAA's U.S. Civil Airmen Statistics publishes certificates and ratings issued but does not break the instrument rating out as a separate practical-test pass/fail line the way it does for some other data sets, so no single official FAA percentage exists to cite here. We're building a dedicated breakdown, see checkride pass rates by certificate for the full picture as we publish sourced FAA data.

Practice Questions

1. You hold a Private Pilot certificate and have logged 45 hours of cross-country PIC time, 8 hours of which were in an airplane. Are you eligible to apply for the instrument-airplane rating under 14 CFR 61.65(d)(1)? What's missing?

2. Explain the difference between the "three different kinds of approaches" required on your 250 nm IFR cross-country flight under 61.65(d)(2)(ii) and the "6 approaches" required for currency under 61.57(c). Which one is a prerequisite for the checkride, and which applies after you're rated?

3. Your CFII gave you a practical-test-readiness endorsement two months ago, but you haven't flown since. Does 61.65(a) or 61.39(a)(6) require a fresh endorsement closer to your test date? Explain.

4. Of your 40 hours of instrument time, 15 must come from an authorized instructor. Can the remaining 25 hours be logged as safety-pilot time with another private pilot, or must all 40 hours involve an instructor? Cite the applicable subsection.

5. If you fail Area VI (Instrument Approach Procedures) on your checkride, what four conditions does 14 CFR 61.43(f) require you to meet to retest only that Area instead of the full checkride, and what happens if you don't retest within the required window?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I log instrument time in a simulator or AATD toward the 61.65 requirement?

Yes, within limits. 14 CFR 61.65 allows simulated instrument time from an approved Aviation Training Device or flight training device to count toward the 40-hour requirement, subject to caps in 61.65(h) and (i) that depend on the device's qualification level. Always confirm current caps with your CFII before relying on simulator time.

Q: Do I need a complex or technically advanced aircraft for the instrument checkride?

No. 14 CFR 61.65 does not require a complex or technically advanced airplane for the instrument-airplane rating. The aircraft must simply be equipped for the operation performed and appropriate to the training received. Most applicants test in the same trainer used throughout instrument training.

Q: How long is the instrument rating oral exam?

The FAA does not publish a fixed duration. The practical test consists of an oral examination followed by a flight test, per the AOPA Flight Test Prep FAQ. DPEs typically schedule the two parts as a single extended appointment and may split the oral and flight over separate days if weather requires it.

Q: Can I use a BasicMed medical for the instrument rating checkride?

It depends on the aircraft and operation. BasicMed under 14 CFR Part 68 permits certain private, non-commercial IFR flights, but eligibility depends on aircraft weight, seating, and speed limits. Confirm with your CFII and the applicable Part 68 limits before scheduling the checkride under BasicMed rather than a medical certificate.

Q: What happens if I fail the instrument rating checkride?

The DPE issues a Notice of Disapproval citing the specific Area of Operation and Task where you did not meet the standard. Under 14 CFR 61.43(f), you may retest only the failed Area: not the entire checkride: provided you retest within 60 days, present the original Notice of Disapproval, complete any required additional training with an endorsement, and submit a properly completed application. Miss the 60-day window and the partial-credit rule no longer applies.

Q: How soon after my private pilot checkride can I start instrument training?

Immediately. 14 CFR 61.65(a) only requires that you hold, or be concurrently applying for, a Private Pilot certificate. There is no waiting period. Many applicants log instrument dual toward 61.65 while still finishing private pilot cross-country requirements, though the instrument rating itself cannot be issued until the private certificate is held.

Sources

• 14 CFR 61.65, Instrument Rating Requirements
• 14 CFR 61.57, Recent Flight Experience: Pilot in Command
• 14 CFR 61.39, Prerequisites for Practical Tests
• 14 CFR 61.43, Practical Tests: General Procedures
• FAA-S-ACS-8C Change 1: Instrument Rating ACS
• AOPA, Checkride: Common checkride errors
• Boldmethod, 8 Common Checkride Mistakes To Avoid
• Boldmethod, Can You Answer These 7 IFR Checkride Questions?
• AOPA, Flight Test Prep FAQ
• FAA, U.S. Civil Airmen Statistics

This article was researched from FAA primary sources (14 CFR Part 61, FAA-S-ACS-8C) and secondary sources (AOPA, Boldmethod) for interpretive and preparation content, and reviewed against current regulatory text by MockDPE Editorial Team. Last reviewed: July 2026. If you spot an inaccuracy, email [email protected].