What happens if you fail the DLR test?

What "failing" the DLR test actually means depends heavily on which procedure you went through. In the Lufthansa Group / European Flight Academy's Berufsgrunduntersuchung (BU), the result is clear-cut: pass or fail. Whether and when a retake is possible afterwards is up to the airline — anecdotal reports suggest this is often only allowed after a long waiting period, or sometimes not at all. The DLR Pilot Certificate for self-funded candidates works differently: officially there's no pass/fail, only an assessment against EASA criteria across four areas. If that overall assessment turns out unfavourable, a new examination is possible at the earliest after the recommended 6-month waiting period, at which point every test part has to be redone.

Lufthansa BU: the airline calls the shots

The BU is the first central test day in the Lufthansa Group / EFA selection process. According to anecdotal reports, a positive result never expires, so passing the BU is something you can generally rely on even if the follow-up Firmenqualifikation (FQ) happens much later. There's no uniform rule for a failed result, though: whether, when, and under what conditions a retake is allowed is entirely up to the airline in question. Various sources describe long waiting periods before a second attempt, and in some cases a retake isn't offered at all. Roughly how many candidates pass the BU in the first place is covered in How many people pass the DLR test?. For your own case, rely only on the written information the airline or EFA gives you directly.

DLR Certificate: an assessment, not a grade

With the DLR Pilot Certificate, the label "failed" doesn't officially apply — instead you get an assessment against EASA criteria covering basic cognitive abilities, operational competencies, personality, and social competencies. If the result doesn't work out for your plans, the DLR states a repeat examination is possible at the earliest after a recommended 6-month wait. Importantly, you can't just redo the weak parts: every test section has to be repeated, including the full fee (417.69 euros plus VAT as of 2026, per official DLR pricing).

SWISS / EFA Switzerland: the knock-on effect

Because the DLR or SPHAIR certificate is only the first of several steps on the SWISS / EFA Switzerland pathway, an unfavourable result directly affects everything that follows — the actual EFA application with assessment centre, pre-airline-fit interview, and medical all come after it. Exactly how EFA handles a repeated or delayed certificate isn't publicly documented in detail, so this is worth asking EFA directly.

TipGive yourself time after a disappointing result before deciding on a retake. Handling setbacks in the selection process is also covered in DLR Test: Stress & Mindset.

How retakes are handled in practice varies and can change between procedures and over time. The current information from the DLR, or from the airline or flight school you applied to, is always the authoritative source.