DLR What comes after the DLR test?
After the DLR test you receive a certificate with ratings (A to D), valid for 2 years. With the Lufthansa Group, the next steps are the application to the European Flight Academy, the assessment centre, the Class 1 medical and, after training, the airline fit; SWISS adds a pre-airline-fit interview.
The DLR test is the first step, not the last. With the DLR Pilot Certificate you do not get a "pass" or "fail" but an evaluation against EASA criteria. You then use that certificate to apply to a flight school or airline, where further selection steps follow. The most clearly documented route is the Lufthansa Group's, via the European Flight Academy (EFA); the information below comes from the official EFA and DLR pages (as of September 2026).
What do you receive after the DLR test?
You receive a certificate which, according to the DLR, arrives by email once payment has been received and is valid for two years. According to EFA, it shows ratings from A to D per competency area. The DLR stresses that the certificate contains no selection decision: every participant gets one, and airlines and flight schools set their own minimum ratings. More under DLR test results: when and how long valid?.
Which steps follow at the Lufthansa Group (EFA)?
The EFA selection process has five steps, and the DLR test is the first of them.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. DLR certificate | computer-based tests, booked and paid for by you |
| 2. Application to EFA | with the required rating |
| 3. Lufthansa Group assessment centre | social skills, personality, psychomotor skills, interviews, group exercises |
| 4. EASA Class 1 medical | aeromedical fitness including eye test and drug screening |
| 5. Airline fit | hiring interview with a group airline, after training |
According to EFA, the assessment centre is run by Interpersonal GmbH or the SWISS Flight Crew Assessment. For the medical, EFA notes that impaired vision with correction is not automatically a reason for exclusion; the aeromedical examiner decides on fitness. How the DLR test and the assessment relate is also explained on the page DLR test stage 1 and stage 2.
What is different at SWISS?
SWISS adds the pre-airline-fit interview, and a SPHAIR certificate is accepted instead of the DLR test. The order according to EFA Switzerland:
- DLR test or SPHAIR certificate (SPHAIR graduates do not need a DLR test; the SPHAIR certificate is valid for 5 years)
- EFA application and Lufthansa Group assessment with interviews and group exercises, in Hamburg or Zurich
- Pre-airline-fit, which is also the condition for financing through SWISS or Edelweiss
- Class 1 medical
- Airline fit after training
A positive pre-airline-fit is the condition for the SWISS training loan. Details are under How do you finance pilot training?.
What if a rating is not good enough?
Then you can retake the certificate. The DLR recommends a waiting period of six months, and all areas have to be taken again. The retake is not noted on the certificate, and if your first certificate turns out better, you can keep using it. According to its FAQ, EFA sets no blocking period of its own for a new booking. Alternatives such as private flight schools without a DLR requirement are covered on the page Failed the DLR test: what now?.
How do you use the time until the next step?
- Keep an eye on validity: the certificate is valid for two years. Plan your application, assessment and medical within that window.
- Prepare your documents: school-leaving qualification, proof of English (DLR rating A or B, or a B2 certificate) and identity documents.
- Prepare for interviews: the assessment is about motivation, teamwork and personality. Honest self-reflection gets you further than memorised answers.
- Sort out financing: costs and models are covered under How much does pilot training cost?.
The article Passed the DLR test: what comes next? goes into detail. The complete routes are described in How to become a Lufthansa pilot (EFA) and How to become a SWISS pilot.
ImportantProcedures and requirements change. Only the current information from EFA, the airline concerned and the DLR is binding.