What Is the DLR Certificate?

The DLR Pilot Certificate (German: DLR-Zertifikat Cockpit) is the self-funded version of the DLR aptitude assessment. It's aimed at anyone applying to a flight school or airline that doesn't run its own DLR procedure — in Switzerland, for instance, candidates on the SWISS/EFA pathway, where a DLR or SPHAIR certificate is the first step of the selection process. Unlike the classic screening assessment, there's no simple pass/fail here — you get an evaluation against EASA criteria instead.

Cost and locations

According to official DLR information, the certificate assessment costs €417.69 plus VAT in 2026. It's only available in person (no online option), at Cologne and Hamburg; from October 2026, Vienna is added as a third location. In Hamburg, experience reports put the test day at roughly 08:00 to 17:00 — more on the day's schedule in our question on the test day. Older reports sometimes mention a price around €375 and Zurich as a location — that information is outdated and only applies "historically".

Requirements, validity and retakes

The minimum age is 16; under-18s need a parent to sign as the contracting party. The certificate is valid for two years. A retake is possible at the earliest after a recommended waiting period of 6 months, and when you do retake it, all test parts have to be redone. Registration is handled by email directly with the DLR, and the certificate itself is sent by email once payment is made.

How is it evaluated?

Instead of a grade or a pass/fail result, the assessment produces an evaluation against EASA criteria across four areas: basic cognitive abilities, operational competencies, personality, and social competencies. Exactly how flight schools or airlines interpret that evaluation isn't standardised and is up to the individual admissions body.

Certificate or company screening?

The Lufthansa Group/EFA screening (BU) is tied to a specific application with that group and is organised by the airline itself, whereas the DLR Pilot Certificate is procedure-independent and can be used for any flight school or airline that accepts it as proof — for example as the first step on the SWISS/EFA Switzerland route, ahead of the airline's own assessment centre. If you haven't committed to one particular airline yet, or want to sit the assessment on your own initiative, the certificate is often the more flexible option — though you cover the cost yourself. For more on what an actual test day looks like, see our question on the day schedule.

For more on what's actually tested, see our question on test content; for the requirements on the Swiss SWISS/EFA route, see our question on requirements.

Prices, locations and deadlines can change — always check the current information from the DLR or the relevant airline/flight school.