Successfully completing this theory, together with a CPL with IR and ME and an MCC certificate, leads to a frozen ATPL. After an integrated course, a frozen ATPL comprises a CPL with multi-engine rating, instrument rating and MCC, together with the ATPL theory. The ATPL theory is an entry course for further training with the employer, such as the type rating and line training.

The 13 EASA ATPL(A) theory subjects are air law, aircraft general knowledge (airframe, systems and power plant), aircraft general knowledge (instrumentation), mass and balance, performance, flight planning and monitoring, human performance, meteorology, general navigation, radio navigation, operational procedures, principles of flight and communications.16

The ATPL theory covers 13 exam subjects, which you follow in a classroom setting over about six to twelve months. The integrated ATPL course takes about 2 years as a guide, comprising 9 to 12 months of ATPL theory in 13 subjects, 6 to 9 months of single-engine basic training, and 6 to 9 months of advanced training for multi-engine, IR and multi-crew. The Emirates Flight Training Academy ATPL ground school takes about 50 weeks and ends with 13 exams. The Wizz Air Pilot Academy course takes around 18 months, followed by 5-6 months of airline-specific training by Wizz Air. Orbit divides the ATPL theory, based on Bristol material, into two modules, each with a classroom part. Directly at Bristol, the theory comprises three modules with three revision weeks, which takes three full working weeks plus the exams. Module 2 of the ATPL theory consists of Air Law, Operational Procedures, AGK (Airframe, Systems, Electrics, Powerplant), Radio Navigation, Principles of Flight and Performance.12341517

You sit the theoretical knowledge exams after recommendation by an approved training organisation. You take the thirteen ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge exams through an approved training organisation (ATO or DTO) that releases the subjects for you. Under Part-FCL.025, you must be recommended for a theory exam (PPL or ATPL) by a DTO or ATO, which must make sure you are exam ready. According to two pilots in 2025, converting an FAA CPL, ME and IR to EASA at a Swedish training provider cost about EUR 11,000 plus the theory exams, and as an ICAO CPL holder you get a shortened course but still sit all the theory exams.346

Modular students completed the theory in 10 to 16 months. In 2024, one distance learning ground school used a standard study plan of 18 months, which can be shortened.13

One modular student who passed the ATPL theory in 10 months started in October, did the first brush-up in January with the first sitting, the next subjects in March, the module 2 brush-up in April, more subjects in May and the final subjects in July. A pilot who became a first officer on a business jet in 2024 recommends allowing plenty of time for the ATPL theory, because the practical training moves quickly. According to one student in 2025, the EASA ATPL theory via Orbit/Bristol, at 15 hours of study per week, takes about 6 months for the course material plus about 3 months for exam training and exams, about 9 months in total. A year is not unusual.13

To prepare for the EASA ATPL theoretical knowledge exam, you should practise each subject. Practising exams is essential for the ATPL theory. One student who passed the theory in 9 to 10 months advises going through the material once or twice and then spending at least a month on a question bank such as ATPLQ. According to one student who passed in 2024, the real work is practising exams. One 44-year-old modular student practised each subject three times in the aviationexam question bank. For the Meteorology exam, with 84 questions and a pass mark of 75%, question banks are indispensable, but watch out for ambiguous questions and variants with slightly different numbers. In the Austro Control ATPL exams you can only use sin/cos for crosswind and headwind questions relating to the runway; for navigation questions with a higher TAS you are expected to use the flight computer (CRP-5).134

Pilot training costs consist of ATPL theory (13 EASA subjects), flight hours, simulator hours (FNPT and full flight), exam fees per attempt, the Class 1 medical, the type rating and living expenses.4

According to one pilot in 2022, pilots with a vocational education followed by secondary school certificates sometimes struggled with the pace of the ATPL course, suggesting the intensity can be a challenge for some educational backgrounds. An experienced pilot reported in 2022 that the basic Air Law knowledge in the PPL has little practical application, and that ATPL Air Law feels much more intensive. Modular routes take 9 to 16 months on average and are often combined with work. In 2024, one modular student passed the ATPL theory in 10 months, passing every subject at the first attempt, but found it felt like a second job. A 44-year-old modular student completed the theory in 16 months with an average of 92 percent, each time sitting 3 or 4 exams per 10 days flexibly at the exam centre. One candidate spent about 10 months on the theory, 6 of them almost full-time, and found estimates of six months too low. In 2025, one applicant took the ATPL theory at Orbit Groundschool, about 95 percent of it by distance learning, with exams taken at Austro Control. This applicant described the atmosphere as pleasant and customer-focused, although the digital part of the course material could be better in places, noting the course material itself came from Bristol. One candidate who passed all thirteen ATPL theory subjects without a resit in 2025 took about 9 months to do so alongside a job.13412

Reasons to refresh the ATPL theory include changing airline, seeking promotion or simply staying sharp. When you move to another airline, you are often asked technical questions from the ATPL subjects. Some airlines set a written exam as part of the selection of experienced pilots. When refreshing ATPL theory, actively testing yourself with questions is more effective than passive reading. It is advisable to identify where your knowledge has faded most and to start revising there. Link the theory to your daily work, for example by calculating fuel planning by hand or studying performance charts in detail.4