Where can you sit Austro Control ATPL exams? How do you apply, and what should you expect on exam day?
Austro Control ATPL theory exams are available at its headquarters in Vienna and at external examination centres in several countries. The application process depends on the exam location: Vienna uses Austro Control’s digital portal for dates from 1 November 2026, while external centres continue to use the paper application process.
This guide explains how to choose a centre, apply for an exam, understand the sitting rules and prepare for exam day. It is intended as a practical overview for pilots and student pilots. Always check Austro Control’s latest instructions and confirm dates and availability directly with your chosen exam centre.
Austro Control exam applications: Vienna or an external centre?
The first step is to decide where you plan to sit your exams. Austro Control uses different application routes for Vienna and external examination centres.
Applying for exams in Vienna
From 1 October 2026, applications for exams at Austro Control’s Vienna headquarters—including the authorisation and approval process—and bookings for exam dates from 1 November 2026 onward must be completed through the Austro Control online examination portal.
The process is:
- Start your digital application through Austro Control.
- Select your approved training organisation (ATO) so it can review the application.
- Your ATO provides the required approval and sign-off.
- Austro Control reviews the application.
- Once it is approved, you receive a link to book your exam appointment.
If you are training with ASG, ASG is registered on the Austro Control system and can provide the required approval. ASG students can find the relevant ATPL and PPL application information on the ASG exam application page. The page explains ASG’s sign-off requirements, including attendance at live revision classes and successful completion of the ATO exams on ASG’s online learning centre.
Plan your subjects before submitting your Vienna application. Austro Control’s current guidance says you cannot add more subjects to an application later. It also sets limits on the number of exam days that can be booked within a sitting:
| Number of exams | Maximum exam days |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | 1 |
| 4–6 | 2 |
| 7–9 | 3 |
| 10–13 | 4 |
Additional days within a sitting can only be reserved when you register for four or more exams. Check the portal for the rules that apply to your application.
Applying for exams at an external centre
The digital process initially applies to Vienna. For external examination centres, the existing paper application process remains in place. Austro Control states that the paper form must be completed and submitted by the candidate’s flight school.
- Choose an external centre from the Austro Control centre list.
- Contact the centre directly to check dates, booking arrangements, fees and which exams it offers.
- Complete and sign the Austro Control theoretical knowledge examination registration form.
- Submit the form to your ATO for the required sign-off and submission through the external-centre process.
- Confirm with the centre that your exam date has been allocated.
The application form linked above is for aeroplane theoretical knowledge examinations. Candidates applying for other exam types should check the relevant Austro Control forms and instructions.
External examination centres may charge additional fees. Austro Control’s Vienna headquarters does not book appointments for external centres. Contact your chosen centre directly about availability and its local procedures.
Where can you sit Austro Control theory exams?
Austro Control publishes annual lists of external exam centres, including locations and scheduled dates. The 2026 external exam-centre list includes venues in the following locations:
| Country | Listed external exam locations |
|---|---|
| Austria | Innsbruck, Bregenz, Salzburg and Villach |
| Belgium | Antwerp |
| Czech Republic | Prague |
| Netherlands | Arnhem |
| Spain | Vélez-Málaga, Logroño, Burgos, Mallorca, Lleida, Gran Canaria, Madrid and Córdoba |
| United Kingdom | Clevedon and Luton |
| Portugal | Maia and Ponte de Sor |
| Poland | Łódź |
| United States | Fort Pierce, Florida, and Thermal, California |
| Brazil | Americana |
| South Africa | Port Alfred |
Austro Control has also published its 2027 external exam-centre list.
Centre dates and capacity can change. Check the latest official list and confirm availability directly with the venue before booking travel. A centre’s inclusion on the list does not necessarily mean it offers every exam type or subject at every session.
What are the Austro Control exam rules?
Exam format and pass mark
Austro Control theory exams are taken electronically. Most EASA theory exams use the European Central Question Bank (ECQB); PPL examinations use a national question catalogue. Questions are single-choice, with one correct answer. Incorrect answers do not incur a points penalty.
You need to achieve at least 75% in each subject to pass that subject.
If you believe a question is incorrect or cannot be answered, use the exam system’s comment facility during the exam. Austro Control says comments submitted after the examination cannot be considered.
Examination language
CPL, IR, BIR, CB-IR and ATPL exams are held in English. PPL candidates may choose English or German.
Sittings, attempts and completion period
A sitting is a period of up to 10 consecutive calendar days. You may attempt each examination paper only once in a sitting.
For CPL, IR, BIR, CB-IR and ATPL theory exams, candidates may use up to six sittings. The full examination must be completed within 18 months, calculated from the end of the calendar month in which the candidate first sat an exam. Each subject may be attempted no more than four times. If the applicable attempt, sitting or time limit is exceeded, the candidate may have to repeat the entire examination. Check your own exam history and limits with your ATO before planning a retake.
Calculators, documents and other permitted aids
At the Vienna headquarters, personal calculators have not been permitted since 1 October 2026. Austro Control provides a Texas Instruments TI-34 MultiView calculator in the exam room.
From 2027, CAP documents and the printed Jeppesen Route Manual will no longer be accepted at any examination centre. Austro Control says that any maps, tables, diagrams and other materials needed for the exam will be provided in their current versions.
Permitted aids can depend on the exam and location. Check Austro Control’s latest instructions and the chosen centre’s requirements before travelling. Do not assume that a calculator or other item accepted at one venue will be allowed at another.
Practical tips for Austro Control exam day
Before the exam
- Check your appointment confirmation, subjects, date, venue and reporting time.
- Bring official photo ID. Austro Control states that candidates without official photo ID will not be permitted to sit the exam in Vienna.
- If you are sitting at an external centre, reconfirm the address and arrival instructions directly with the centre.
- Check which equipment and reference materials are permitted at your venue.
- If you are sitting in Vienna, practise with the TI-34 MultiView calculator before exam day.
- Allow enough time to reach the exam centre. Austro Control warns that late arrivals in Vienna may forfeit their appointment.
During the exam
- Read the question carefully before selecting an answer or starting a calculation.
- Keep track of the time allowed for each subject. Austro Control does not extend an individual subject’s time limit.
- Breaks are permitted between subjects, subject to Austro Control’s rules. A break during an exam paper is not permitted.
- Answer every question you can. Incorrect answers do not lose points.
- If you want to comment on a question, do so in the exam system before submitting the paper.
- Follow the invigilator’s instructions and use only permitted materials.
Preparing effectively
- Make sure you understand the learning objectives, not just the wording of practice questions.
- Practise calculations under time pressure using the calculator and equipment permitted at your exam centre.
- Keep a record of mistakes in your practice: note what went wrong and what principle, rule or calculation would lead to the correct answer.
- Use Austro Control’s demonstration examination to become familiar with the electronic exam environment.
- Plan your subjects and travel realistically. Consider the workload, rest and the 10-day sitting limit when choosing dates.
Frequently asked questions about Austro Control exams
Can I sit Austro Control exams outside Austria?
Yes. Austro Control publishes lists of external examination centres in countries including the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, the United States and South Africa. Check its current centre list and contact your preferred venue about dates and availability.
Do Vienna and external exam centres use the same application process?
No. Vienna exam applications and bookings for dates from 1 November 2026 onward use Austro Control’s digital portal. External exam-centre applications continue to use the paper form submitted by the candidate’s ATO.
Can I book an external exam centre directly?
Contact the centre directly to ask about exam dates and booking arrangements. The application still requires the appropriate ATO approval through the paper form before the date can be allocated.
Can I bring my own calculator to a Vienna exam?
No. Since 1 October 2026, personal calculators have not been permitted at the Vienna headquarters. Austro Control provides a TI-34 MultiView calculator.
Can I bring CAP documents or the printed Jeppesen Route Manual in 2027?
No. From 2027, Austro Control says these documents will not be accepted at any examination centre. Required exam materials will be provided during the exam.
What should I do if I think an exam question is wrong?
Use the exam system’s comment facility during the examination and explain the issue clearly. Austro Control says it cannot consider comments submitted after the exam.
Austro Control exam support from ASG
Choosing an exam centre and planning a sitting are important parts of preparing for EASA theory exams. ASG provides aviation theory training and helps its students prepare for their exam applications and ATO sign-off.
If you are an ASG student, visit the ASG exam application page for the ATPL and PPL application information and the sign-off requirements. If you are considering EASA ATPL theory training, visit ASG’s website to learn more about its courses.
Official Austro Control resources: Examination information and external-centre lists · 2026 external-centre list · 2027 external-centre list · Aeroplane theory exam registration form
Exam procedures, permitted aids, centre dates and availability can change. Austro Control’s current instructions and confirmation from your chosen centre take precedence.
