A commercial pilot licence (CPL) lets you fly an aircraft for work.
To test your theory on aeroplane (CPLA) and helicopter (CPLH), you will do 7 exams on different subjects:
- 3 subjects are common across aircraft categories (CHUF, CNAV and CMET)
- 4 subjects are particular to the category you're applying for.
Booking the CPL exams
You can do the exams in any order.
Plan when you do the exams carefully and book them only when you understand each subject.
You must pass all the exams within one window. For example, you have 2 years to pass all 7 subjects, starting on the date of your first CPL subject pass.
When changing category, you have 2 years to pass the 4 category-specific subjects. This may apply when you already hold a CPL (A or H) licence or a CPL (A or H) theory credit.
Commercial pilot licence human factors exam - CHUF
The exams include multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.
You have 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete the exam.
To pass, you will need to get at least 70% of the marks.
These exams cost $169.34 each ($104.34 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).
Preparing for your exam
The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.
Permitted material
Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:
- pen
- pencil
- ruler
- eraser
- scribble pad.
Pass rates
You can see how candidates performed in their CHUF exam.
| Year | 0 - 54% | 55 - 59% | 60 - 64% | 65 - 69% | 70 - 74% | 75 - 79% | 80+% | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.39 | 2.93 | 5.32 | 10.41 | 13.88 | 17.89 | 47.18 | 78.95% |
| 2021 | 3.25 | 3.25 | 5.06 | 10.00 | 14.38 | 19.94 | 44.13 | 78.44% |
| 2022 | 2.81 | 3.62 | 6.08 | 10.52 | 15.55 | 18.41 | 43.02 | 76.97% |
| 2023 | 3.37 | 3.64 | 7.07 | 10.49 | 15.85 | 17.45 | 42.13 | 75.43% |
| 2024 | 3.00 | 3.19 | 4.99 | 9.79 | 15.84 | 19.16 | 44.04 | 79.07% |
Check the results of candidates from previous years
Common errors
The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:
- anatomy of the ear and eye
- visual illusions on approach
- physiological stress.
- Threat and Error Management (TEM)
Commercial pilot licence navigation exam - CNAV
The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.
You have 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete the exam.
To pass, you will need to get at least 70% of the marks.
The exams cost $182.38 each ($117.38 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).
Preparing for your exam
The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.
Permitted material
You may use either the Airservices or Jeppesen list of permitted materials. You need to supply these materials.
You cannot use a combination of materials from both the Airservices list and the Jeppesen list.
Airservices list
Part 91 MOS
AIP Book
ERSA complete
AUS PCA
ERC LOW 1/2 and 3/4 only (2 ERC LOWs)
Hobart/Launceston VTC
Brisbane-Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast VTC
Sydney WAC
Navigation equipment
Jeppesen list
Part 91 MOS
Jeppesen Airway Manual
AUS PCA
Hobart/Launceston VTC
Brisbane-Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast VTC
Sydney WAC
Navigation equipment
Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:
- pen
- pencil
- ruler
- eraser
- scribble pad.
Pass rates
You can see how candidates performed in their CNAV exam.
| Year | 0 - 54% | 55 - 59% | 60 - 64% | 65 - 69% | 70 - 74% | 75 - 79% | 80+% | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6.41 | 4.40 | 7.24 | 7.70 | 10.22 | 11.18 | 52.86 | 74.26% |
| 2021 | 9.17 | 4.08 | 6.49 | 7.9 | 11.04 | 13.05 | 48.19 | 72.29% |
| 2022 | 7.92 | 4.33 | 6.67 | 7.52 | 11.05 | 12.82 | 49.69 | 73.56% |
| 2023 | 7.08 | 4.36 | 6.74 | 8.04 | 9.63 | 12.23 | 51.93 | 73.78% |
| 2024 | 7.72 | 5.32 | 7.07 | 7.07 | 9.73 | 11.89 | 51.20 | 72.82% |
Check the results of candidates from previous years.
Common errors
The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:
- calculate a required ROC/ROD
- latitude and longitude and associated problems
- determine fuel requirements.
Commercial pilot licence meteorology exam - CMET
The exams include multiple-choice questions and questions where you type a whole number in a box.
You have 1.5 hours to complete the exam.
To pass, you will need to get at least 70% of the marks.
The exams cost $169.34 each ($104.34 invigilator fee and $65 CASA fee).
Preparing for your exam
The exams will test your knowledge on the syllabus in Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS) schedule 3.
Permitted material
You may use either the Airservices or Jeppesen list of permitted materials. You need to supply these materials.
You cannot use a combination of materials from both the Airservices ist and the Jeppesen List.
Airservices list
AIP Book
AUS PCA
Sydney WAC
Jeppesen List
Jeppesen Airway Manual
AUS PCA
Sydney WAC
Your invigilator will give you some things before the exam, which you must hand back at the end. These include:
- pen
- pencil
- ruler
- eraser
- scribble pad.
Pass rates
You can see how candidates performed in their CMET exam.
| Year | 0 - 54% | 55 - 59% | 60 - 64% | 65 - 69% | 70 - 74% | 75 - 79% | 80+% | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4.15 | 3.60 | 5.50 | 9.50 | 17.89 | 19.04 | 40.33 | 77.26% |
| 2021 | 6.09 | 5.24 | 5.04 | 12.51 | 15.85 | 21.48 | 33.79 | 71.12% |
| 2022 | 6.47 | 6.58 | 4.88 | 11.78 | 19.42 | 20.80 | 30.08 | 70.29% |
| 2023 | 5.54 | 4.53 | 4.34 | 13.36 | 20.68 | 21.75 | 29.80 | 72.23% |
| 2024 | 5.58 | 5.34 | 4.91 | 12.60 | 15.79 | 22.57 | 33.21 | 71.56% |
Check the results of candidates from previous years.
Common errors
The following areas have been weak areas for candidates:
- stability and how it affects the weather
- winds, backing, veering and wind shear
- air masses and fronts
- inversions, fog and mist
- thunderstorms and microbursts
- decoding of forecasts especially TAFs
- Graphical Area Forecasts and Low Level GPWTs