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Australia · Theory exams

Private pilot licence courses and study options

You train with a flight training operator under Part 141 or Part 142 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR), and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) says you can study the theory on your own or at a flying school. A private pilot licence (PPL) course is either integrated or non-integrated, and its theory follows schedule 3 of the Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS).

  • Part 142Integrated, intensive courses
  • Part 141Non-integrated courses
  • Schedule 3The syllabus, in the Part 61 MOS
See CASA’s pilot examsFree practice test

Updated November 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Official study sources and training

OptionPriceFree to useLinks
Official and free
Part 61 Manual of StandardsOfficial syllabus (Federal Register of Legislation)Schedule 3 holds the syllabus for the RPLA, PPLA and CPL exams, and schedule 2 the flight test standards. It’s in four volumes.
Free onlineAll of it
Read the Part 61 MOS ↗
CASA’s recreational and private licence exam pagesOfficial exam pages (CASA)Each page gives the exam’s syllabus units, permitted material, pass rates and common errors. The recreational licence exam page names CASA’s RPL, PPL and CPL (Aeroplane) workbook to know.
FreeAll of it
Read the RPL exam page ↗
CASA’s commercial licence exam pagesOfficial exam pages (CASA)Two pages cover the seven commercial pilot licence exams, with the same details for each and the fuel policy CASA expects in flight planning.
FreeAll of it
Read the CPL exam page ↗
In person
Part 141 and Part 142 flight training operatorsFlying training, with or without theoryPart 142 operators run integrated courses and Part 141 operators non-integrated ones. CASA’s PPL page says you can self-study the theory, or go to a flying school or aero club.
Set by each operatorNot stated by CASA
Read the PPL licence page ↗

Prices and ratings checked November 2026.

Integrated or non-integrated: which private pilot licence course?

An integrated course runs under Part 142, and CASA calls it intensive. A non-integrated course runs under Part 141. The minimum flying hours are lower on an integrated course, for both the private pilot licence (PPL) and the commercial pilot licence (CPL).

A recreational pilot licence (RPL) is trained under Part 141.

See the PPL hours →See the CPL hours →

Steps an integrated course may add before an exam

An approved integrated course, such as a 150-hour CPL course for aeroplanes, may ask for more before some exams:

  • Passing the recreational licence exam (RPLA) and having started cross-country training
  • Reaching the competencies for the RPL
  • 5 hours of cross-country time as pilot in command
  • Anything else the approved course sets

Your operator’s head of operations can tell you which apply.

Can you study for a pilot licence online?

The theory can be self-study: CASA says you can study for the PPL on your own, or go to a flying school or aero club. It doesn’t name online courses. The exams are sat with an invigilator, at an Aspeq venue or an approved flying school, and the flying is done with your training operator.

The RPLA, the private licence exam (PPLA) and the CPL exams all follow schedule 3 of the Part 61 MOS. For the RPLA, CASA says you should also know its RPL, PPL and CPL (Aeroplane) workbook, and the invigilator gives you a copy in the exam.

See the exam topics →

A study path for the theory

One way to work through it, in our suggested order:

  1. Pick your licence and a flight training operator, integrated or not.
  2. Read the schedule 3 units for your exam, then study one subject at a time.
  3. Get to know the documents you’ll use in the exam, such as Parts 61 and 91 of CASR.
  4. Try the 20 practice questions here, then book your exam once you understand each subject.
  5. After the exam, go through your knowledge deficiency report (KDR) with your instructor.
Take the practice test →See the licence steps →
Sources: Federal Register of Legislation · Civil Aviation Safety Authority and 5 more. Checked November 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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