Transportation & Aviation
There are 19 transportation & aviation credentials in the TestPrepPilot directory: 19 national certifications awarded by a single body.
CDL and endorsements, driver licence knowledge tests, FAA airman and remote-pilot (Part 107) tests, rail, transit and logistics credentials.
- Credentials
- 19
- Specialisms
- 4
- National
- 19
How do the main transportation & aviation credentials compare?
Verified figures for 10 of the national transportation & aviation credentials, drawn from each awarding body's published material. Fees change — confirm with the body before you book.
| Credential | Awarded by | Exam fee | Length | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDL Air Brakes Knowledge Test | State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum) | State-set, commonly $10-$100 for the knowledge test | ~30 minutes (state-set) | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| CDL Combination Vehicles Knowledge Test | State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum) | State-set, commonly $10-$100 for the knowledge test | ~30 minutes (state-set) | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| CDL General Knowledge Test | State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum) | State-set, commonly $10-$100 for the knowledge test | ~45-60 minutes (state-set) | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| CDL Hazardous Materials Endorsement Knowledge Test | State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum) | ~$86.50 TSA fee plus state fee | ~30 minutes | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| CDL On-Road Driving Skills Test | State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum) | State-dependent | Typically 1-2 hours | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| CDL Passenger Endorsement Knowledge Test | State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum) | State-dependent | ~20-30 minutes | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| CDL Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection Test | State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum) | State-dependent | ~30-45 minutes | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| CDL School Bus Endorsement Knowledge Test | State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum) | State-dependent | ~20-30 minutes | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| IMSA Work Zone Traffic Control Safety Certification | International Municipal Signal Association | $200-400 | 1-2 day course | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
| Airline Transport Pilot Multiengine Airplane Knowledge Test | Federal Aviation Administration | ~$175 | 4 hours | Passing score set by the awarding body; see the official score report |
Which transportation & aviation credentials lead to the highest published pay?
Ranked by the median annual wage published for the occupation each credential unlocks — the most recent figure per occupation, quoted from the source named in the guide (usually the BLS occupational series). A credential is the entry ticket to an occupation, not a pay guarantee: these are occupation medians, not starting salaries.
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Airline Transport Pilot Multiengine Airplane Knowledge Test
Commercial pilots earned a May 2024 BLS median of $122,670; airline transport pilots at the majors typically earn far more.
The FAA does not publish an ATP written-test pass rate; the fixed passing standard is 70 percent on a 130-question, 4-hour knowledge test.
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Commercial Pilot Airplane Knowledge Test
$122,670 median for commercial pilots (BLS, May 2024) — SOC 53-2012
The FAA publishes no pass rate for the CAX — what it publishes is the passing grade (70%) and the test format (100 questions, 2.5 hours)
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Instrument Rating Airplane Knowledge Test
$122,670 median for commercial pilots (BLS, May 2024)
The FAA publishes the passing standard, not a pass rate: 60 questions, 70% to pass (42 correct), and the score drives the checkride oral
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Private Pilot Airplane Knowledge Test
$122,670 median for commercial pilots — the BLS code the private pilot certificate feeds into (BLS OOH Pay tab, May 2024); the combined airline-and-commercial headline is $198,100 because airline pilots earn far more
The FAA publishes the pass standard — 70% on the PAR knowledge test (42 of 60 scored questions) — but no national pass-rate statistics for the private pilot written
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The Recreational UAS Safety Test
No direct occupation — TRUST is the free recreational-drone knowledge test; the commercial drone path it leads toward sits inside occupations like commercial pilots, at a May 2024 median of $122,670 (BLS)
No pass rate is published — TRUST is a pass/fail knowledge test with an 80% cut score (12 of 15), and because it is open-book and can be retaken, completion is near-universal for operators who read the material
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NASBLA-Approved Boating Safety Course
Recreational boater education is a legal gate, not a job credential — but it is the entry requirement for maritime work where captains and mates earn a median of $92,456 (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Course completion, not a single pass rate: NASBLA-approved courses are graded by the provider, and states publish no unified national pass rate
Commercial Driving & Road 9 credentials
- CDL Air Brakes Knowledge Test CDL Air Brakes Knowledge Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum)
- CDL Combination Vehicles Knowledge Test CDL Combination Vehicles Knowledge Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum)
- CDL General Knowledge Test CDL General Knowledge Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum)
- CDL Hazardous Materials Endorsement Knowledge Test CDL Hazardous Materials Endorsement Knowledge Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum)
- CDL On-Road Driving Skills Test CDL On-Road Driving Skills Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum)
- CDL Passenger Endorsement Knowledge Test CDL Passenger Endorsement Knowledge Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum)
- CDL Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection Test CDL Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum)
- CDL School Bus Endorsement Knowledge Test CDL School Bus Endorsement Knowledge Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from State Driver Licensing Agencies (AAMVA model curriculum)
- IMSA Work Zone Traffic Control Safety Certification IMSA Work Zone Traffic Control Safety Certification — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from International Municipal Signal Association
FAA Airman Knowledge Tests 7 credentials
- Airline Transport Pilot Multiengine Airplane Knowledge Test Airline Transport Pilot Multiengine Airplane Knowledge Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from Federal Aviation Administration
- Commercial Pilot Airplane Knowledge Test Commercial Pilot Airplane Knowledge Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from Federal Aviation Administration
- Instrument Rating Airplane Knowledge Test Instrument Rating Airplane Knowledge Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from Federal Aviation Administration
- Part 107 Small UAS Initial Training for Part 61 Pilots Part 107 Small UAS Initial Training for Part 61 Pilots — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from Federal Aviation Administration (FAASafety.gov)
- Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent Training Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent Training — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from Federal Aviation Administration (FAASafety.gov)
- Private Pilot Airplane Knowledge Test Private Pilot Airplane Knowledge Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from Federal Aviation Administration
- The Recreational UAS Safety Test The Recreational UAS Safety Test — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from Federal Aviation Administration (approved test administrators)
Radio & Communications 2 credentials
- Amateur Radio General Class License Exam Amateur Radio General Class License Exam — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from Federal Communications Commission (Volunteer Examiner Coordinators)
- Amateur Radio Technician Class License Exam Amateur Radio Technician Class License Exam — Transportation, Aviation & Maritime credential from Federal Communications Commission (Volunteer Examiner Coordinators)
Maritime & USCG 1 credential
Frequently asked questions about transportation & aviation credentials
How many transportation & aviation credentials are there?
There are 19 transportation & aviation credentials in the TestPrepPilot directory: 19 national certifications awarded by a single body.
How much do transportation & aviation exams cost?
Across the 10 national transportation & aviation credentials we have verified fee data for, exam fees run from $10–$200. Renewal, membership and study-material costs are additional and vary by awarding body — each guide breaks out its own full cost table.
Do you need a certification to work in transportation & aviation?
None of the 19 credentials in this field is a state-issued licence — all 19 are national certifications awarded by a professional body. That usually means the certification is not legally mandatory, but employers, insurers or clients may require it as a condition of the work.
Which transportation & aviation credential should you start with?
Start with the one your target employer or state board names. The most widely recognised national options in this field are CDL Air Brakes Knowledge Test, CDL Combination Vehicles Knowledge Test, CDL General Knowledge Test — each has a full guide with eligibility rules, fees and a week-by-week study plan.
How often do transportation & aviation requirements change?
Fees are revised most years and eligibility rules change whenever a state legislature or awarding body acts. Every guide on TestPrepPilot links to the primary regulatory source it was verified against, and the "Sources" section is the authoritative place to confirm current figures before you book.