Question 1

How long does the test take?

Accepted Answer

Paper 1 (Listening) takes about 38 minutes. Paper 2 (Speaking) lasts roughly 20–25 minutes per test taker.

Question 2

What do I need to bring?

Accepted Answer

A valid photo ID. All equipment is provided by the test centre.

Question 3

Can I prepare for ELPAC?

Accepted Answer

ELPAC measures proficiency, not coachable content. Use English regularly in your operational role and try the sample test before the real exam.

Question 4

Who can take ELPAC?

Accepted Answer

ELPAC is taken by air traffic controllers, pilots and students in aviation training who need to demonstrate English language proficiency for licensing or competency-check purposes. Testing is arranged through the test taker's ELPAC user organisation.

Question 5

What is ELPAC used for?

Accepted Answer

ELPAC is a test for assessing the English language proficiency of air traffic controllers and pilots. It is designed for use in accordance with ICAO, EASA and local licensing rules and requirements.

Question 6

Who can use ELPAC?

Accepted Answer

Air navigation service providers, aircraft operators, aviation training organisations and aviation authorities can use ELPAC as part of licensing and routine competency checks for pilots, air traffic controllers and students in aviation training.

Question 7

How does licensing work with ELPAC?

Accepted Answer

A valid ELPAC result can support licence issue, revalidation or renewal, subject to the rules of the relevant national aviation authority. The result is one element of the licensing process; the authority makes the final decision.

Question 8

How do routine competency checks work?

Accepted Answer

ELPAC can be used as part of an organisation's recurrent competency-check programme, in line with local requirements. The frequency and acceptance criteria depend on the applicable regulatory framework and the organisation's own procedures.

Question 9

What is the difference between the ATC and Pilot versions?

Accepted Answer

Both versions assess the same ICAO requirements but use audio and tasks drawn from the test taker's own operational environment.

Question 10

Is ELPAC a valid test?

Accepted Answer

ELPAC's design is documented as a structured validity argument following the argument-based approach to validity established by Kane (1992, 2006) and applied to second-language testing by Chapelle, Enright and Jamieson (2008). It covers domain description, evaluation, generalisation, explanation, extrapolation and utilisation.

Question 11

Is ELPAC recognized by ICAO?

Accepted Answer

ELPAC ATC and ELPAC Pilot are recognized by ICAO under the Aviation English Language Test Service (AELTS), which assesses whether aviation English tests conform to ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices for Language Proficiency Requirements and the criteria in ICAO Doc 9835. Current recognition is valid through 31 December 2026; the ELPAC team started drafting the 2027–2029 renewal application in June 2026. Recognition does not constitute a partnership or joint venture between ICAO and the test provider.

Question 12

Who are the two assessors in Paper 2?

Accepted Answer

Paper 2 is a live speaking test rated by two accredited assessors: an English Language Expert (ELE) and an Operational Expert (OPE), an operational or former air traffic controller or pilot. Each assessor rates their assigned criteria independently, using the ELPAC assessment criteria, which derive from the ICAO rating scale and the holistic descriptors. The ICAO level awarded is determined by the lowest rating across the six criteria from both assessors; there is no compensatory marking. Where the two assessors disagree on the outcome, a third assessor decides.

Question 13

Is the test recorded?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Paper 2 is recorded for quality assurance, third-assessor adjudication and appeals.

Question 14

When do I get my result?

Accepted Answer

Usually very quickly after Paper 2. The result is released through the ELPAC test system to the Test Administrator, and the official report is issued to the test taker by the user organisation.

Question 15

How long is my ELPAC certificate valid?

Accepted Answer

ATCOs: level 4 valid 3 years, level 5 valid 6 years, level 6 not subject to re-assessment. Flight crew: level 4 valid 3 years, level 5 valid 6 years, level 6 not subject to re-assessment. In EASA Member States, level 6 validity for air traffic controllers is capped at 9 years and level 4 validity for flight crew is extended to 4 years. Ultimately, the decision about validity is at the discretion of the competent authority.

Question 16

Can I re-sit only the paper I failed?

Accepted Answer

Yes, partial re-sits are possible within the rules of your user organisation and national authority.

Question 17

How are results delivered to my organisation?

Accepted Answer

Results are released through the ELPAC test system to the Test Administrator nominated by your user organisation.

Question 18

How do we become an ELPAC user organisation?

Accepted Answer

Contact the EUROCONTROL ELPAC team to register. See the Implementing ELPAC page for the steps involved.

Question 19

How do our staff become ELPAC assessors?

Accepted Answer

Assessors are nominated by their user organisation and accredited by EUROCONTROL together with ZHAW through the ELPAC ACR (Accreditation) course, with ongoing standardisation through the ELPAC REF (Refresher) course.

Frequently asked questions

Before the test

Eligibility, purpose and licensing

Test format

Results and validity

For organisations

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