How Many ATPL Exams Are There? 13 EASA ATPL Subjects Explained

If you are starting EASA ATPL(A) theory, you will often see references to 13 ATPL subjects, 14 ATPL subjects and sometimes a separate category called 100 KSA. That can make a simple question surprisingly confusing.

Are there 13 or 14 ATPL subjects?

There are currently 13 EASA ATPL theoretical knowledge subjects. FCL.515 of EASA Part-FCL lists the theoretical knowledge subjects in which an applicant for an ATPL must demonstrate the required level of knowledge.

The confusion around the number 14 usually comes from two different sources.

First, older ATPL material may list VFR Communications and IFR Communications as two separate subjects. Under the current system, they have been replaced by a single examination subject called 090 Communications.

Second, some ATPL training platforms and question banks display Area 100 KSA alongside the traditional examination subjects. This can make a platform appear to contain 14 subjects, but 100 KSA is not an additional authority examination.

What are the 13 EASA ATPL(A) subjects?

The current EASA ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge structure contains the following 13 subjects:

These are the 13 examination subjects relevant to EASA ATPL(A). Helicopter theoretical knowledge uses some different subject variants, including helicopter-specific Performance and Principles of Flight.

Students preparing for these subjects can practise them in the ATPL Tests EASA ATPL question bank, which covers all 13 ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge subjects.

Why do older sources say there are 14 ATPL exams?

Older EASA ATPL material may show 14 exams because VFR Communications and IFR Communications were previously separate theoretical knowledge subjects.

The previous structure included:

• 091 – VFR Communications
• 092 – IFR Communications

These were replaced by the merged Subject 090 – Communications. EASA’s explanatory material for Decision 2019/017/R confirms that Subject 090 Communications replaced Subjects 091 VFR Communications and 092 IFR Communications.

The current subject therefore covers communications applicable to both VFR and IFR operations within one examination subject.

This is why older ATPL books, course materials, archived websites and forum discussions may still refer to the traditional 14 ATPL exams.

For a student starting an EASA ATPL(A) course today, the current structure is the one that matters: 13 theoretical knowledge subjects.

What is Area 100 KSA?

Area 100 KSA stands for Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes. It was introduced to develop competencies that cannot be assessed effectively by simply adding another set of multiple-choice questions.

EASA describes Area 100 Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes as a concept integrated throughout theoretical knowledge training rather than simply another subject.

Its purpose is to integrate knowledge from different parts of the theoretical course while developing competencies such as problem solving, decision-making, communication, teamwork and the practical application of theoretical knowledge.

Instead of learning KSA as an isolated block of facts for another multiple-choice examination, students encounter KSA exercises and assessments during their theoretical knowledge training.

Is 100 KSA the 14th ATPL exam?

No. Area 100 KSA is not a 14th ATPL theoretical knowledge examination.

This distinction is important because question-bank platforms or training systems may display a section called 100 KSA next to subjects such as Air Law, Meteorology or General Navigation. Visually, that can make it appear as if there are 14 current ATPL examination subjects.

However, EASA states that the Area 100 KSA learning objectives are not included in the final theoretical knowledge examinations conducted by the competent authorities.

KSA is instead integrated into the theoretical knowledge course and assessed by the Approved Training Organisation (ATO). The applicable Area 100 KSA assessments must be satisfactorily completed as part of the training process.

So if your learning platform displays 13 traditional examination subjects plus a separate 100 KSA section, that does not mean you have an additional authority multiple-choice examination to pass.

Why do ATPL question banks include 100 KSA?

A question bank or learning platform may include a dedicated KSA category because Area 100 KSA is still part of modern EASA theoretical knowledge training, even though it is not a separate authority examination.

Displaying it separately can help students and training organisations organise KSA-related learning objectives, exercises or supporting material. It should therefore be interpreted as a training category rather than evidence of a fourteenth current ATPL examination.

This also illustrates why the number of categories displayed inside an ATPL platform should not automatically be treated as the number of official EASA examinations.

If you are comparing platforms for exam preparation, see our comparison of the main EASA ATPL question banks.

How many ATPL exams do you actually need to pass?

For the standard EASA ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge route, the examination structure consists of 13 subjects. Each examination subject covers a different part of the theoretical knowledge required under Part-FCL.

The examinations are taken after the applicable theoretical knowledge training through an Approved Training Organisation. How the exams are distributed across individual sittings depends on the student’s exam plan and the applicable procedures of the competent authority.

The number of questions and the time available also differ significantly between subjects. Larger subjects can contain substantially more examination material than smaller ones, so the workload is not evenly distributed across all 13 exams.

That difference is one reason students usually plan their ATPL sittings carefully instead of treating every subject as equally demanding.

Are all 13 ATPL subjects examined through the ECQB system?

The theoretical knowledge examination system for professional EASA pilot licences uses the European Central Question Bank (ECQB). EASA manages the ECQB and provides examination material for use by the competent authorities responsible for theoretical knowledge examinations.

Area 100 KSA is different. Its learning objectives are not included in the final theoretical knowledge examinations conducted by competent authorities, which is another reason it should not be counted as a fourteenth ECQB examination subject.

Commercial ATPL question banks are study and exam-preparation tools and should not be confused with direct public access to the official ECQB. The ECQB itself is confidential and is not published as a public study database.

13 ATPL exams or 14: the simple answer

If you encounter different numbers online, use the following distinction:

• 13 – the current EASA ATPL theoretical knowledge subjects listed in FCL.515.
• 14 in older material – usually because VFR Communications and IFR Communications were previously counted separately.
• 14 categories on some modern platforms – may result from Area 100 KSA being displayed alongside the 13 examination subjects.
• 100 KSA – part of ATPL theoretical knowledge training, but not an additional authority multiple-choice examination.

For a current EASA ATPL(A) student, the clearest answer is therefore: there are 13 theoretical knowledge examination subjects, while Area 100 KSA is integrated into the training and assessed separately by the ATO.

Frequently asked questions about ATPL subjects

How many EASA ATPL exams are there?

There are 13 EASA ATPL theoretical knowledge examination subjects under the current FCL.515 structure. For ATPL(A), these range from Air Law and Aircraft General Knowledge to Navigation, Principles of Flight and Communications.

Are there 13 or 14 ATPL subjects?

The current EASA ATPL structure contains 13 theoretical knowledge examination subjects. Older material may show 14 because VFR Communications and IFR Communications were previously separate, while some modern learning platforms may display Area 100 KSA as an additional category.

Is 100 KSA an ATPL exam?

No. Area 100 KSA is part of ATPL theoretical knowledge training but is not a separate final theoretical knowledge examination conducted by the competent authority. KSA is integrated into the course and assessed through the ATO.

Why does my ATPL question bank show 14 subjects?

Some platforms display Area 100 KSA alongside the 13 examination subjects, producing a total of 14 visible categories. That does not mean there are 14 current authority ATPL examinations. Always distinguish between a platform’s content categories and the examination subjects listed in EASA Part-FCL.

Were there previously 14 ATPL exams?

Yes. The previous structure contained separate subjects for VFR Communications and IFR Communications. They were later replaced by the merged Subject 090 Communications, which is why older ATPL material may refer to 14 examination subjects.

What are the 13 ATPL subjects?

The 13 EASA ATPL(A) subjects are Air Law; Aircraft General Knowledge – Airframe, Systems and Power Plant; Aircraft General Knowledge – Instrumentation; Mass and Balance; Performance; Flight Planning and Monitoring; Human Performance; Meteorology; General Navigation; Radio Navigation; Operational Procedures; Principles of Flight; and Communications.

Does 100 KSA appear in the final ECQB examination?

The Area 100 KSA learning objectives are not included in the final theoretical knowledge examinations conducted by the competent authorities. KSA is instead assessed as part of the student’s theoretical knowledge training through the ATO.

Official basis for this article

The number of ATPL theoretical knowledge subjects in this article is based on FCL.515 of EASA Part-FCL, which defines the theoretical knowledge subjects applicable to an Airline Transport Pilot Licence.

The historical explanation of Communications is supported by EASA Decision 2019/017/R explanatory material, which confirms that Subject 090 Communications replaced Subjects 091 VFR Communications and 092 IFR Communications.

The explanation of Area 100 KSA is based on EASA guidance describing KSA as a concept integrated throughout theoretical knowledge training rather than simply another subject. EASA also confirms that Area 100 KSA learning objectives are not included in the final theoretical knowledge examinations conducted by competent authorities.

Information about the European Central Question Bank (ECQB) is based on EASA’s official ECQB information.

Last reviewed: 10 October 2026.