FAR 61.14 — Incorporation by Reference
FAR 61.14 lists the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) incorporated by reference into Part 61 for checkrides.
In Plain English
FAR 61.14 is the regulation that officially adopts the FAA's Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Practical Test Standards (PTS) documents into Part 61. "Incorporation by reference" means these documents have the force of regulation even though they're published separately — when § 61.43 (practical tests) or § 61.57/61.58 (recency and PIC checks) point to a standard, this section is what makes that standard legally binding.
The section lists every approved ACS and PTS by document number, title, and edition date, and tells you which Part 61 sections each one applies to. Examples include:
- FAA-S-ACS-6C — Private Pilot Airplane ACS
- FAA-S-ACS-7B — Commercial Pilot Airplane ACS
- FAA-S-ACS-8C — Instrument Rating Airplane ACS
- FAA-S-ACS-11A — ATP and Type Rating Airplane ACS
- FAA-S-8081-22A — Private Pilot Glider PTS
Why it matters: your DPE evaluates you against the specific edition named here. Showing up with an outdated ACS is a setup for failure. The materials are available from the FAA (800 Independence Ave SW, Washington DC) and for inspection at NARA.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.14§ 61.14 Incorporation by Reference.
Certain material is incorporated by reference into this part with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. All approved incorporation by reference (IBR) material is available for inspection at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Contact FAA, Training and Certification Group, 202-267-1100,For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visitor emailThe material may be obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington DC 20591, 866-835-5322,
(a)(1) FAA-S-8081-3B, Recreational Pilot Practical Test Standards for Airplane Category and Rotorcraft Category, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(2) FAA-S-8081-7C, Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft Category Gyroplane Rating, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(3) FAA-S-8081-8C, Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Glider Category, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(4) FAA-S-8081-9E, Flight Instructor Instrument Practical Test Standards for Airplane Rating and Helicopter Rating, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(5) FAA-S-8081-15B, Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft Category Gyroplane Rating, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(6) FAA-S-8081-16C, Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft Category Gyroplane Rating, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(7) FAA-S-8081-17A, Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Lighter-Than-Air Category, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(8) FAA-S-8081-18A, Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Lighter-Than-Air Category, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(9) FAA-S-8081-20A, Airline Transport Pilot and Aircraft Type Rating Practical Test Standards for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating, November 2023; IBR approved for §§ 61.43 and 61.58, and appendix A to this part.
(10) FAA-S-8081-22A, Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Glider Category, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(11) FAA-S-8081-23B, Commercial Pilot Practical Test Standards for Glider Category, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(12) FAA-S-8081-29A, Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor Rating Practical Test Standards for Airplane Category, Rotorcraft Category, and Glider Category, November 2023; IBR approved for §§ 61.43, 61.321, and 61.419, and appendix A to this part.
(13) FAA-S-8081-30A, Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor Rating Practical Test Standards for Lighter-Than-Air Category, November 2023; IBR approved for §§ 61.43, 61.321, and 61.419, and appendix A to this part.
(14) FAA-S-8081-31A, Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for Powered Parachute Category and Weight-Shift-Control Aircraft Category, November 2023; IBR approved for §§ 61.43, 61.321, and 61.419, and appendix A to this part.
(15) FAA-S-8081-32A Private Pilot Practical Test Standards for Powered Parachute Category and Weight-Shift-Control Aircraft Category, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(b)(1) FAA-S-ACS-2, Commercial Pilot for Powered-Lift Category Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(2) FAA-S-ACS-3, Instrument Rating—Powered-Lift Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for §§ 61.43 and 61.57, and appendix A to this part.
(3) FAA-S-ACS-6C, Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(4) FAA-S-ACS-7B, Commercial Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(5) FAA-S-ACS-8C, Instrument Rating—Airplane Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for §§ 61.43 and 61.57, and appendix A to this part.
(6) FAA-S-ACS-11A, Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for §§ 61.43 and 61.58, and appendix A to this part.
(7) FAA-S-ACS-13, Private Pilot for Powered-Lift Category Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(8) FAA-S-ACS-14, Instrument Rating—Helicopter Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for §§ 61.43 and 61.57, and appendix A to this part.
(9) FAA-S-ACS-15, Private Pilot for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(10) FAA-S-ACS-16, Commercial Pilot for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(11) FAA-S-ACS-17, Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating for Powered-Lift Category Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for §§ 61.43 and 61.58, and appendix A to this part.
(12) FAA-S-ACS-25, Flight Instructor for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(13) FAA-S-ACS-26, Sport Pilot for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter—Simplified Flight Controls Privilege Airman Certification Standards, July 2025, IBR approved for §§ 61.43, 61.321, and appendix A to this part.
(14) FAA-S-ACS-27, Flight Instructor for Powered-Lift Category Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(15) FAA-S-ACS-28, Flight Instructor—Instrument Rating Powered-Lift Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(16) FAA-S-ACS-29, Flight Instructor for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards, November 2023; IBR approved for § 61.43 and appendix A to this part.
(17) FAA-S-ACS-31, Flight Instructor with a Sport Pilot Rating for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter—Simplified Flight Controls Privilege Airman Certification Standards, July 2025, IBR approved for §§ 61.43, 61.419, and appendix A to this part.
[Docket FAA-2022-1463, Amdt. 61-153, 89 FR 22516, Apr. 1, 2024, as amended by Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 61-159, 90 FR 35211, July 24, 2025]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What document will the examiner use to evaluate your private pilot airplane checkride, and how do you know it's the official version?
The FAA-S-ACS-6C, Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards (November 2023). It's the official version because FAR 61.14(b)(3) incorporates that exact edition by reference into Part 61.
Q2What does it mean that the ACS is 'incorporated by reference,' and why should you care as an applicant?
Per FAR 61.14, incorporation by reference means the ACS and PTS documents listed there are legally part of the regulation, so the standards in them are binding for your practical test under § 61.43, even though they're published as separate FAA documents.
Q3Which standard governs the Instrument-Airplane practical test and recency check under § 61.57?
FAA-S-ACS-8C, Instrument Rating—Airplane ACS (November 2023), which FAR 61.14(b)(5) incorporates by reference for both § 61.43 and § 61.57.
Studying for a checkride?
Related Sections in Part 61