Technical review: Tim Hittinger, Language Proficiency Examiner (A-126-LPE)The short answer
- The requirement
- FCL.055: language proficiency endorsed on your licence, at least Level 4
- The tests
- TEA, AELP, ELPE, ILPT, PAE, EPTA, “ICAO Level” and others: tests from different organisations for the same requirement
- What matters
- Test and Language Testing Body approved by an authority of an EASA state and accepted by ENACNI-2020-027, Section 11 · ENAC “Language Proficiency Requirements” page
- Validity
- Depends on the level, not on the test. Level 4: 4 years · Level 5: 6 years · Level 6: no periodic re-evaluation
- Our test
- “ICAO Level” by LTB 112, certified by Austro Control, online. It is not the TEA.
ICAO test or TEA exam: what is the actual requirement?
The requirement is set by FCL.055, the European rule on pilots’ language proficiency (Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Part-FCL). If you fly aeroplanes, helicopters, powered-lift aircraft, airships or gyroplanes and use the radio, your licence must show an endorsement for English or for the language used on the frequency, stating the language, the level and the validity date. The minimum is Level 4 on the ICAO scale.
The rule does not prescribe a test with a specific name. Under FCL.055(b), you demonstrate your level to an assessor certified by a competent authority or to a language testing body approved by a competent authority (EUR-Lex ).
So “ICAO test” is simply the generic name for the assessment – it is called that because the level scale comes from ICAO. TEA, AELP, ELPE and the others are the actual tests you take to meet it. It is a bit like your medical certificate: there is one rule, but many authorised aeromedical examiners and centres. FCL.055 explained
What are TEA, AELP, ELPE, ILPT, PAE and EPTA?
They are the tests of the six organisations on ENAC’s list of certified centres for English language tests (“Elenco centri certificati per esami lingua inglese”, updated 17 July 2026). Some run the test at their own premises, others through a network of centres at aero clubs and flight schools. There are also tests from Language Testing Bodies approved by authorities in other EASA states – like ours.
| Test | Full name | Organisation / origin | Format (as published) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEA | Test of English for Aviation | Mayflower College, Plymouth (UK) | in person with one examiner, 25–30 minutes, through a network of centres at aero clubs and flight schools; some centres also offer it via Zoom |
| AELP | Aviation English Language Proficiency | A.F.A.N. 2016 Srls, Ciampino (Rome) | in person at partner centres or online via Zoom, 25–30 minutes |
| ELPE | English Language Proficiency Examination | Aviomar S.r.l., flight school, Rome Urbe and Monterotondo (Rome) | in person, about 25–30 minutes |
| PAE | meaning of the abbreviation not stated by the organisation | Aero Club di Roma, Rome Urbe | in person, about 30 minutes |
| ILPT | ICAO Language Proficiency Test | Aviation eLearning ApS (Denmark); in Italy through AOPA Italia | supervised computer-based part at a venue, plus an interview by video call |
| EPTA | English Proficiency Test for Aviation | ITA SpA, Fiumicino (Rome) | we found no public information on the format |
| “ICAO Level” | test of LTB 112 | LTB 112, Leonding (Austria), certified and supervised by Austro Control GmbH | online by video call with a real examiner (with GAT); Levels 4–6 or Level 4 only |
Format as published by the organisations and their centres on their own websites (checked on 6 October 2026). Dates, venues and prices can change: for up-to-date information, contact the organisation directly.
The organisations behind the first six tests are on ENAC’s list of certified centres; “ICAO Level” is the test of a Language Testing Body approved in another EASA state, Austria. ENAC no longer publishes an up-to-date list of individual test venues. Its official list says:
«Per avere informazioni sulle sedi in cui poter svolgere il test, si prega di contattare il relativo centro di riferimento.»
Our translation: “For information on the venues where you can take the test, please contact the relevant centre.” ENAC – “Elenco centri certificati per esami lingua inglese” (in Italian), enac.gov.it
Why does everyone in Italy say “TEA exam”?
Mayflower College’s TEA (Test of English for Aviation) has been available in Italy for many years, through a network of test centres at aero clubs and flight schools. That is why many pilots say “TEA exam” for any ICAO English assessment, even when they mean a different test.
GAT does not offer the TEA and is not a TEA centre. Our test is called “ICAO Level”. It is the test of LTB 112, a Language Testing Body certified and supervised by the Austrian civil aviation authority Austro Control GmbH.
If you are looking for a “TEA”, what you actually need is an ICAO assessment under FCL.055: our “ICAO Level” test is an online alternative.
Does the validity depend on the test?
No. How long your level lasts depends only on the level you reach, not on the name of the test. Under FCL.055 and ENAC Information Note NI-2020-027, the same rules apply to everyone:
- Level 4 (Operational): re-evaluation every 4 years;
- Level 5 (Extended): every 6 years;
- Level 6 (Expert): no periodic re-evaluation.
«ogni 4 anni per il livello 4 (Operativo); ogni 6 anni per il livello 5 (Avanzato)»
Our translation: “every 4 years for Level 4 (Operational); every 6 years for Level 5 (Extended)” ENAC, Nota Informativa NI-2020-027, Section 1 – enac.gov.it (PDF, Italian)
You will still find other figures online, such as 3 or 5 years for Level 4. The 3 years go back to an ENAC note from 2011 that has since been superseded; today FCL.055 and NI-2020-027 apply, which means 4 years. The validity date that ENAC enters on your licence is what counts. Validity and renewal
How to choose a test: six things that really matter
The name of the test matters little. Before you book, check these six points.
1. Is the test valid for your ENAC licence?
This is the deciding point. For an Italian licence, ENAC accepts tests in two cases:
- tests from centres certified directly by ENAC, published on its list (the six organisations in the table);
- tests from Language Testing Bodies approved by another EASA state: ENAC recognises their results for the endorsement (NI-2020-027, Section 11) and, since 30 August 2022, also accepts online tests under the conditions it has published.
«Si comunica che, a partire dal 30 agosto 2022, i test online per la competenza linguistica erogati da Language Testing Bodies (LTB) approvati da Stati appartenenti ad EASA in accordo al Reg. UE 1178/2011 FCL.055, saranno accettati a condizione che siano garantite l’identità del candidato, la sicurezza e la riservatezza durante l’intero svolgimento del test.»
Our translation: “Please note that from 30 August 2022, online language proficiency tests delivered by Language Testing Bodies (LTBs) approved by EASA member states in accordance with Regulation (EU) 1178/2011, FCL.055, will be accepted, provided that the candidate’s identity, security and confidentiality are guaranteed throughout the test.” ENAC – “Language Proficiency Requirements” page (in Italian), check on the ENAC website
How to check: ask which authority approved the Language Testing Body, then look up the LTB, the test and the examiner on that authority’s public list. For our test, these are Austro Control’s official lists . The final decision on the endorsement rests with ENAC.
2. In person or online?
Many tests take place in person, at the organisation’s premises or at a centre in an aero club or flight school. Others are held online by video call; some combine a supervised computer-based part with a video interview.
The format does not change the value of your level, but it does change your day: travel, timing, perhaps a day off work. For an online test you need a quiet room, a stable connection, a camera and a microphone. How the online test works
3. Open test up to Level 6 or a fixed level?
With most tests used in Italy, a single test can certify Level 4, 5 or 6, depending on your performance. Some tests, however, are designed for one level only, such as our Level 4 only test: slightly easier tasks, with Level 4 as the highest possible result.
This matters because your level decides when you have to be assessed again: with Level 6 there is no periodic re-evaluation (all about Level 6). When you compare prices, compare like with like: an open test with an open test.
4. When does the certificate arrive?
Depending on the test, the result arrives within 24 hours or up to about 10 working days after the test. After that, you still need the endorsement: you send the certificate to ENAC, which reprints your licence. If your level is about to expire, every day counts. How the ENAC endorsement works
5. What is the real total cost?
Compare the total cost, not just the test price:
- Does the price include VAT?
- Are there administration or registration fees?
- Do you need a membership? Some tests are only open to members of an association.
- What will travel, parking and possibly a day off work cost you?
- Are there surcharges, for example for a faster result?
The same for everyone: for a renewal, ENAC charges €32 for reprinting your licence (stamp duty, items N07-4 and N07-9), whichever test you choose.
6. When can you take the test?
Some centres hold sessions on fixed dates or ask for about 10 days’ notice; sometimes registration involves forms sent by email. Others have an online calendar with free slots. If your level expires soon or you fly shifts, check first when you could actually take the test.
Looking for an “online TEA exam”?
People who search for “TEA exam online” or “AELP test online” usually want one thing: an ICAO English assessment that is valid for an ENAC licence, without travelling. Our “ICAO Level” test is designed for exactly that. It is not the TEA, but an assessment under FCL.055 that you can present to ENAC for the endorsement, under the conditions ENAC has published.
Six questions, our answers
| Question | Our “ICAO Level” test |
|---|---|
| Valid for an ENAC licence? | LTB 112, certified and supervised by Austro Control GmbH (Austria, an EASA state). ENAC accepts online tests from LTBs approved by EASA states under the conditions it has published. The final decision on the endorsement rests with ENAC. |
| Format | online, live on Zoom with a real examiner, about 30 minutes; rated twice: by your examiner and by a language expert (LPLE) from LTB 112 |
| Level | open Levels 4–6 test, or Level 4 only (highest result Level 4) |
| Certificate | by email within 24 hours, usually the same day |
| Cost | €229 (Levels 4–6) or €159 (Level 4 only), VAT included, no membership or administration fees; any surcharges (e.g. on public holidays) and the total price are shown in the calendar before you book |
| Dates | weekdays, often within the next few days; free rescheduling up to 24 hours before |
FAQ on the TEA exam, AELP and ICAO tests
Does GAT offer the TEA?
No. GAT does not offer the TEA and is not a TEA centre. Our test is called “ICAO Level”: it is the test of LTB 112, a Language Testing Body certified and supervised by Austro Control GmbH (Austria). You take it online with a real examiner, either as an open Levels 4–6 test or as Level 4 only.
Do I have to take the TEA for an ENAC licence?
No. ENAC requires a language proficiency assessment under FCL.055, not a test with a specific name. It accepts tests from centres certified directly by ENAC, including the TEA, and the results of tests taken with Language Testing Bodies approved by other EASA states – online too since 30 August 2022, under the conditions it has published. The endorsement shows the language, the level and the validity date. Online test and ENAC licence
Do I have to take the same test again for my renewal, for example the TEA?
No. FCL.055 does not tie you to one test: for your renewal you can choose a different one, as long as ENAC accepts it. You can also aim for a higher level, for example from Level 4 to Level 5. For our test, however, an Austro Control rule applies: after a failed test – and, as a rule, if you take an early re-assessment to aim for a higher level – you retake it with the same Language Testing Body, i.e. with LTB 112 again. Validity and renewal
How much does a TEA exam or an ICAO test cost?
The cost of a TEA exam, like that of the other tests, depends on the organisation and the centre: we do not quote other organisations’ prices, which can change. Always check whether VAT, administration fees and any membership are included. Our test costs €229 (Levels 4–6) or €159 (Level 4 only), VAT included; any surcharges (e.g. on public holidays) are shown in the calendar. For a renewal, the €32 that ENAC charges for reprinting your licence applies whichever test you take.
Is there a free practice test for the TEA or ICAO test?
Each test has its own format: for TEA sample tests and mock exams, or those of the other tests, ask the organisation directly. For our “ICAO Level” test you can try a free sample with ATIS, read-backs and picture description, right in your browser: free sample tasks. If you want feedback from an examiner, there is a training session with a mock exam.
Sources
- ENAC, “Elenco centri certificati per esami lingua inglese” (list of certified centres, updated 17 July 2026, Italian) – enac.gov.it
- ENAC, “Language Proficiency Requirements” page (online tests since 30 August 2022, Italian) – enac.gov.it
- ENAC, Information Note NI-2020-027 of 30 July 2020, Sections 1, 10 and 11 (Italian) – enac.gov.it (PDF)
- Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Annex I (Part-FCL), FCL.055 – consolidated version on EUR-Lex: English · Italian
- Austro Control GmbH: lists of language testing bodies, tests and examiners – austrocontrol.at
- Information on the individual tests: websites of the organisations on ENAC’s list and of their centres, checked on 6 October 2026
TEA, AELP, ELPE, ILPT, PAE and EPTA are tests and names of their respective organisations; GAT is not affiliated with them. This page summarises public information neutrally and does not replace ENAC’s official guidance. Translations from Italian are ours.