Practical Test Standards or PTS are sets of guidelines, standards, and criteria formerly used in the United States by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspectors or Designated Pilot Examiners to determine the suitability of airmen to be issued an airman certificate by conducting a checkride.
Each certification level features unique criteria published by the FAA both electronically and in hard copy format.
The system was partially superseded, beginning on June 15, 2016 (2016-06-15), by a new set of publications called Airman Certification Standards, though the PTS is still used for select FAA practical tests.
[1]: 3 A list of the following common "Special Emphasis Areas" was shared by all certification levels: Beginning in 2011, the FAA began an effort to supersede the Practical Test Standards with the Airman Certification Standards.
[2][3] Several ratings, notably those for helicopter, and balloon, as well as flight instructor and aircraft mechanic certificates are still tested to the PTS.