FCL.025(2) The completion of the airline transport pilotlicence (ATPL) theoretical knowledge examinations will remain valid for the issue of an ATPL for a period of 7 years from the last validity date of:
(i) An IR entered in the licence; or
(ii) In the case of helicopters, a helicopter’s type rating entered in that licence.
So, it is possible that if you get the IR after say three years, you then have another seven years, so ten years in all? Who knows? I believe CAP 804 has been rewritten several times of late
