The ATP flight test can be done by any examiner approved to do the test. It doesn't have to be with an FAA examiner. No instructor recommendation required (but strongly recommended. The US does some thing differently to ICAO). The catch is that the new requirements (from 2014 or so) require that you complete a prep. course before you can do the multi-engine ATP theory exam. Only after doing the prep. course, and multi-theory exam, can you do the flight test.
In addition to this you must also be approved by the TSA before you can start training. Only schools that hold a SEVIS approval can get you this approval.
Last edited by Tinstaafl; 1st July 2017 at 02:53.