ICAO ATPL to EASA in 2025
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Earth
ICAO ATPL to EASA in 2025
Hi everyone
I'd like to get some more up to date info on converting an ICAO (Canadian) ATPL to EASA. I've researched over the years and I have the general gist of it, and that is getting a class 1 medical, writing the now 13 exams, and then doing a flight test on an aircraft you are type rated on. I know it's more involved than that, but just wanted to get the general idea out there.
What I'd like to know is, what's the best country these days to sit and write the exams and get the medical? I have a European passport, so the right to work in the EU wouldn't be an issue. I plan on (hopefully) converting my license in the next couple of years and want to slowly start studying and get the process going.
Cheers
I'd like to get some more up to date info on converting an ICAO (Canadian) ATPL to EASA. I've researched over the years and I have the general gist of it, and that is getting a class 1 medical, writing the now 13 exams, and then doing a flight test on an aircraft you are type rated on. I know it's more involved than that, but just wanted to get the general idea out there.
What I'd like to know is, what's the best country these days to sit and write the exams and get the medical? I have a European passport, so the right to work in the EU wouldn't be an issue. I plan on (hopefully) converting my license in the next couple of years and want to slowly start studying and get the process going.
Cheers
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 140
Likes: 9
From: Copenhagen
Hi everyone
I'd like to get some more up to date info on converting an ICAO (Canadian) ATPL to EASA. I've researched over the years and I have the general gist of it, and that is getting a class 1 medical, writing the now 13 exams, and then doing a flight test on an aircraft you are type rated on. I know it's more involved than that, but just wanted to get the general idea out there.
What I'd like to know is, what's the best country these days to sit and write the exams and get the medical? I have a European passport, so the right to work in the EU wouldn't be an issue. I plan on (hopefully) converting my license in the next couple of years and want to slowly start studying and get the process going.
Cheers
I'd like to get some more up to date info on converting an ICAO (Canadian) ATPL to EASA. I've researched over the years and I have the general gist of it, and that is getting a class 1 medical, writing the now 13 exams, and then doing a flight test on an aircraft you are type rated on. I know it's more involved than that, but just wanted to get the general idea out there.
What I'd like to know is, what's the best country these days to sit and write the exams and get the medical? I have a European passport, so the right to work in the EU wouldn't be an issue. I plan on (hopefully) converting my license in the next couple of years and want to slowly start studying and get the process going.
Cheers
Are you planning on living somewhere to do the groundschool or is it all online selfstudy?
What are you rated on and do you have 500hrs on type as that defines whether you simply do a checkride or forced to do an entire typerating course to complete the EASA conversion?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Earth
Doesnt really matter.. the questions come from a bank and are in English, so it now hinges on making it cheap for yourself.
Are you planning on living somewhere to do the groundschool or is it all online selfstudy?
What are you rated on and do you have 500hrs on type as that defines whether you simply do a checkride or forced to do an entire typerating course to complete the EASA conversion?
Are you planning on living somewhere to do the groundschool or is it all online selfstudy?
What are you rated on and do you have 500hrs on type as that defines whether you simply do a checkride or forced to do an entire typerating course to complete the EASA conversion?
I plan on self studying for the exams as I live outside the EU currently, but indeed doesn't matter where I write them as long as I can do it on the cheaper side. I am typed on a few planes, but funny enough, I don't have 500 hours on any... now that is the thing that I didn't realize made a difference when converting an ATPL, as initially I had looked into the CPL conversion years ago but gave up as I decided it would make more sense to get an ATPL where I live and then convert.
Type i'm current on will likely be the one I acquire 500 hours on and hope to do a check ride on, but it may change depending on how things go... the conversion is a long term project either way
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: White Waltham, Prestwick & Calgary
Austro Control appear to be the most flexible authority with whom to do exams - avoid the LBA! 
They have examination centres all over the place. If you manage to get a certain number of hours as P1 on a machine that requires 2 pilots (it used to be 1000) you don't need to go through a school. If you want some bedtime reading, try this: EASA Professional Pilot Studies
They have examination centres all over the place. If you manage to get a certain number of hours as P1 on a machine that requires 2 pilots (it used to be 1000) you don't need to go through a school. If you want some bedtime reading, try this: EASA Professional Pilot Studies
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 140
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From: Copenhagen
Yep agree.. sign up with Bristol Ground School or another flightschool that works with Austrocontrol as you need a sign-off to do the final writtens at an AustroControl test center... they are dotted around the world and list can be found on their website (Austrian CAA)
just be aware of the expiry date of said writtens to hustle the practical side of things. When you say typed, I assume its on a multipilot thing?
just be aware of the expiry date of said writtens to hustle the practical side of things. When you say typed, I assume its on a multipilot thing?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Earth
Thank you for the answers
PACO, when you say P1 time, I assume you are referring to Pilot in Command (PIC) time? Without P1 time, an ATPL holder typed on a 2 crew airplane would still require a sign off from a school prior to being able to write the exams?
Carsten - Yes I am aware of the expiry time of said exams, I know most licensing authorities in the world have a time limit from date of writing. I am type rated on several multi pilot (2 crew) airplanes, just the way my career has gone thus far. Currently typed and flying a Boeing at the moment
PACO, when you say P1 time, I assume you are referring to Pilot in Command (PIC) time? Without P1 time, an ATPL holder typed on a 2 crew airplane would still require a sign off from a school prior to being able to write the exams?
Carsten - Yes I am aware of the expiry time of said exams, I know most licensing authorities in the world have a time limit from date of writing. I am type rated on several multi pilot (2 crew) airplanes, just the way my career has gone thus far. Currently typed and flying a Boeing at the moment
Last edited by a334; 10th October 2025 at 00:58.
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: London, GB
Art 3 Without prejudice to international agreements concluded between the Union and a third country in accordance with point (a) of Article 68(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, Member States may:
…
(c) give full credits as regards the requirements to undergo a training course prior to undertaking the theoretical knowledge examinations and the skill test to holders of an airline transport pilots licence (‘ATPL’) issued by or on behalf of a third country in accordance with Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention provided that those holders have completed the experience requirements for the issue of an ATPL in the relevant aircraft category as set out in Subpart F of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 [Part-FCL] and provided that the third country licence contains a valid type rating for the aircraft to be used for the ATPL skill test;
…
Nothing about hours on type for this credit.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Earth
That was my understanding also, an ICAO ATPL holder can self certify and just go sit the exams at their leisure, but what I wasn't aware of is the 500 hour requirement on type. From some further reading, it's 1500 hours total time with 500 multi crew, but it doesn't state 500 hours on a specific type. I have well over 500 hours multi crew at this point but on various 2 crew airplanes. Here is some info I found
https://www.executiveflight.nl/wp-co...conversion.pdf
and here
https://egnatia-aviation.aero/traini...s/conversions/
So the steps in a nutshell then are 1) EASA class 1 medical, 2) 13 ATPL exams (I read in the last couple of years that VFR/IFR Comms have been merged into one exam, I could be wrong), and 3) a skill test on whatever you are typed on (and presumably current is most logical). So it's a matter of cheaper country to write the exams and then how much a skills test would cost depending on availability
https://www.executiveflight.nl/wp-co...conversion.pdf
and here
https://egnatia-aviation.aero/traini...s/conversions/
So the steps in a nutshell then are 1) EASA class 1 medical, 2) 13 ATPL exams (I read in the last couple of years that VFR/IFR Comms have been merged into one exam, I could be wrong), and 3) a skill test on whatever you are typed on (and presumably current is most logical). So it's a matter of cheaper country to write the exams and then how much a skills test would cost depending on availability
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,330
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From: White Waltham, Prestwick & Calgary
It is indeed 13 exams, the comms were merged ages ago. My comments did not refer to type ratings - it is a general requirement for PIC on a a machine that requires two pilots. That used to be a requirement, but they obviously changed it - my apologies.
From the IAA website:
If you have in excess of 1500 hours total pilot time and have a current multi type rating, you are exempt from attending a ground course at an EASA approved ATO. Evidence of this will need to be submitted with your initial exam application form.
"Pilot-in-command" (PIC) means the pilot designated as being in command and charged with the safe conduct of the flight.
From the IAA website:
If you have in excess of 1500 hours total pilot time and have a current multi type rating, you are exempt from attending a ground course at an EASA approved ATO. Evidence of this will need to be submitted with your initial exam application form.
"Pilot-in-command" (PIC) means the pilot designated as being in command and charged with the safe conduct of the flight.
