ICAO English Levels 1,2,3 Validity
ICAO English Levels 1,2, and 3 are not suitable for the operational use. It means that your ICAO English exam is rated "FAIL" and it is not possible to endorse the ICAO English language proficiency into your flight crew license. We’re sorry but if your ICAO English language proficiency is rated at level 3 or below, it means that you have not been successful in passing the ICAO language proficiency assessment.
ICAO English Level 4
You have successfully passed the ICAO English language proficiency exam. Your ICAO English language proficiency may be endorsed into your flight crew license. The endorsement in the EASA flight crew license is valid for 4 years. If you are a holder of the so-called "national" or ICAO flight crew license, the ICAO English Level 4 in such license is valid for 3 years. After the validation period, you will have to take the ICAO English language proficiency exam again.
ICAO English Level 5
You have successfully passed the ICAO language proficiency exam. Your knowledge, proficiency and skills are rated as "extended". Your ICAO English language proficiency may be endorsed into your flight crew license. The endorsement in the EASA flight crew license is valid for 6 years. If you are a holder of the so-called "national" or ICAO flight crew license, the ICAO English Level 5 in such license is valid for 5 years. After the validity period, you will have to take the ICAO language proficiency exam again.
ICAO English Level 6
Congratulations! Your ICAO language proficiency is at native English speaker level. If you are pilot, you never have to take ICAO English language proficiency exam again since it has unlimited validity.
Examples of ICAO English exam validity
| LEVEL | EASA FOR ATCs |
EASA FOR PILOTS |
ICAO FOR PILOTS |
| ICAO English level 1 | not for operational use | not for operational use | not for operational use |
| ICAO English level 2 | not for operational use | not for operational use | not for operational use |
| ICAO English level 3 | not for operational use | not for operational use | not for operational use |
| ICAO English level 4 | 3 years | 4 years | 3 years |
| ICAO English level 5 | 6 years | 6 years | 5 years |
| ICAO English level 6 | 9 years | unlimited | unlimited |
ICAO English language proficiency rating is performed by the examiner and rater and their decision is final. However, if you do not agree with the results of your ICAO language proficiency exam, you can submit an appeal.
For more information on ICAO English level validity, please visit FAQ - Language examination validity.