SCHOOL GOAL: Create Highly Adaptive Critical-Thinking Test Leaders

To meet evolving strategic challenges, our graduates must be highly-adaptive. Likewise, there are no standard solutions to the complex challenges our graduates will face; they must be critical-thinkers. Finally, our graduates lead the test community in their first test assignments and beyond.

The Test Pilot School screens for candidates with demonstrated operational and engineering excellence, leadership, critical thinking and an innovative spirit. To operational and engineering excellence, we add preparation for first flight/space operations and complex mission systems test. To leadership experience, we add preparation for test-unique challenges, above all forming cohesive teams from diverse stakeholders and developing test culture. To critical thinking skills, we add exposure to strategic, warfighting and acquisition contexts, so graduates are prepared to develop context-appropriate test strategies. Finally, we expose students to emerging technologies, notably data science themes such as machine learning and data analytics, to enable test innovation.

Flight and Space Test Course Curriculum

Enlisted Test Course Curriculum

 

FLIGHT TEST COURSE DETAILS

Curriculum

This is a one-year course growing test leaders in the following categories:
• Experimental Test Pilots (fixed wing)
• Experimental Test Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Pilots
• Experimental Test Combat Systems Officers (CSOs)
• Experimental Test Air Battle Managers (ABMs)
• Experimental Flight Test Engineers (FTEs) (see DAFI 99-107 for applicable AFSCs) 

Graduates of FTC will be awarded the Master of Science of Aerospace Test Engineering and Leadership.

Commitment

All individuals selected for TPS will incur a service commitment. Service commitments are defined in DAFI 99-107, and AFMAN 36-2100, Military Utilization and Classification. The current Active Duty Service Commitment for the FTC is five years.

Application Deadline --- May 19, 2025 
The 2025 TPS Selection Board will select candidates for:
• USAF TPS Classes: 26B (class start July 2026) and 27A (class start January 2027)
• US Navy Test Pilot School (classes start July 2026 and January 2027) 

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility requirements are outlined in DAFI 99-107.

Application Process

The formal PSDM with full application information can be found HERE. 

Application Timeline 
May 19, 2025: Deadline for Applications
June 3, 2025: Deadline for Endorser Inputs
July 2025: Selection Board
August 2025: Applicants notified whether they have been selected for further evaluation
October 2025: In-person evaluations conducted at Edwards AFB
December 2025: Final selections completed and published via PSDM

Candidates selected by the TPS Flight Test Course Selection Board for continued evaluation will participate in the in-person Comprehensive Candidate Evaluation Program (CCEP) at Edwards AFB. Staff from USAF TPS will provide program details to those selected for CCEP. The member’s unit will fund all CCEP travel costs associated IAW DAFI 99-107.

Contact

Direct questions regarding applications or waivers to AFMC/A3F at AFMC.A3FP.Workflow@us.af.mil or 937-656-0092.

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SPACE TEST COURSE DETAILS

Curriculum

This is a one-year course growing test leaders in the following categories:
• Experimental Space Test Engineers (STEs) (see DAFI 99-107 for applicable AFSCs) 

Graduates of STC will receive Graduate Certificates in Space Test Engineering and Leadership. A Masters of Science in Aerospace Test Engineering and Leadership is expected in 2027.

Commitment

All individuals selected for TPS will incur a service commitment. Service commitments are defined in DAFI 99-107, and AFMAN 36-2100, Military Utilization and Classification. The current Active Duty Service Commitment for STC is three years.

Application Deadline --- Jul. 07, 2025 (Military) Jul. 21, 2025 (Civilian)
The 2026-B/2027-A STC Selection Board will select candidates for 26B/27A. Class 26B will arrive in June of 2026 to start in July of 2026. Class 27-A will arrive in December of 2026 to start in January of 2027.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility requirements are outlined in DAFI 99-107.

1. Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics with a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.
   Applicants with a B.S. in a different discipline with a GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale may still be considered eligible provided the member has completed undergraduate or graduate courses in: Calculous I, Calculous II, Physics I, Physics II, Statistics, Differential Equations.
2. Service Requirements:
   • Lt to Maj Officers: 3-10 years of government service by Jun 2026.
   • Spec 4 to Tech Sergeant Enlisted: 2-14 years of government service by Jun 2026
   • Civilians GS-13/NH-O3/equivalent & below: 2+ years of service by Jun 2026.
3. Active, fully adjudicated TS/SCI Clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) eligible.
4. Minimum of 18 months' Time on Station (TOS) by Jun 2026.

Application Process

The formal PSDM with full application information can be found HERE.

Application Timeline

July 21, 2025: Deadline for Applications & Endorser Inputs
July 2025: USSF STC Selection Board
Members selected during the USSF STC board will move forward to complete the Comprehensive Candidate Evaluation Program (CCEP)
August 2025: Applicants notified whether they have been selected for CCEP
October 2025: CCEP conducted at Edwards AFB
December 2025: Final results of CCEP announced via PSDM

Candidates selected by the TPS Space Test Course Selection Board for continued evaluation will participate in the in-person Comprehensive Candidate Evaluation Program (CCEP) at Edwards AFB. Staff from USAF TPS will provide program details to those selected for CCEP. The member’s unit will fund all CCEP travel costs associated IAW DAFI 99-107, Test Pilot School.

Contact

Direct questions regarding applications or waivers to the USSF Talent Management Board at HQ.USSF.Talentmgmtboard@spaceforce.mil. Student selects please reach out to USAF TPS for questions regarding your arrival process at USAFTPS.DFS.StudentServices@us.af.mil.

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ENLISTED TEST COURSE DETAILS

Curriculum

This is a six-week course growing enlisted test leaders in all AFSCs/SFSCs.

Graduates of ETC will receive a special experience identifier denoting their status as test leaders.

Commitment

There is no Active Duty Service Commitment for ETC.

Application Process
The ETC Selection Board will select candidates for 26A/B. Class 26A will take place in the spring and class 26B will take place in the summer. The formal PSDM with full application information can be found HERE. 

Application Timeline

May 2025: PSDM released
July 2025: Selection Board for ETC 26A/26B
August 1, 2025: Application deadline
September 2025: Application Review Board
October 2025: Selections completed and published via PSDM

Candidates selected by the TPS Enlisted Test Course Selection Board for continued evaluation will be notified by TPS staff. 

Contact

Direct questions regarding applications to USAF TPS at USAFTPS.ETF.Inbox@us.af.mil or 661-277-3000.