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.

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 2026.

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 --- February 28, 2025
The 2026-A STC Selection Board will select candidates for 26A. Class 26A will arrive in December of 2025 to start in January of 2026. A second STC Selection Board will select candidates for 26B/27A classes. An additional Personnel Services Delivery Memorandum for the 2026-B STC board will be released later in 2025.

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

February 28, 2025: Deadline for Applications & Endorser Inputs
March 10, 2025: Selection Board for STC 26A
May 2025: Final selections for STC 26A published
July 2025: Selection Board for STC 26B/27A
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 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.

Contact

Direct questions regarding applications or waivers to USAF TPS at USAFTPS.STC.Applications@us.af.mil and/or USSF Talent Management Board at HQ.USSF.Talentmgmtboard@spaceforce.mil.

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.