Overview
"PDG" stands for Professional Development Guide, the US Air Force publication (AFPAM 36-2241) that enlisted Airmen once studied for the Promotion Fitness Examination (PFE). The PFE is one of the written tests used in the Weighted Airman Promotion System (WAPS), which decides promotions to Staff Sergeant (SSgt, E-5) and Technical Sergeant (TSgt, E-6). Airmen still often call the PFE "the PDG test".
The PDG itself is no longer the study source. For the 2026 cycles, the Air Force states that the PFE is based solely on Air Force Handbook 1 (AFH 1), Airman.
Who can apply
There is no public application. The tests are taken by Airmen who are eligible for promotion in a given cycle:
Senior Airmen (SrA) test for promotion to SSgt
Staff Sergeants test for promotion to TSgt
Your unit's WAPS monitor and test control officer schedule your test within the testing window.
Exam pattern
Under WAPS, an Airman normally takes two tests:
| Test | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Promotion Fitness Examination (PFE) | General Air Force knowledge from AFH 1, Airman, with topic weighting set by the Airman Development and Testing Chart (ADTC) |
| Specialty Knowledge Test (SKT) | Knowledge across the Airman's whole Air Force specialty, rather than one job, drawn from the references listed in the WAPS catalog |
Some specialties have no SKT and take the PFE only; the WAPS catalog marks these as "PFE only". Most Airmen serving in reporting identifier or special duty identifier posts also take only the PFE.
Syllabus
PFE. The content and relative importance of AFH 1 topics on the test are set by the ADTC, which identifies the testable parts of the handbook. The Air Force did not produce separate study guides for the 2026 cycles, so AFH 1 is the reference.
SKT. Study references are listed for each test by Air Force Promotion Test (AFPT) number in the WAPS catalog. They are mainly Career Development Course (CDC) volumes, available through the electronic WAPS Online Reference Library (eWORLD) on the Enlisted Promotion Study Guides website, plus Air Force instructions and manuals, joint publications and, for some fields, commercial or FAA references.
Important dates
For promotion year 2026, the main active-duty testing windows were:
| Cycle | Promotion to | Testing window |
|---|---|---|
| 26E6 | TSgt | 15 February to 15 April 2026 |
| 26E5 | SSgt | 1 May to 30 June 2026 |
A separate WAPS catalog is issued for each grade before its testing window, with the references for that cycle.
How to apply
You do not register yourself. Check the current WAPS catalog for your grade to see whether your specialty takes an SKT, then confirm your test date with your unit WAPS monitor. Ask the WAPS monitor to order any study reference that is not available locally or online.
After the exam
If you believe a question was no longer valid because a reference changed, answer it as best you can and then submit an AFPT 230 query through the test control officer straight after the test.
Preparation tips
Study the current AFH 1 rather than an old PDG, and use the ADTC to focus on the topics it marks as most important. For the SKT, work through the exact CDC editions and references listed for your AFPT number in the current catalog, since those are what the questions are drawn from. Discussing, sharing or holding test content without authorisation is a test compromise and is punishable under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
What does PDG stand for in the Air Force?
Professional Development Guide (AFPAM 36-2241), the former study source for the Promotion Fitness Examination. The PFE is now based on AFH 1, Airman.
Does every Airman take the SKT?
No. Some specialties and most reporting identifier or special duty identifier posts take only the PFE, as shown in the WAPS catalog.
When are the promotion tests held?
For 2026, TSgt testing ran from 15 February to 15 April and SSgt testing from 1 May to 30 June.