NOTE: This question is now (July 2025) being reported without a 6 month option. The answer of 12 months has been reported as correct by much feedback.

Licence Proficiency Check (LPC): Renewal of the type rating / IR - done every 12 months.

Operator Proficiency Check (OPC): Effectively a mini IR and done between LPC's. The elements tested in an OPC are also done on the full LPC - so you end up doing 2 OPC's in every 12 months.

Finally, regarding the OPC / 12 month questions: This relates ONLY TO SPECIALISED TASKS. For example, an operator is certified to carry out the spraying of detergent on oil slicks. This is clearly a specialised task as it involves low level flying and unique operating conditions. This skill is tested every year by the operator using an OPC. Here, the crew will have to fly a dummy run and demonstrate competency in this operation.

Although this is also a check in proficiency by the operator (OPC), it is for a different skill set and by regulation, has a 12 month validity.

EASA AIR OPS
Regulation (EU) 2015/140
ORO.FC.230 Recurrent training and checking

(a) Each flight crew member shall complete recurrent training and checking relevant to the type or variant of aircraft on which they operate.

(b) Operator proficiency check

(1) Each flight crew member shall complete operator proficiency checks as part of the normal crew complement to demonstrate competence in carrying out normal, abnormal and emergency procedures.

(2) When the flight crew member will be required to operate under IFR, the operator proficiency check shall be conducted without external visual reference, as appropriate.

(3) The validity period of the operator proficiency check shall be six calendar months. For operations under VFR by day of performance class B aeroplanes conducted during seasons not longer than eight consecutive months, one operator proficiency check shall be sufficient. The proficiency check shall be undertaken before commencing commercial air transport operations.

Line Check

Each flight crew member shall complete a line check on the aircraft to demonstrate competence in carrying out normal line operations described in the operations manual. The validity period of the line check shall be 12 calendar months.

Emergency and safety equipment training and checking

Each flight crew member shall complete training and checking on the location and use of all emergency and safety equipment carried. The validity period of an emergency and safety equipment check shall be 12 calendar months.

CRM training

Elements of CRM shall be integrated into all appropriate phases of the recurrent training.

Each flight crew member shall undergo specific modular CRM training. All major topics of CRM training shall be covered by distributing modular training sessions as evenly as possible over each three-year period.

Each flight crew member shall undergo ground training and flight training in an FSTD or an aircraft, or a combination of FSTD and aircraft training, at least every 12 calendar months.