Certificate
Student, sport, recreational, private, commercial, or ATP. This is the privilege level you hold.
FAA Pilot Certificates & Ratings
Current FAA guide · reviewed August 2026
Start with the flying you want to do
A certificate is your level of pilot privilege. Ratings say what you may fly and whether you may fly under instrument rules. Endorsements unlock specific aircraft features or operations.
This guide connects those pieces to real goals—from a first solo to airline, agricultural, helicopter, charter, instructor, and drone work.
Rating
Airplane, helicopter, glider, multiengine, seaplane, instrument, or a specific aircraft type.
Endorsement
A logbook authorization for a skill or operation such as tailwheel, complex, high-performance, or high-altitude aircraft.
The common professional-airplane route
One foundation, several career branches
This is a common sequence—not a rule that every pilot must follow. Sport and recreational pilots branch earlier; helicopter, glider, balloon, powered-lift, and drone pilots use different category-specific paths.
FAA certificate directory
Every FAA pilot certificate level, explained
Student Pilot Certificate
Required before your first solo flight—not before your first lesson.
Best for
Anyone learning to fly who has not yet earned a higher pilot certificate.
What it allows
Solo flight only after the required training and instructor endorsements, and only within the limitations your instructor places in your logbook.
Core requirements
At least 16 years old for powered aircraft, or 14 for a glider or balloon; English proficiency; an application through IACRA or FAA Form 8710-1. A medical or other qualifying medical basis may also be needed for solo, depending on the aircraft and privileges used.
Important limits
No passengers, no carrying property for compensation or hire, and no operation contrary to an instructor endorsement. Certificates issued since April 1, 2016 do not expire; a higher certificate supersedes the student certificate.
Sport Pilot Certificate
A lower-time personal-flying path with one passenger and aircraft-specific limits.
Best for
Recreational pilots who can accept tighter operating limits and want to use a qualifying driver’s license instead of an FAA medical when eligible.
What it allows
Personal flying in aircraft that meet the performance and design limits in §61.316. Since the 2025 MOSAIC changes, sport privileges are no longer tied only to the former light-sport-aircraft definition.
Core requirements
At least 17 years old for powered aircraft, or 16 for a glider or balloon; training, aeronautical experience, a knowledge test, and a practical test. The airplane path generally starts at 20 logged hours, but proficiency—not the minimum number—is what earns the endorsement for the checkride.
Important limits
One passenger, no operation for compensation or hire, and other limits in Part 61. Night, retractable landing gear, manually controllable-pitch propeller, and certain additional privileges require specific training and endorsements. Medical eligibility rules still matter—especially after a denied, suspended, or revoked medical.
Recreational Pilot Certificate
A rarely used local-flying certificate between sport and private privileges.
Best for
Pilots who want simple daytime personal flying in a single-engine airplane and are comfortable with strong local restrictions.
What it allows
Act as PIC in qualifying single-engine aircraft with no more than four seats and up to 180 horsepower, carrying one passenger.
Core requirements
At least 17 years old; training and aeronautical experience; a knowledge test and practical test; and the medical qualification required for the operation. The Part 61 minimum is generally 30 logged hours.
Important limits
Normally daytime, within 50 nautical miles of the departure airport, with no flight in airspace requiring ATC communications and no operation above 10,000 feet MSL or 2,000 feet AGL, whichever is higher—unless the applicable instructor training and endorsements expand a privilege permitted by the rules.
Private Pilot Certificate
The standard foundation for personal flying and nearly every professional pilot path.
Best for
Pilots who want to carry passengers, travel for personal reasons, or continue to instrument and professional training.
What it allows
Act as PIC in the category and class shown on the certificate, carry passengers, fly day or night when qualified and current, and make limited flights connected to business. Cost sharing and a few other compensated activities are allowed only when every applicable rule is met.
Core requirements
At least 17 years old for powered aircraft, or 16 for a glider or balloon; training, experience, a knowledge test, and a practical test. For an airplane under Part 61, the regulatory floor is generally 40 hours; an approved Part 141 course may have a 35-hour minimum. Many students need more.
Important limits
A private pilot generally may not act as PIC for compensation or hire. An instrument rating is needed to fly under IFR, and additional ratings or endorsements may be needed for the aircraft.
Commercial Pilot Certificate
The certificate level that permits compensated flying—but does not authorize an air-carrier business by itself.
Best for
Future instructors, tour, survey, agricultural, charter, corporate, cargo, firefighting, or airline pilots.
What it allows
Exercise commercial-pilot privileges in the aircraft category and class held and perform jobs that the operating rules permit.
Core requirements
At least 18 years old; a private certificate or qualifying military experience; the required training and aeronautical experience; and a knowledge and practical test. The airplane Part 61 path generally requires 250 total hours; approved Part 141 airplane courses can use a lower curriculum minimum.
Important limits
“Commercial pilot” does not mean you may sell transportation to the public in your own airplane. The operator may also need Part 119/121/125/135/137 authority, economic authority, drug-testing programs, and other approvals. A second-class medical is generally needed while exercising commercial privileges.
Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP)
The highest FAA pilot-certificate level and the required certificate for many air-carrier PIC and SIC assignments.
Best for
Airline, major cargo, and many advanced charter or corporate pilots.
What it allows
Exercise ATP privileges in the category, class, and type ratings held, including serving in air-carrier positions for which regulations require an ATP.
Core requirements
For an unrestricted ATP, normally age 23 and 1,500 hours plus the specific experience in §61.159 or §61.161. Restricted-privileges ATP paths can allow eligible pilots to serve as second in command at age 21 with reduced total time under §61.160. An ATP CTP is required before the multiengine-airplane ATP knowledge test, and the aircraft may require a type rating.
Important limits
An R-ATP carries “restricted privileges” until the pilot meets the unrestricted requirements. Airlines also impose hiring, training, checking, recency, and medical standards beyond certificate issuance.
Remote Pilot Certificate
The FAA certificate for small-drone operations conducted under Part 107.
Best for
Commercial drone pilots, photographers, surveyors, inspectors, public-safety personnel, and other Part 107 operators.
What it allows
Serve as remote PIC for small UAS operations under Part 107, subject to airspace, aircraft, operational, and waiver requirements.
Core requirements
At least 16 years old; English proficiency; physical and mental fitness for safe operation; and the Part 107 certification process. First-time applicants normally pass the UAG knowledge test. Eligible current Part 61 pilots may use the FAA online course route.
Important limits
Aeronautical-knowledge recency must be renewed every 24 calendar months. A remote certificate does not grant manned-aircraft privileges, and operations outside Part 107 limits may require a waiver or different authority.
What appears after the certificate level
Aircraft, instrument, and type ratings
A rating does not replace the certificate level; it defines the aircraft or operation covered by that certificate.
Instructor credentials
CFI, CFII, MEI, and ground instructor
Flight instructor is a separate certificate. Ratings on it define what you may teach. Common airplane credentials include flight instructor–airplane single-engine (CFI), instrument-airplane (commonly CFII), and airplane multiengine (commonly MEI). Rotorcraft, glider, powered-lift, and sport-instructor paths have their own applicable ratings and rules.
Ground instructor is also a separate certificate with basic, advanced, and instrument ratings. It authorizes specified ground training and endorsements but does not authorize flight instruction.
- CFI is commonly used to build experience, but it is not required for airline eligibility.
- An instructor must hold the ratings and meet the recency requirements applicable to the instruction given.
- A Gold Seal is an FAA-issued qualification added to an instructor certificate when the eligibility and training-success criteria are met; it is not a new certificate level.
Qualifications kept in the logbook
Common endorsements are not ratings
These do not normally appear as separate ratings on the pilot certificate, but you may not act as PIC until the applicable training and endorsement requirements are met.
TW
Tailwheel
Training in normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings, wheel landings unless unsuitable, and go-around procedures.
CX
Complex airplane
For airplanes with retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable-pitch propeller, including FADEC-equivalent provisions in the rule.
HP
High performance
Required to act as PIC of an airplane with an engine of more than 200 horsepower, subject to grandfather provisions.
HA
High altitude
Ground and flight training for pressurized airplanes with a service ceiling or maximum operating altitude above 25,000 feet MSL.
+
Other authorizations
Solo, sport-pilot privileges, night vision goggles, towing, practical-test preparation, and aircraft-transition requirements may also use endorsements.
Match credentials to the mission
What do I need for this pilot career?
The FAA certificate is the legal foundation. Employers, insurers, customers, contracts, and the operating rules often demand more experience and training.
Airline or major cargo pilot
FAA foundation
Commercial pilot with airplane multiengine and instrument privileges, then ATP or eligible R-ATP and the required type rating.
Typical route
Student → private airplane → instrument-airplane → commercial airplane → multiengine add-on → build experience (often CFI/CFII/MEI) → ATP CTP → ATP/R-ATP and type rating.
Corporate, charter, or air-taxi pilot
FAA foundation
Commercial certificate and instrument rating in the appropriate category/class; ATP and a type rating when the aircraft, seat, or operating rule requires them.
Typical route
Private → instrument → commercial → multiengine → job-specific experience → type rating and Part 135 or company training.
Agricultural / crop-dusting pilot
FAA foundation
For a commercial Part 137 operator, a commercial or ATP certificate with the appropriate aircraft ratings; a private agricultural operator may use a private, commercial, or ATP certificate as allowed by §137.19.
Typical route
Private → commercial in the aircraft category/class → tailwheel or turbine transition as applicable → specialized agricultural training → Part 137 knowledge-and-skill demonstration and operator qualification.
Flight instructor
FAA foundation
A flight instructor certificate with the aircraft ratings you teach. Most initial CFI applicants hold a commercial or ATP certificate and the required instrument privileges.
Typical route
Private → instrument → commercial → CFI; then CFII for instrument instruction and MEI for multiengine-airplane instruction.
Helicopter career
FAA foundation
Commercial pilot with rotorcraft-helicopter rating; instrument-helicopter, instructor ratings, ATP, and a type rating depend on the job and aircraft.
Typical route
Private helicopter → commercial helicopter → instrument helicopter → CFI/CFII for common entry-level experience building → mission-specific qualifications.
Survey, patrol, firefighting, banner, jump, or tow pilot
FAA foundation
Usually a commercial certificate in the appropriate category/class when flying for compensation, plus instrument, multiengine, tailwheel, high-performance, type, or mission qualifications as applicable.
Typical route
Private → instrument when relevant → commercial → aircraft endorsements/ratings → operator training and the experience required by the mission.
Personal and recreational flying
FAA foundation
Sport, recreational, or private pilot privileges appropriate to the aircraft and trip.
Typical route
Choose sport for a streamlined path with tighter limits; private for broader travel, passengers, and aircraft options; add instrument for IFR travel.
Commercial drone pilot
FAA foundation
Remote Pilot Certificate with small UAS rating for Part 107 operations.
Typical route
Pass the Part 107 process → register the aircraft → meet Remote ID and airspace rules → complete recurrent training every 24 calendar months.
Medical qualification
Match the medical to the privileges you exercise
The medical class is based on the privileges being exercised, not simply the highest pilot certificate in your wallet. Duration and downstream privileges change with age and elapsed time.
Review FAA medical guidanceFirst class
Used to exercise ATP privileges. Future airline pilots often confirm eligibility early.
Second class
Generally required while exercising commercial-pilot privileges.
Third class
Common for student, recreational, and private-pilot operations that require an FAA medical.
BasicMed / driver’s license
Alternative qualification routes with their own eligibility and operating limits. They are not substitutes for every operation.
Verify your exact situation
Official FAA and regulatory sources
This guide explains the system in plain language; it is not legal advice or a substitute for the current regulation, Airman Certification Standards, instructor guidance, or FAA determination.
- 14 CFR Part 61 — Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors
- FAA — Become a Pilot
- FAA — Airman Certification Standards
- FAA — MOSAIC and updated Sport Pilot rules
- FAA — ATP, ATP CTP, and restricted ATP guidance
- FAA — Become a Certificated Remote Pilot
- FAA — Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operations
Clear up the common mix-ups
FAA pilot certificate FAQ
Is a pilot license the same as a pilot certificate?
People commonly say “pilot license,” but the FAA issues pilot certificates. Ratings define the aircraft, instrument, or other privileges attached to a certificate.
Do I need a student pilot certificate before taking lessons?
No. You need it before solo flight, not before beginning dual instruction with a flight instructor.
Is an instrument rating a separate pilot certificate?
No. It is a rating added to a pilot certificate for a particular aircraft category, such as instrument-airplane or instrument-helicopter.
Do I need to become a flight instructor to fly for an airline?
No. Flight instructing is a common way to gain experience, but it is not an FAA prerequisite for an airline pilot certificate or airline employment.
Does a commercial pilot certificate let me start an airline or charter service?
No. It lets you exercise commercial pilot privileges, but the flight and operator must also comply with the applicable operating and economic-authority rules.
Which medical certificate should a future airline pilot get?
A first-class medical is used to exercise ATP privileges. Many career students obtain one early so they can identify medical-certification issues before making a large training investment, even though lower privileges may be exercised under lower medical classes when the rules permit.
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