Requirements for Pilot Certificates

You might be wondering about what kind of rules and requirements you need to meet in order to obtain the various pilot certificates. There are many different requirements that are all dependent on which certificate you are trying to obtain.

Requirements for a Private Pilot Certificate

If you can read this web page, you can probably pass the first requirement - being able to read, write and speak English. Private pilots must be at least 17 years of age. You must have at least a 3rd class medical before your first solo, for which you have to be 16 years of age. This will serve as your student pilot certificate. Before getting your license, you must also pass an FAA written exam within the past 24 months. The hourly requirements are as follows:

40 total hours which must include at least

  • 20 dual hours with an instructor
  • 10 solo hours
3 hours of night dual to include:
  • Night dual cross-country over 100 nm
  • 10 takeoffs and landings performed to a full stop
  • 3 hours of simulated or actual instrument flight
  • 3 hours of practical test prep in the previous 60 days
  • 1 solo cross-country at least 150nm long, with landings at 3 separate airports

Commercial Pilot Requirements

Instructional Topics
  • Advanced Maneuvers
  • Complex Aircraft
  • Line Inspections
  • Aircraft Systems
  • Emergency Procedures
  • Maximum Performance
  • Takeoff/Landing
  • Precision Approaches
  • Cross-Country
General Requirements
  • 18 Years of Age
  • Second Class Medical Certificate
  • Jeppesen Ground Instruction Course
  • Successful completion of the FAA Commercial Pilot
  • Knowledge Exam and FAA Practical Exam
250 hours total time including:
  • 100 hours Pilot in Command
  • 50 hours Cross Country
20 hours of flight instruction with:
  • 10 hours of instrument flight instruction
  • 10 hours in a complex aircraft
  • 2 hours Cross-Country day VFR flight
  • 2 hours Cross-Country night VFR flight
  • 3 hours test preparation
  • 10 hours solo flight training with one cross-country flight of 300 nm and 5 hours of night VFR practice

Instrument Rating Requirements

For your instrument ticket, you still only need your third class medical that you got with your private certificate. You still have to have passed the written exam within the past 24 months. Hourly requirements for an instrument ratings are as follows:

125 total hours which must include at least
  • 50 hours of cross country time as PIC of which 10 must be in an instrument rated plane
  • 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time
  • 15 hours of instrument flight training with an instructor, in the appropriate aircraft category
  • 3 hours of practical test prep within the previous 60 days
  • At least once cross country flight under an IFR flight plan

Flight Instructor Requirements

  • Commercial Pilot Certificate
  • Instrument Rating
  • Aeronautical Knowledge Requirements as Specified by FAR 61.185
Flight Proficiency in the Following Areas:
  • Prepare and Conduct Lesson Plans
  • Evaluation of Student Flight Performance
  • Effective Preflight and Postflight Instruction
  • Flight Instructor Responsibilities and Certifying Procedures
  • Effective Analysis and Correction of Common Student Flight Errors
  • Performance and Analysis of Standard Flight Maneuvers Appropriate to the Rating Sought
  • Additional instructor ratings are available for instrument and multi-engine.