1. You must be at least 17 years of age [when you finish your training and take your FAA practical (flight) test].
2. You must be able to read, speak, write, and converse fluently in English.
3. You must obtain at least a third-class FAA medical certificate and student pilot certificate.
4. You must pass the pilot knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. All FAA tests are administered at FAA-designated computer testing centers.
   1. The private pilot knowledge test consists of 60 multiple-choice questions selected from the 700+ airplane-related questions in the FAA's test bank.
   2. For a private pilot certificate issued under Part 61 of the federal aviation regulations, you must receive a minimum of 40 hours of flight time, including a minimum of 10 hours of solo (i.e., by yourself) flight time in an airplane.

You must successfully complete a practical (flight) test, which will be given as a final exam by an FAA-designated pilot examiner.

1. FAA-designated pilot examiners are proficient, experienced flight instructors/pilots who are authorized by the FAA to conduct practical tests. They typically charge a fee of $400-$500 for their services.

Requirements to Obtain an Instrument Rating

Hold at least a private pilot certificate. Be able to read, write, and converse fluently in English. Hold a current FAA medical certificate. Receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor or complete a home-study course. Subjects include: FARs IFR-related items in the AIM ATC system and procedures IFR navigation Use of IFR charts Aviation weather Operating under IFR Recognition of critical weather Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) Crew Resource Management (CRM) Pass the FAA instrument rating knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. Accumulate flight experience (FAR 61.65): 50 hr. of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, of which at least 10 hr. must be in airplanes: The 50 hr. includes solo cross-country time as a student pilot, which is logged as pilot-in-command time. Each cross-country must have a landing at an airport that was at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 NM from the original departure point. A total of 40 hr. of actual or simulated instrument time in the areas of operation listed in 7. below, including: 15 hr. of instrument flight training from a CFII (CFII is an instructor who is authorized to give instrument instruction) days preceding the practical test Cross-country flight procedures that include at least one cross-country flight in an airplane that is performed under IFR and consists of: A distance of at least 250 NM along airways or ATC-directed routing An instrument approach at each airport Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems If the instrument training was provided by a CFII, a maximum of 20hr. may be accomplished in an approved flight simulator or flight training device.  Demonstrate flight proficiency (FAR 61.65). You must receive and log training, as well as obtain a logbook sign-off (endorsement) from your CFII on the following areas of operation: Preflight preparation Preflight procedures Air traffic control clearances and procedures Flight by reference to instruments Navigation systems Instrument approach procedures Emergency operations Postflight procedures.     Requirements to Obtain a Commercial Pilot Certificate Be at least 18 years of age. Be able to read, write, and converse fluently in English. Hold a current FAA medical certificate. Receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor or complete a home-study course. Subjects include: FARs NTSB Part 830 Aerodynamics Aviation weather Operation of aircraft Weight and balance Performance charts Effects of exceeding limitations VFR charts Navigation facilities Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) Aircraft systems Maneuvers, procedures, and emergency operations in the airplane Night and high-altitude operations National airspace system Pass the FAA commercial pilot knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. Accumulate flight experience (FAR 61.129). You must log at least 250 hr. of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least: 100 hr. in powered aircraft, of which 50 hr. must be in airplanes 100 hr. as pilot in command flight time, which includes at least: 50 hr. in airplanes 50 hr. in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hr. must be in airplanes 20 hr. of training in the areas of operation listed in item 8. below, including at least: 10 hr. of instrument training of which at least 5 hr. must be in a single-engine airplane 10 hr. of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered One cross-country flight of at least 2 hr. in a single-engine airplane in day-VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 NM from the original point of departure One cross-country flight of at least 2 hr. in a single-engine airplane in night-VFR conditions, consisting of a straight-line distance of more than 100 NM from the original point of departure 3 hr. in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test within the 60 days preceding the test 10 hr. of solo flight in a single-engine airplane training in the areas of operation required for a single-engine rating, which includes at least: One cross-country flight of not less than 300 NM total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 NM from the original departure point In Hawaii, the longest segment need have only a straight-line distance of at least 150 NM. 5 hr. in night-VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower. Hold an instrument rating or your commercial certificate will be endorsed with a prohibition against carrying passengers for hire on flights beyond 50 NM or at night. Demonstrate flight proficiency (FAR 61.127). You must receive and log training, and obtain a logbook sign-off (endorsement) from your CFI on the following areas of operation: Preflight preparation Preflight procedures Airport and seaplane base operations Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds Performance maneuvers Ground reference maneuvers Navigation Slow flight and stalls Emergency operations High-altitude operations Postflight procedures

Requirements to Obtain a Flight Instructor Certificate

Be at least 18 years of age. Be able to read, write, and converse fluently in English. Hold a commercial or airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate with an aircraft rating appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought (e.g., airplane, glider). You must also hold an instrument rating to be a flight instructor in an airplane. Receive and log ground training Fundamentals of instructing (FOI) All other subject areas in which ground training is required for recreational, private, and commercial pilot certificates and for an instrument rating Pass both the FOI and the flight instructor knowledge tests with scores of 70% or better. You are not required to take the FOI knowledge test if you Hold an FAA flight or ground instructor certificate Hold a current teacher's certificate authorizing you to teach at an educational level of the 7th grade or higher Are employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university Demonstrate flight proficiency (FAR 61.187). You must receive and log flight and ground training and obtain a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor on the following areas of operations for an airplane category rating with a single-engine class rating. Fundamentals of instructing Technical support areas Preflight preparation Preflight lesson on a maneuver to be performed in flight Preflight procedures Airport and seaplane base operations Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds Fundamentals of flight Performance maneuvers Ground reference maneuvers Slow flight, stalls, and spins Basic instrument maneuvers Emergency operations Postflight procedures The flight instruction must be given by a person who has held a flight instructor certificate during the 24 months immediately preceding the date the instruction is given and who has given at least 200 hr. of flight instruction as a CFI. You must also obtain a logbook endorsement by an appropriately certificated and rated flight instructor who has provided you with spin entry, spin, and spin recovery training in an airplane that is certificated for spins and has found you instruction ally competent and proficient in those training areas, i.e., so you can teach spins.

Requirements to Obtain a Ground Instructor Certificate

To be eligible for a ground instructor certificate, you must Be at least 18 years of age. Be able to read, write, and converse fluently in English. Exhibit practical and theoretical knowledge by passing the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) and the appropriate ground instructor knowledge tests. For the FOI knowledge test, study the Fundamentals of Instructing FAA Knowledge Test. You are not required to take the FOI knowledge test if you Hold an FAA flight or ground instructor certificate Hold a current teacher's certificate authorizing you to teach at an educational level of 7th grade or higher Are employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university For the advanced or basic ground instructor knowledge test, study the Flight/Ground Instructor FAA Knowledge Test book. For the instrument ground instructor knowledge test, study the Instrument Pilot FAA Knowledge Test book. Ground instructor certificates cover three levels of certification: Basic ground instructor (BGI) may provide Ground training in the aeronautical knowledge areas required for a recreational or private pilot certificate Ground training required for a recreational or private pilot flight review A recommendation for the recreational or private pilot knowledge test Advanced ground instructor (AGI) may provide: Ground training in the aeronautical knowledge areas required for any certificate or rating Ground training required for any flight review A recommendation for a knowledge test required for any certificate Instrument ground instructor (IGI) may provide: Ground training in the aeronautical knowledge areas required for an instrument rating to a pilot or instructor certificate Ground training required for an instrument proficiency check A recommendation for the instrument rating knowledge test for a pilot or instructor certificate.

Requirements to Obtain an ATP Certificate

Be at least 23 years of age. Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. Be of good moral character. Meet at least one of the following: Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate and an instrument rating. Meet the military experience requirements (listed in FAR 61.73) to qualify for a commercial pilot certificate and an instrument rating. Hold either a foreign ATP or a foreign commercial pilot license and an instrument rating, without limitations, issued by a member nation of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Hold at least a current FAA third-class medical certificate. Later, if your flying requires an ATP certificate, you must hold a first-class medical certificate. Receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor, or complete a home-study course to learn (61.155) Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations that relate to airline transport pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations. Meteorology, including knowledge of and effects of fronts, frontal characteristics, cloud formations, icing, and upper-air data. General systems of weather and NOTAM collection, dissemination, interpretation, and use. Interpretation and use of weather charts, maps, forecasts, sequence reports, abbreviations, and symbols. National Weather Service functions as they pertain to operations in the National Airspace System. Wind shear and microburst awareness, identification, and avoidance. Principles of air navigation under instrument meteorological conditions in the National Airspace System. Air traffic control procedures and pilot responsibilities as they relate to en route operations, terminal area and radar operations, and instrument departure and approach procedures. Aircraft loading, weight and balance, use of charts, graphs, tables, formulas, and computations, and their effect on aircraft performance. Aerodynamics relating to an aircraft's flight characteristics and performance in normal and abnormal flight regimes. Human factors. Aeronautical decision making and judgment. Crew resource management to include crew communication and coordination. Pass a pilot knowledge test with a score of 70% or better. A knowledge test is not required for you to add another aircraft type rating to your ATP certificate if your ATP certificate lists the aircraft category and class rating that is appropriate to the type rating sought. Accumulate flight experience (FAR 61.159). Except as provided in b. and c. on the next page, you must log at least 1,500 hr. of total time as a pilot that includes at least 500 hr. of cross-country flight time 100 hr. of night flight time A person who has performed at least 20 night takeoffs and landings to a full stop may substitute each additional night takeoff and landing to a full stop for 1 hr. of night flight time, limited to not more than 25 hr. of night flight time. 75 hr. of actual or simulated instrument flight time The maximum time that may be accumulated in a flight simulator or flight training device, representing an airplane, is either 25 hr., if the training is not conducted under FAR Part 142, or 50 hr., if the training is conducted under FAR Part 142. 250 hr. of flight time as PIC of an airplane, or as SIC performing the duties and functions of a PIC under the supervision of a PIC, or by any combination of the two. This requirement must include 100 hr. of cross-country time 25 hr. of night flight time NOTE: Not more than 100 hr. of the total aeronautical experience requirements may be obtained in a flight simulator or a flight training device that represents an airplane, provided the experience was obtained in a course conducted under FAR Part 142. A commercial pilot may credit the following flight time toward the 1,500 hr. of total pilot time. SIC time, provided the time is acquired in an airplane, under one of the following conditions: Required to have more than one pilot flight crewmember by the airplane's flight manual, a type certificate, or the regulations under which the flight is being conducted Engaged in operations under Part 121 or 135 for which a SIC is required Required under the FARs to have more than one pilot flight crewmember Flight-engineer time, provided the time Is acquired in an airplane required to have a flight engineer by the airplane's flight manual or type certificate Is acquired while in operations conducted under Part 121 for which a flight engineer is required Is acquired while the person is participating in a pilot training program under Part 121 Does not exceed more than 1 hr. for each 3 hr. of flight-engineer flight time for a total credited time of not more than 500 hr. You may be issued an ATP certificate with the endorsement "Holder does not meet the pilot in command aeronautical experience requirements of ICAO," if you Credit SIC or flight-engineer time toward the 1,500 hr. total flight time requirement Do not have at least 1,200 hr. of flight time as a pilot, including no more than 50% of your SIC time and none of your flight-engineer time Otherwise meet the aeronautical experience requirements NOTE: The endorsement described in item c. above will be removed when you present satisfactory evidence of the accumulation of 1,200 hr. flight time as a pilot including no more than 50% of your SIC time and none of your flight-engineer time. Successfully complete the ATP practical flight test given as a final exam by an FAA inspector or designated pilot examiner and conducted as specified in the FAA's Airline Transport Pilot and Type Rating Practical Test Standards (FAA-S-8081-5B, dated July 1995). The ATP practical test covers the following areas of operations: Preflight preparation Preflight procedures Takeoff and departure phase In-flight maneuvers Instrument procedures Landings and approaches to landings Normal and abnormal procedures Emergency procedures Postflight procedures