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Common Pilot Certificates and Ratings Complete Guide

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a pilot? Whether it’s flying your own plane for a weekend trip or building a career in aviation, in order to fly you need to have the right licenses and ratings. You’ll likely start hearing terms like private pilot, instrument rated, CFI, ATP, etc. But what does this mean and which ones will you need based on your goals? In this guide, we'll explain how to become a pilot in the United States, walk through the most common FAA pilot certificates and ratings, discuss training requirements, and help you understand which path might be right for you. Key Takeaways: A certificate establishes a level of pilot privilege, while a rating adds specific aircraft or operating privileges. Private Pilot is a common starting certificate for recreational and career-oriented airplane pilots. An Instrument Rating allows appropriately qualified pilots to operate under instrument meteorological conditions (IMC: reduced visibility, cloud clearance, or low ceilings) A Commercial Pilot Certificate expands privileges involving compensation or hire, subject to regulatory limitations. Multi-engine is an additional class rating rather than a higher certificate level. CFI and CFII are flight instructor qualifications and are commonly used by professional-track pilots to teach and build experience. Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) represents the highest level of pilot certificate and is associated with airline, cargo, and charter operations.  Certificates and Ratings Brief Overview  Qualification  Type What it allows you to do Student Pilot Certificate Conduct authorized solo flights during training. Private Pilot (PPL) Certificate Fly for personal and recreational purposes. Instrument Rating (IR) Rating Operate under IFR. (Flying by reference to instruments only) Commercial Pilot (CPL) Certificate Be compensated for flying an aircraft. Multi-Engine (MEL) Class Rating  Fly aircraft with more than one engine within the applicable class. Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Instructor Certificate Provide ground and flight instruction. Certified Flight Instructor - instrument (CFII) Instructor Rating  Provide instrument flight instruction. Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate  Act as pilot in command (PIC) for scheduled air carriers (airlines) and some charter and cargo operations Difference between pilot certificates and ratings When comparing ratings and certificates, think of it like this. A certificate establishes your level of pilot privileges such as private, commercial, etc. A rating adds a specific qualification to your certificate. These two work together and determine which aircraft and operations you’re allowed to conduct. Additionally, many jet aircraft require type ratings in order to fly them. It is common for professional pilots to have many type ratings that allow them to fly different types of airplanes. For example, a pilot may be type rated for a Boeing 737, an Airbus A320, and a Lear 60. There are also endorsements which are different than certificates and ratings. Endorsements are instructor authorizations that are often required before operating certain aircraft. For many pilots, a common path to take is: Student Pilot – Private Pilot – Instrument Rating – Commercial Pilot – Multi Engine Rating – CFI/CFII – ATP Please note, this is not a mandatory order. Private Pilot Certificate (PPL) Normally, your first major milestone is the private pilot certificate. This gives you the ability to fly for recreational or personal purposes. If you want to fly to get lunch in a different state, you can, because why not? This certificate does not allow you fly for compensation. Your private pilot training will begin with the fundamentals of operating an aircraft safely. You’ll learn how to perform things like preflight inspections, understand aircraft systems, communicate with Air Traffic Control (ATC), and much more. The best and likely most memorable part of it all is you’ll do your first solo flight. To earn this certificate with a single engine land rating, you’ll need at least 40 hours of flight time which include specific instructor-led and solo training. Though according to the FAA, it usually takes on average 75 hours for private pilot completion as students will need additional time to develop the proficiency needed for their checkride. Private Pilot Certificate Requirements: Minimum age: 17 for an airplane Private Pilot Certificate. Flight experience: At least 40 hours under Part 61, including required dual and solo training. Training: Ground instruction, aircraft operations, navigation, weather, cross-country flying, and emergency procedures. Testing: FAA Private Pilot knowledge testm, oral exam and practical test (checkride). Additional requirements: English-language proficiency and applicable eligibility and medical requirements. Instrument Rating (IR) Once you have your private pilot certificate, you’ll operate under visual flight rules (VFR), which require you to maintain specific visibility and cloud clearance conditions. This could limit when or where you fly. An instrument rating can expand these capabilities by allowing you to operate under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). During instrument rating training, you’ll learn how to navigate an aircraft primarily by referencing the instruments rather than relying on visuals from outside the cockpit. You’ll learn how to follow instrument departure and arrival procedures, navigate using approved systems, execute instrument approaches and much more. This prepares you for abnormal situations that may occur in harsher environments. The benefit of this rating is the flexibility it gives you to fly. While IFR gives you certain abilities to fly in different environments, it doesn't mean you can fly in any weather. Thunderstorms, icing, and your own proficiency still determine whether a flight is safe. Instrument Rating Requirements: Prerequisite: At least a Private Pilot Certificate with the appropriate aircraft rating, or concurrent eligibility under applicable rules. Flight experience: 50 hours of cross-country PIC time, including required airplane experience. Instrument training: 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time, including at least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor under the standard Part 61 pathway. Skills: IFR flight planning, instrument navigation, holding patterns, approaches, ATC communication, and emergency procedures. Testing: FAA Instrument Rating knowledge test and practical test. Ongoing requirement: Maintain instrument currency and proficiency for IFR operations. Commercial Pilot Certificate (CPL) If you’re looking to earn money as a pilot, this is where the Commercial Pilot Certificate comes into play. One common misconception is that although it has the word commercial in its name, it does not mean with this, you’ll be flying for an airline. This certificate just allows you to be compensated or hired as a pilot. There are a lot of opportunities for commercial pilots like business aviation, agricultural, surveying, flight instructing, and banner towing. Commercial pilot training builds on everything you've learned as a private pilot but places greater emphasis on aircraft performance and professional decision making. You'll practice advanced maneuvers depending on your aircraft category and class. These maneuvers help develop your skillset further while preparing you for more demanding practical test standards. The FAA generally requires 250 hours of total flight time, including specific pilot-in-command, cross-country, night, instrument, and training experience. This doesn't mean you need 250 additional hours after earning your Private Pilot Certificate. A lot of your previous flying can contribute toward the total as long as it meets the applicable requirements. While an instrument rating isn’t always required to earn your commercial pilot certificate, it is valuable in many roles and not having that rating may end up limiting you in your opportunities. This certificate can open the door to professional aviation, but the type of flying you want to pursue will determine which qualifications you need next. Commercial Pilot Certificate Requirements: Minimum age: 18. Prerequisite: Generally, a Private Pilot Certificate, or other applicable eligibility. Flight experience: At least 250 total hours under the standard Part 61 airplane pathway. Training: Required PIC, cross-country, night, instrument, and commercial flight training. Skills: Advanced aircraft control, precision maneuvers, performance planning, and professional decision-making. Testing: FAA Commercial Pilot knowledge test and practical test. Important consideration: Certain commercial operations require additional ratings, experience, or operator authorization. Multi-Engine Rating (MEL) The multi-engine rating allows you to fly planes with more than one engine, hence its name. This rating is great for pilots who want to fly larger aircraft recreationally or as a career. Professionally, this opens the door to a lot more opportunities. However, getting this rating doesn’t mean you can fly any multi-engine aircraft. Different aircraft may require additional training and ratings on top of this one. One of the most important parts of multi-engine training is understanding what happens when an engine fails. You'll study concepts such as VMC (minimum control speed), critical-engine considerations, propeller feathering, and how factors like aircraft weight, altitude, and temperature affect performance. This rating doesn’t have a minimum number of flight hours but instead requires complete training and proficiency through practical tests. Multi-Engine Rating Requirements: Prerequisite: An appropriate pilot certificate and eligibility for the additional class rating. Flight experience: No fixed FAA minimum flight-hour requirement for the standard Part 61 add-on rating. Training: Multi-engine aircraft systems, performance, engine-out operations, and emergency procedures. Skills: Asymmetric thrust management, single-engine flight, VMC awareness, and performance planning. Testing: FAA practical test for the applicable multi-engine class rating; a separate knowledge test is generally not required for a standard add-on class rating. Important consideration: Additional type ratings or qualifications may be required for specific aircraft. Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument (CFII) For some pilots, learning to fly eventually leads to teaching others. Becoming a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) allows you to share your knowledge but also continue to grow as an aviator. Flight instruction can be a long-term career, but it's also a common pathway for pilots who want to build experience while pursuing other professional opportunities. To become a CFI, generally you’ll need a Commercial Pilot or ATP Certificate with the appropriate aircraft ratings, meet the applicable instrument qualification requirements, complete instructor training, and pass the required FAA tests. Training includes the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) which covers different skillsets needed to teach. Once you're a CFI, you may decide to earn an additional instrument instructor rating, commonly called CFII (Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument). This allows you to provide instrument training. You can also get a Multi-Engine Instructor rating which allows you to teach in multi-engine airplanes. While some people choose to be instructors as a career, other pilots do it to gain more experience but you do not need to become a flight instructor in order to fly professionally. CFI and CFII Requirements: Minimum age: Generally 18. Prerequisite: Commercial Pilot or ATP Certificate with appropriate category and class ratings, plus applicable instrument qualifications. Training: Instructor fundamentals, teaching techniques, lesson planning, flight demonstrations, and risk management. CFI testing: Applicable FAA knowledge tests and flight instructor practical test, subject to exemptions. CFII training: Additional instrument instruction knowledge and proficiency. CFII testing: Applicable instrument instructor knowledge and practical testing requirements. Additional option: Pursue an MEI rating to provide authorized multi-engine flight instruction. Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP) Lastly, we have the Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP). This is the highest level of pilot certification issued by the FAA. ATP qualifications can relate to some business aviation and charter operations but are mainly associated with the airlines. Similarly to other certificates, this doesn’t mean you’re now able to fly any aircraft. There are still specific ratings or classes you may need to take that you’ll need to fly a specific aircraft. Typically, to get your ATP certificate, you need to be at least 23 years old and have a total of 1,500 hours of total flight time. Within those hours the FAA establishes additional requirements for cross-country, night, instrument, and pilot-in-command experience. Pilots must also complete the Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP) before taking the ATP knowledge test. ATP Certificate Requirements: Minimum age: Generally 23 for an unrestricted ATP. Certain restricted pathways allow younger applicants. Flight experience: Generally 1,500 total hours for the standard unrestricted airplane pathway. Experience categories: Specific cross-country, night, instrument, PIC, and other flight-time requirements. Training: ATP-CTP for applicable multiengine airplane ATP applicants. Testing: FAA ATP knowledge test and practical test. Restricted ATP: Reduced total-hour pathways for certain eligible applicants, subject to restrictions, such as military service and college programs. Additional qualifications: Appropriate category, class, and type ratings for the aircraft and operation. Other Pilot Certificates and Rating Worth Knowing We’ve covered a lot of the common certificates and ratings but there are other options that are worth noting. Student Pilot Certificate: Requirement for conducting authorized solo flights during training. Sport Pilot Certificate: Allows you to fly light sport category aircraft with fewer hours and typically lower costs than a private license. Seaplane Rating: Allows you to fly aircraft that take off and land on water. Aircraft Type Rating: Allows you to operate a particular make and model of an aircraft. (Mandatory for aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds or any aircraft powered by turbojets. Helicopter Rating: Allows you to legally pilot a rotorcraft with specific privileges depending on the exact level of certificate or rating you earn. Which certificate or ratings you need completely depend on what you’re looking to do. If you want to fly for fun and take some friends on your trips, a private pilot certification may be all you need. If you’re looking to get into business aviation, depending on the aircraft you wish to fly, you may need a commercial certificate, multi-engine rating, type ratings and even and ATP certificate. The most important thing you can do is identify your goals before committing to an intense training pathway.