| Certificate |
Minimum Age |
Medical Requirements |
Instruction Required |
Privileges |
| Student |
At least 16 |
Third class |
|
Can solo with instructor's permission; valid for 24 months |
| Private |
At least 17 |
Third class |
20 hours dual; 15 hours solo; ground training |
Passengers; day or night VFR; share expenses; valid indefinitely |
| Instrument |
At least a private pilot certificate |
Third class |
125 hours total; 50 hours cross country; 40 hours actual / simulated instrument time; 15 hours dual; ground training |
May file instrument flight plan; valid indefinitely but recency req'd |
| Commercial |
At least 18 |
Second class |
250 hours total; 10 hours in complex plane; 10 hours test prep; ground training |
May receive compensation as a pilot; valid indefinitely |
| Instructor |
At least 18 |
Second class |
Commercial or ATP; instrument rating; ground and flight instruction |
May give ground and flight instruction in accordance with FAA regulations; valid 24 months |
| Airline Transport Pilot |
At least 23 |
First class |
1500 hours total; 250 hours PIC; 500 hours cross-country; 100 hours night; 75 hours actual or simulated instrument time, with at least 50 in actual flight |
Valid indefinitely |
