How to become a pilot in the USA
Requirements and qualifications
Ready to become a pilot? The Federal Aviation Administration has established qualifying standards to get you on your way to fulfilling your dreams, and in 2025, it's all straightforward. This article outlines everything you need to know for a successful piloting career.
Minimum age and language requirements
Meeting the minimum age to be a pilot is your first step towards flying:
- Student Pilot: 16 years old (14 years old for gliders)
- Private Pilot License (PPL): 17 years old
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL): 18 years old
- Airline Transport Pilot (ATP): 23 years old
Additionally, pilots must demonstrate English-language proficiency at ICAO Level 4 or above. This ensures clear communication in international and domestic airspaces, promoting safety and effective coordination.
The FAA pilot age requirements and English-language proficiency are strictly enforced to maintain high safety standards in aviation.
Educational and knowledge‑test prerequisites
Although the FAA does not explicitly require an academic background for piloting, prior to hiring with most major airlines, they like to see - and offer positions to - those with bachelor's degrees in related fields such as aviation and aeronautics.
Those with degrees have an exponentially better likelihood of being hired by larger airlines. Flight training can help you get a degree and prepare you for a career in aviation.
You’ll also need to be pass the FAA Knowledge-Test. The FAA Written Exams are multiple choice tests that gauge a pilot's understanding of FAA regulations, principles of aeronautics, meteorology, navigation/communication, and aircraft performance.
All pilots must pass a written exam to earn their Instrument Rating, and FAA medical courses must be completed by all candidates. An intermediate level of aviation education is required for gliders at the Student Pilot level.
Flight-time & training requirements (Part 61 vs Part 141)
The FAA stipulates minimum flight hour requirements through Parts 61 and 141:
- 15 hours of flight training is required to earn a Student Pilot Certificate with a certified pilot.
- Part 61 (PPL): Minimum requirements for Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors, are 40 hours, which include:
- 20 dual hours with an FAA certified Instructor
- 10 solo hours in filght
- 3 dual hours of cross-country flight
- 3 dual hours of night flying
- 3 dual hours of instrument flight time
- Part 141 (CPL): Minimum required flight hours for a Certified Pilots License are 250 at an accredited school which follows a syllabus approved by the FAA for potentially expedited training.
- An Airline Transport Pilot License requires applicants to take the ATP written exam before accruing 1,500 hours of flight time.
Whether you go with Part 61 or Part 141 depends on your personal circumstances, style of learning, and desired future employment. These qualifying requirements ensure that pilots on all levels know how to best maneuver their vehicles in the air.
Qualification ladder: From student pilot to ATP
Here are the levels of certification you'll achieve at Acron Aviation Academy’s pilot training programs on your way from Student Pilot to Airline Transport Pilot:
- Student Pilot Certificate: The gateway into your flying future.
- Private Pilot License: Fly for pleasure - your first major certification in the field.
- Instrument Rating: This is a crucial prerequisite for any pilot to fly solely by using instruments.
- Commercial Pilot License: The certification that allows you to fly professionally and earn money.
- Multi-Engine Rating: Necessary for flying complicated aircraft utilized by commercial airlines.
- Certified Flight Instructor: A great way to get hours in the air while garnering teaching experience.
- Airline Transport Pilot: Required certification to be a first officer or captain for a commercial airline.
Join us now and discover why Acron Aviation Academy is the ultimate destination for a pathway to your dream career in aviation as a trained professional pilot.
