To become a pilot in the US, you earn FAA certificates in order: a student pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate (at least 40 hours of flight time), an instrument rating, a commercial pilot certificate (at least 250 hours), and, to fly for an airline, the airline transport pilot certificate, which needs at least 1,500 hours of total time as a pilot.
So the honest answer to how long it takes is that it depends on what kind of pilot you want to be. Flying for fun can take months. Flying for an airline usually takes years, and most of that time goes on building hours.
The steps below come from the FAA's own pages and the federal rules in 14 CFR Part 61, with pay data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), all read in October 2026.
The pilot certificates, in order
| Certificate or rating | Minimum flight time in the federal rules | What it lets you do |
|---|---|---|
| Student pilot certificate | None to apply | Fly solo once your instructor endorses you |
| Private pilot certificate (airplane) | 40 hours, including 20 with an instructor and 10 solo | Fly yourself and passengers, not for hire |
| Instrument rating | Set separately | Fly by instruments in poor weather |
| Commercial pilot certificate (airplane) | 250 hours | Be paid to fly |
| Airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate | 1,500 hours total, including 500 cross-country and 100 at night | Fly as an airline pilot |
BLS lists the usual order as student pilot, private pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot, multi-engine rating and then ATP. Each certificate and rating needs a knowledge test on the ground and a practical flying exam, called a check ride.
How to become a pilot, step by step
- Take a first lesson. The FAA says you don't need a student pilot certificate to take flying lessons, so you can try it before committing.
- Apply for your student pilot certificate before you fly solo. You must be at least 16 (14 for a glider or balloon) and able to read, speak and understand English. You apply through the FAA's IACRA system or on paper with Form 8710-1, via a flight instructor, examiner or the FAA.
- Get an aviation medical certificate from an Aviation Medical Examiner. It's a separate document from the student certificate.
- Earn your private pilot certificate: at least 40 hours, with 20 hours of instruction and 10 hours solo.
- Add an instrument rating, then build towards the commercial certificate at 250 hours.
- Build hours to 1,500 for the ATP certificate if you're aiming for the airlines. BLS says many pilots work as flight instructors or charter pilots to get there.
The insight: the student certificate is free and permanent
Two FAA details surprise people. First, there's no charge for a student pilot certificate if you apply directly to a Flight Standards District Office (an FAA-designated examiner may charge). Second, student pilot certificates issued after 1 April 2016 don't expire: they're simply superseded when you earn the next certificate. Using IACRA speeds things up, and the FAA says the certificate arrives by mail in about three weeks.
The bigger lesson is about hours. The jump from 250 hours (commercial) to 1,500 hours (ATP) is where most of the time goes, which is why so many commercial pilots teach. Becoming a flight instructor lets you build hours while being paid, rather than paying for every one.
What pilots earn
| Measure | BLS figure (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Median pay, airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers | $232,140 a year |
| Median pay, commercial pilots | $123,220 a year |
| Projected growth 2025 to 2035 | 7%, much faster than average |
| Openings each year | About 16,400 on average |
Those figures are as of October 2026. BLS says airline pilots typically need a bachelor's degree in any field plus experience as a commercial or military pilot, and military pilots can apply directly to airlines.
Paying for training
Flight training is where most of the cost sits, because you pay for aircraft time and instructor time for every hour up to your commercial certificate. BLS points to two cheaper routes into the cockpit. Some colleges and universities offer pilot training as part of a 2 or 4 year aviation degree, and the FAA certifies hundreds of civilian flight schools, from small fixed base operators to state universities. The military route is the other: military pilots can transfer to civilian aviation and apply directly to airlines.
Once you're hired, airlines train you on the specific aircraft. BLS says type ratings for aircraft such as the Boeing 737 are typically earned through employer-based training, after several weeks of ground school and flight training.
What the job is like
BLS says airline pilots fly an average of 75 hours a month and work about 150 more hours a month on other duties, such as checking weather and preparing flight plans. Schedules are based on seniority, so new pilots get the less popular routes. Federal law requires airline pilots to retire at 65, and pilots also go through regular training and medical exams, generally every year or every other year.
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My verdict
If you want to fly for fun, a private pilot certificate is very achievable. If you want an airline career, plan for the long game: the rules require 1,500 hours for the ATP certificate, and the cheapest way to get them is to become a flight instructor once you're commercial. Book a trial lesson first. You don't need any certificate for that, and it'll tell you quickly whether this is for you.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a pilot?
A private pilot certificate needs at least 40 hours of flight time. An airline career needs 1,500 hours for the ATP certificate, which usually takes years of building hours.
How many hours do you need to be an airline pilot?
At least 1,500 hours of total time as a pilot for the airline transport pilot certificate, including 500 hours of cross-country time and 100 hours of night flight time, under 14 CFR 61.159.
How old do you have to be to get a student pilot certificate?
At least 16, or 14 for a glider or balloon, according to the FAA.
Do I need a student pilot certificate to take lessons?
No. The FAA says you need it before you fly solo, not to take flying lessons.
How much do airline pilots make?
BLS reports median pay of $232,140 a year for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers in May 2025, as of October 2026.
Do you need a degree to be a pilot?
Commercial pilots typically need flight training. BLS says airline pilots typically need a bachelor's degree in any field.
