The general structure of FAA pilot certification is student pilot, sport pilot, recreational pilot, private pilot, commercial pilot, and airline transport pilot (ATP).

As a beginner, you will need to obtain a student pilot certificate, as this is the certificate that will allow you to learn to fly, and a medical certificate, depending on the type of certificate you are working toward.

A student pilot certificate is not necessary to begin flight training, but you will need it to be able to fly solo. As a student pilot, you will train for one of the following: sport pilot, recreational pilot, or private pilot. The most common certificates issued are sport pilot and private pilot.

A pilot certificate never expires, however every pilot is subject to a flight review with a certified flight instructor (CFI) every two years from the month in which they were certificated. The flight instructor will endorse your logbook to prove the review was successfully completed.

Students working toward a private pilot certificate will need to undergo a routine medical examination administered by an FAA-designated doctor called an aviation medical examiner (AME). If the appropriate medical standards are met, the AME will issue you a student pilot certificate.

Students working toward a sport pilot certificate can receive a student pilot certificate from a Standards District Office (FSDO) or FAA-designated pilot examiner simply by showing a valid U.S. driver’s license.

A student pilot certificate is not necessary to begin flight training.

The student pilot certificate is valid as long as the third-class medical certificate; until the last day of the month, two to five years from the month it was issued. For a private pilot certificate it is valid for two years if you are over 40 years old, and five years if you are under 40. For a sport pilot certificate, it is valid for five years.

Once a student has accrued sufficient training and experience, a CFI can endorse the student's certificate to authorize limited solo flight in a specific type (make and model) of aircraft. A student pilot may not carry passengers, fly in furtherance of a business, or operate an aircraft outside of the various endorsements provided by the flight instructor.

You MUST obtain a student pilot certificate before you are allowed to fly solo.

Private pilots may not be compensated in any way for services as a pilot, although passengers can pay a pro rata share of flight expenses, such as fuel or rental costs. A private pilot may fly for compensation or hire in connection with any business or employment as long as the flight is only incidental to that business or employment and the aircraft does not carry passengers or property for compensation or hire. (EAA)

Private pilots may also operate charity flights, subject to certain restrictions, and may participate in similar activities.

With additional training, private pilots can be authorized to fly with more advanced capabilities. An instrument rating can be added to a private certificate which allows the pilot to fly in clouds or bad weather, referencing instruments only to fly. Pilots can also be authorized to fly aircraft with two or more engines, and/or fly professionally.

As with all pilot certificates, a private pilot must do a flight review with a certified flight instructor (CFI) every two years from the month in which they were certificated to make sure no bad habits have emerged in one's flying skills. A flight review may consist of as little as one hour of ground school and one hour of flight time. The CFI will endorse your logbook to prove the review was successfully completed.

Private pilots must also renew their medical certificate every two to five years depending on their age.

The sport pilot certificate can be earned in as little as 20 hours and allows you to fly only light-sport aircraft; one- or two-seat aircraft capable of speeds up to 138 mph. SP/LSA regulations gives authorization to fly during the daytime under limited visual flight rules (VFR), in the U.S. only. In most cases, you can pass the medical requirements simply by having a valid U.S. driver’s license.

A sport pilot must do a flight review with a certified flight instructor (CFI) every two years from the month in which they were certificated to make sure no bad habits have emerged in one's flying skills. A flight review may consist of as little as one hour of ground school and one hour of flight time. The CFI will endorse your logbook to prove the review was successfully completed.

Click here to learn more about sport pilot/light-sport aircraft. Click here to download the EAA Sport Pilot Sourcebook.

Below is a brief overview of the minimum hours of flight time required for a private and sport pilot certificate and the minimum age for training and certification. Training hours include dual instruction (instructor and student), cross-country flying (departing one airport and landing at another), and solo flight.

Since most can't put forth a full-time effort into their pilot training, it's realistic to assume a sport pilot certificate will take 1 to 2 months and a private certificate will take 3 to 4 months to obtain. Ideally, you should try to fly at least once a week to maintain a higher level of proficiency.

The chart below gives an overview of the estimated overall cost to learn to fly for your private pilot and sport pilot certificate. The costs shown represent an estimated average for pilot training costs. The cost of your personal pilot training experience may be more or less than the rates shown below.