How to Become a Pilot In 2025? Best Guide For Beginners

So you want to be a pilot? It’s a big decision, and there’s a lot to learn before you can start flying planes. This blog post will outline everything you need to know about how to become a pilot. We’ll discuss the different types of pilot licenses, what schools you need to attend, and the steps you need to take to start your pilot career!

In order to become a pilot, you must first decide what kind of pilot you would like to be. The two main types of pilots are private pilots and commercial pilots. Private pilots can fly for their own personal use, while commercial pilots can fly for airlines or other companies.

To become a private pilot, you will need to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This process includes passing a written exam and a physical and flight test.

Once you have your PPL, you will need to attend an accredited pilot school in order to obtain your Commercial Pilot License (CPL). CPL training usually takes about six months to complete and includes both classroom instruction and flight time. After completing your CPL, you will need to take a final exam in order to obtain your license.

Now that you have your pilot license, it’s time to start looking for a job! There are many different types of jobs available for pilots, from flying small planes to large commercial jets. You can also work as a flight instructor, teaching other aspiring pilots how to fly!

Here is a brief overview of the requirements for a pilot license:

• To become a private pilot, you will need to obtain a Private Pilot License (PPL) from the FAA.
• To become a commercial pilot, you must complete CPL training at an accredited school and pass a final exam.
• There are many different types of jobs available for pilots, including flying small planes and large commercial jets.
• Pilots can also work as flight instructors, teaching other aspiring pilots how to fly!

READ: Do You Need a Degree To Become a Pilot?

These are the licenses available in The United States

Student Pilot License

You must be at least 16 years old to apply for a student pilot license. If you are under 18 years old, you will need a parent or guardian to sign your application.

The Student Pilot license is needed for solo flying and is the first step in getting a Private Pilot or Commercial Pilot license.

Recreational Pilot License

You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a recreational pilot license. The recreational license is used for flying small planes for personal use. You will not be able to fly commercially with this license.

Sport Pilot License

You must be at least 17 years old to apply for a sports pilot license. This license is for flying light-sport aircraft. You can take this license if you are seeking to fly competitively. For example, you may want to take this license if you are interested in air racing.

Commercial Pilot License

You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a commercial pilot license. A commercial license is needed if you want to fly for an airline or other company.

Private Pilot License

You must be at least 17 years old to apply for a private pilot license.

A private pilot license is a good option for those who want to fly for personal use. You will need a Private Pilot License (PPL) from the FAA to become a private pilot.

Remote Pilot License

You must be at least 16 years old to apply for a remote pilot license. The remote pilot license is employed for flying drones. This means that you will be able to fly a device using remote means.

Airline Transport Pilot License

You must be at least 21 years old to apply for an airline transport pilot license.

This license differs from the commercial pilot license because it allows you to fly larger planes. The airline transport pilot license is the highest level of pilot license available.

You can find more information on the requirements for each license on the FAA website.

To become a pilot, at first, you must complete ground school and obtain a student pilot license. After you have your student pilot license, you will need to pass a written exam and a physical and flight test to get your private pilot license.

Once you have your private pilot license, you can attend an accredited CPL school to become a commercial pilot! There are many different types of jobs available for pilots! Pilots can work for airlines or other companies flying small planes or large commercial jets.

They can also work as flight instructors teaching others how to fly! As far given, these are the licenses that are available in the United States. A medical certificate is required if you want to become an airline transport pilot. So make sure that you meet all the health and vision requirements before applying!

READ: What Is The Minimum Age To Get A Pilot License?

What Do We Learn In Ground School?

• How to operate an aircraft
• Airspace and aviation weather
• Regulations and procedures for flying in the United States
• Principles of flight, navigation, and aerodynamics

Once you have completed ground school and obtained your student pilot license, it’s time to start practicing! You will need to pass a written exam and a physical and flight test to get your private pilot license.

The written exam will test your knowledge of the material you learned in ground school, and the flight test will show how well you can fly an airplane! After you have your private pilot license, you can attend an accredited CPL school to become a commercial pilot!

Courses Offered By CPL Schools

• Aircraft systems
• Flight planning and navigation
• Air traffic control
• Weather
• Human factors ( how to deal with stress while flying)

Once you have completed your CPL course, it’s time to start looking for a job! There are many different types of jobs available for pilots! Pilots can work for airlines or other companies flying small planes or large commercial jets.

They can also work as flight instructors teaching others how to fly! As far given, these are the licenses that are available in the United States. A medical certificate is required if you want to become an airline transport pilot. So make sure that you meet all the health and vision requirements before applying!

Becoming a Pilot via the Military Route

The United States consists of five branches of the military: The Army, The Navy, The Marine Corps, The Air Force, and The Coast Guard. Each of these offers different opportunities to become a pilot.

• The Army offers the Warrant Officer Flight Training Program for those who want to become helicopter pilots.
• The Navy and Marines offer the Aviation Cadet Program for those who want to become fixed-wing pilots.
• The Air Force offers the Officer Training School for those who want to become fighter pilots.
• The Coast Guard offers a variety of pilot training programs, depending on your experience and qualifications.

In order to apply for military pilot training, you must be a United States citizen and meet certain age and physical requirements. You must also have a high school diploma or equivalent and pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test.

The military pilot training programs are very intense and require a lot of hard work and dedication. But they offer a unique opportunity to become a pilot and serve your country!

But army life isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay! There are many other ways to become a pilot. The most common way is to get your private pilot license and then attend an accredited CPL school.

What are the prerequisites to becoming a military pilot?

In order to become a military pilot requires :

• You must be a United States citizen
• Meet the age requirements (varies by branch)
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test

The most common way to become a pilot is to get your private pilot license and then attend an accredited CPL school. This route typically takes about two years, but shorter programs are available if you’re short on time.

You will need to pass a written exam and a physical and flight test to get your private pilot license. The written exam will test your knowledge of the material you learned in ground school, and the flight test will show how well you can fly an airplane! After you have your private pilot license, you can attend an accredited CPL school to become a commercial pilot!

What is the Training Process to Become a Military Pilot?

Becoming a military pilot is no easy task. You have to pass rigorous training and meet physical requirements.

The training process for military pilots is as follows:

• Applicants must first attend Officer Training School (OTS) to be eligible for pilot training.
• If accepted into the program, applicants then attend Warrant Officer Flight Training (WOFT) to become a helicopter pilot or Aviation Cadet Program (ACP) to become a fixed-wing pilot.
• After completing the WOFT or ACP program, pilots attend Initial Flight Screening (IFS), which is a series of physical and mental evaluations.
• Pilots who pass IFS then attend Primary Flight Training (PFT), where they learn how to fly their chosen aircraft.
• After PFT, pilots attend one of three training tracks: fighter, multi-engine, or rotary-wing.
• Pilots who graduate from their training track are then assigned to a unit where they will serve as a pilot!

What are the Perks of Being a Military Pilot?

It’s prestigious to become a pilot in the U.S. Army force.

• There are many different types of aircraft to fly.
• The hours you put in as a pilot are rewarded with generous amounts of time off.
• You’re able to travel all over the world and see new places while serving your country.
• Pilots receive excellent pay and benefits, including free health care and housing allowances.
• Pilots in the Army are able to retire after 20 years of service.

Becoming a pilot in the military is not an easy task, but it is definitely rewarding! If you have what it takes to be a pilot, then go for it! You won’t regret it.

What is Another Way to Become a Pilot?

Many aviation enthusiasts will opt for the civilian path to become a pilot. While it takes longer, some would argue it is more fun. This is the path where the military regulations do not restrict you. You can learn how to fly any type of aircraft you want and go at your own pace!

The first step on the civilian path to becoming a pilot is to get your private pilot license. Just like in the military, you will need to pass a written exam and flight test. After you have your private pilot license, you can start taking flying lessons in any type of aircraft you want!

There are many different types of civilian pilot programs available. Some people choose to fly for fun, while others want to make a career out of it. There are even programs available where you can get your pilot license paid for! No matter what your goals are, there is a how-to become pilot program out there for you.

Is Becoming a Sports Pilot Right For You?

It was first introduced in 2004 as a pilot program for people who did not want to go through the rigorous training needed to become a commercial pilot.

The Sports Pilot Certificate allows you to fly aircraft with up to four seats and a weight of up to 1300 pounds. In order to obtain your Sports Pilot Certificate, you will need to pass a written exam and flight test.

The benefits of becoming a sports pilot are that it is less expensive and takes less time than becoming a commercial pilot. The downside is that you are restricted to flying smaller aircraft and cannot fly for hire. If you want to become a commercial how to become pilot, then this is not the path for you.

A sports pilot license is a great option for those who want to fly for fun and do not have the time or money to become a commercial pilot. The process of becoming a pilot can seem daunting at first, but with the right resources, it is definitely achievable!

Whether you go down the military or civilian path, plenty of programs and resources are available to help you achieve your goals.

READ: How to Avoid Runway Incursions? All You Need to Know

What About a Recreational Pilot?

A Recreational Pilot License is how to become a pilot for people who want to fly for fun and do not want to make a career out of it. In order to obtain your pilot certificate, you will need to pass a written exam and flight test.

The benefit of this program is that it is less expensive and takes less time than becoming a commercial pilot. The downside is that you are restricted to flying smaller aircraft and cannot fly for hire.

A recreational pilot license is a great option for those who want to fly for fun and do not have the money or time to become a commercial pilot. If you are interested in this program, be sure to check out the requirements and restrictions.

And Finally, What About Becoming a Remote Pilot?

A remote pilot license is for people who want to fly drones. In order to obtain your pilot certificate, you will need to pass a written exam and flight test. The benefits of this pilot program are that it is less expensive and takes less time than becoming a commercial pilot.

With the huge increase in drones in the USA, the demand for Remote pilots has grown. The remote pilot license is the perfect pilot program for those who want to fly drones professionally or recreationally. There are many restrictions while flying UAVs, especially for commercial use, including where, when, and how you fly drones.

Getting Medical Certificate

In order to obtain the medical certificate, you must visit an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). The AME will determine if you are physically and mentally fit to be a pilot. You will need to provide your medical history and undergo a physical examination.

The process of becoming a pilot can seem daunting at first, but with the right resources, it is definitely achievable! Whether you go down the military or civilian path, plenty of programs and resources are available to help you achieve your goals.

The flight physical examination is of the following systems:

• Cardiovascular
• Ear, Nose, Mouth, Throat
• Eyes
• Neurological

You will also need to take a vision test and a hearing test. There are three classes of medical certificates: First Class, Second Class, and Third Class.

First Class

Requires for airline transport pilot certificate holders. First-class medical certificates consist of more stringent standards. You must have this certificate to fly as an air carrier operation pilot-in-command.

Second Class

Requires commercial pilot and flight engineer certificate holders. The second class medical certificate expires after 12 calendar months. You need this certificate if you want to be hired by an airline.

Third Class

Requires for student, recreational, and private pilot certificate holders. A third-class medical certificate expires every 36 calendar months for pilots under 40 years of age and every 24 calendar months for pilots over 40. You only need this if you want to fly as a Recreational or Private Pilot.

You must have a current medical certificate to exercise the privileges of your pilot certificate. The FAA website can find more information about the medical certification process.

Restrictions For Obtaining a Medical Certificate

Restrictions for obtaining a medical certificate include:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Epilepsy
• Mental health conditions

There are many other restrictions, but these are some of the most common. Be sure to check the FAA website for a complete list of medical conditions that may disqualify you from becoming a pilot.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, becoming a pilot is a process that requires dedication and hard work. However, it is definitely achievable with the right resources. Check out all the requirements and restrictions before you begin your journey to becoming a pilot. And you can fly for fun within a week!