Student Pilot Certificate Requirements: Your First Step to Flying

The student pilot certificate is the entry point for every new pilot in the United States. It is the legal authorization that allows you to fly an aircraft solo — by yourself, without a CFI on board — as you work toward your private pilot certificate. Student pilot certificates are issued through the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application system (IACRA) at IACRA.faa.gov, and best of all, they are completely free. There are no fees to apply, no written exam required before the certificate is issued, and no minimum flight hours required to obtain the certificate itself. The requirements kick in when you want to exercise the privileges that come with it — primarily the privilege of flying solo.

Age and Medical Requirements

The age requirements for a student pilot certificate depend on the type of aircraft you intend to fly:

• Airplanes, helicopters, and gyroplanes: Must be at least 16 years old
• Gliders: Must be at least 14 years old to act as PIC (solo)
• Balloons: Must be at least 14 years old to act as PIC (solo)

There is no upper age limit for a student pilot certificate.

For medical requirements, student pilots who intend to fly powered aircraft solo must hold at least a third-class FAA medical certificate, issued by an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). A third-class medical is the least restrictive FAA medical certificate and is valid for 60 months for pilots under 40, and 24 months for pilots 40 and older. BasicMed cannot be used to satisfy the medical requirement for solo student pilot operations — it requires holding at least a private pilot certificate.

Students flying gliders or balloons do not need a medical certificate. For these aircraft categories, a valid state driver's license is sufficient to serve as evidence of medical fitness.

How to Apply for a Student Pilot Certificate

The student pilot certificate application process has been fully digitized through IACRA:

• Create an IACRA account at IACRA.faa.gov. You will need a valid email address and personal identification information.
• Complete FAA Form 8710-1 (Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application) online through IACRA.
• TSA security threat assessment: All student pilot applicants undergo a TSA security vetting process. This is automatic and typically completes within a few days, though it can take up to 30 days for some applicants.
• CFI review and endorsement: Your flight instructor reviews and endorses your IACRA application electronically, certifying that they have verified your identity and eligibility.
• Certificate issuance: Once approved, the FAA issues a temporary certificate that you can print. The permanent plastic certificate arrives by mail within a few weeks.

In some cases, the application may require a paper Form 8710-1 (DL3 form) if IACRA is unavailable or if the applicant cannot complete the process electronically. Your CFI or a Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) can assist with paper applications. The certificate itself is issued by the FAA Airmen Certification Branch in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Pre-Solo Requirements (§61.87)

Before a student pilot may fly solo, they must meet the requirements in 14 CFR §61.87. These requirements protect the student, the aircraft, and the public by ensuring the student has sufficient knowledge and skill before flying alone:

Pre-Solo Aeronautical Knowledge Test

The student must pass a written knowledge test administered by the supervising CFI. The test covers the regulations and procedures applicable to student solo flight at the specific airport where the student will fly solo. Topics include applicable portions of 14 CFR Parts 61 and 91, airspace rules, airport traffic pattern procedures, aircraft systems and limitations, and emergency procedures. The CFI reviews any missed questions before endorsing the student for solo.

Pre-Solo Flight Training and CFI Endorsement

The CFI must provide flight training and determine the student is proficient to conduct a safe solo flight in the make and model of aircraft to be flown. Under §61.87(d), the required training areas include:

• Proper flight preparation procedures, preflight planning, and weather checks
• Taxiing and airport operations, including radio communications
• Takeoffs and landings, including normal, crosswind, and rejected takeoffs
• Straight-and-level flight, turns, climbs, and descents
• Traffic pattern procedures and collision avoidance
• Stall entries and recoveries
• Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions
• Approaches and go-arounds

The CFI's solo endorsement must be entered in the student's logbook. The endorsement is valid for 90 days and must be renewed before the student may fly solo again after it expires.

Student Pilot Solo Limitations

Even after receiving a solo endorsement, student pilots operate under significant limitations designed to keep them within their demonstrated skill level:

• Aircraft make and model: Solo is limited to the specific make and model for which the CFI has provided endorsement
• Airport limitations: The CFI specifies which airports the student is authorized to use for solo operations
• Weather minimums: Student pilots may not fly solo in less than 3 statute miles visibility or when the flight visibility or ceiling is less than that specified in the CFI's endorsement
• No passengers: Student pilots may not carry passengers under any circumstances
• No compensation: Student pilots may not fly for hire or compensation
• No international flight: Student pilots may not fly outside the United States without a separate endorsement
• Cannot act as PIC with another pilot on board: The student may fly solo only — the CFI endorsement is for solo operations

Solo Cross-Country Requirements (§61.93)

Cross-country flight — defined as a flight to a point more than 25 nautical miles from the departure airport — requires additional training and endorsements beyond the basic solo endorsement. Section 61.93 governs student pilot solo cross-country requirements:

• Cross-country training: The CFI must provide training in the use of aeronautical charts, VFR navigation using pilotage and dead reckoning, wind correction, fuel planning, identification of landmarks, cross-country flight planning, ATC communication procedures, recognition of and response to deteriorating weather, and diversion to an alternate airport
• General solo cross-country endorsement: A one-time endorsement from the CFI certifying the student has received the required training and is proficient for solo cross-country flight
• Flight-specific endorsement: Before each solo cross-country, the CFI must review the student's planning and provide a specific endorsement for that particular flight, including the route, airports, and anticipated conditions
• Weather minimums: Student pilots must have 3 statute miles visibility for daytime VFR cross-country and must not fly where ceiling or visibility is less than specified in the endorsement

Student Pilot Endorsements Required

Under Part 61, student pilots need specific endorsements from a CFI for various operations. Advisory Circular 61-65 provides the exact wording for each required endorsement:

• Pre-solo aeronautical knowledge test (§61.87(b)): CFI endorses that the student passed the knowledge test
• Pre-solo flight training (§61.87(c)): CFI endorses that the student has received the required flight training and is proficient for solo flight
• Solo flight — local area (§61.87(n)): The 90-day endorsement authorizing solo flight at the specified airport in the specific make and model
• Solo takeoffs and landings at another airport (§61.93(b)(1)): Required for solo flight to a specific airport not covered by the local solo endorsement
• General solo cross-country (§61.93(c)(1)): One-time endorsement that training requirements for cross-country have been met
• Specific solo cross-country (§61.93(c)(2)): Pre-flight endorsement for each solo cross-country flight
• Solo flight in Class B airspace (§61.95): Separate endorsement required; some Class B airports require additional FSDO authorization
• Solo flight to, from, or at a Class B airport (§61.95): CFI certifies the student has received training for operations at that specific Class B airport

Common Student Pilot Questions Searched

• How long does it take to get a student pilot certificate through IACRA?
• Can a student pilot log PIC time during solo flight?
• What happens if a student pilot's solo endorsement expires?
• Can a student pilot fly at night?
• What are the VFR weather minimums for a student pilot flying solo?
• Does a student pilot need a headset to fly solo?
• Can a student pilot fly into a towered airport alone?
• How many hours does it take to solo an airplane?
• What happens if a student pilot makes a mistake — are they liable?
• Can a student pilot fly a rented aircraft without the CFI?

Frequently Asked Questions