Steps to Become an Airline Pilot

Steps to Become an Airline Pilot: Your Roadmap to the Flight Deck

Few careers capture the imagination quite like flying for a major airline. If you've ever watched a wide-body jet lift off and thought, I want to be up there, you're not alone — and the path is more achievable than you might think. The steps to become an airline pilot follow a well-defined progression, from earning your first certificate all the way to an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. This guide breaks the journey down into clear, actionable milestones so you know exactly what lies ahead.

Step 1: Meet the Basic Eligibility Requirements

Before you log your first flight hour, it helps to understand what the FAA ultimately requires of airline pilots. At the ATP level, applicants must meet minimum age requirements, English language proficiency standards, and hold a valid FAA medical certificate. The specific medical class required depends on the role you plan to hold in the cockpit, so check the current requirements at faa.gov/training_testing/testing and consult an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) early in your training. Discovering a potential medical issue early gives you time to address it rather than being surprised years into your training investment.

Step 2: Earn Your Student Pilot Certificate

Your aviation career officially begins with a student pilot certificate. The process is straightforward: you'll complete an application through the FAA's Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) system, pass a basic aeronautical knowledge review with your instructor, and receive your certificate. There is no written test required at this stage — your focus is simply getting cleared to solo an aircraft under the supervision of an FAA-certified instructor.

Step 3: Pass Your Private Pilot Written Test

The Private Pilot Airman Knowledge Test (AKT) is your first major written exam milestone. It covers aeronautical decision-making, weather theory, airspace, navigation, regulations, and more. This is where a structured study approach pays enormous dividends.

At Aviation Test Prep, our ACS-aligned practice questions mirror the subject areas and difficulty level you'll encounter on the real exam. Our AI tutor, Ace, walks you through every concept in plain language, turning confusing regulations and weather charts into something you can genuinely understand — not just memorize. We also recommend our 5-step study method: assess your baseline, study weak areas, drill ACS-aligned practice questions, review explanations thoroughly, and simulate timed exam conditions before test day.

Passing the written test with a strong score builds confidence heading into your oral exam and checkride.

Step 4: Complete Flight Training and Earn Your Private Pilot Certificate (PPL)

With your written exam behind you, you'll focus on accumulating the required flight hours, mastering maneuvers, and completing a cross-country flight that meets FAA minimums. Your training culminates in a practical test — the checkride — conducted by an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). The checkride has two parts: an oral exam and a flight evaluation, both aligned with the Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards (ACS).

Earning your PPL is a proud milestone, but for aspiring airline pilots, it's really just the beginning.

Step 5: Add an Instrument Rating (IR)

Airlines operate in all weather conditions, and your instrument rating is where you learn to fly by reference to instruments alone — through clouds, at night, and in low-visibility environments. The instrument rating requires additional flight hours, a separate written test (the Instrument Rating AKT), and another checkride.

Study smart for the Instrument Rating written exam. The material covers IFR procedures, approach charts, holding patterns, and weather — topics that demand real conceptual understanding. Try a free practice test to see where your knowledge stands before you commit to a study schedule.

Step 6: Earn Your Commercial Pilot Certificate (CPL)

A commercial pilot certificate is required before you can be paid to fly. It demands a higher standard of aircraft control, additional flight hours, and — yes — another written test and checkride. The Commercial Pilot AKT covers performance, weight and balance, advanced aerodynamics, and more complex regulations.

At this stage, many aspiring airline pilots choose a structured path: either a university aviation program (which can offer academic credentials alongside flight training) or an accelerated Part 141 flight school. Both routes are viable; the right choice depends on your timeline, budget, and long-term goals.

Step 7: Build Flight Hours

Here's the reality that surprises many newcomers: even after earning a commercial certificate, you may not yet meet the flight-hour minimums required to fly for a regional or major airline. The FAA mandates a specific minimum total flight time to qualify for an ATP certificate. Certain pathways — such as graduating from an FAA-approved aviation university program or completing military flight training — may allow for reduced minimums. Check faa.gov/training_testing/testing for the current figures, as these details are regulatory and subject to change.

Common hour-building jobs include:

Flight instructing (one of the most popular and rewarding routes)
Banner towing or aerial survey work
Charter or on-demand Part 135 operations
Pipeline or powerline patrol flying
Ferry flying

Many pilots find that flight instructing accelerates their own knowledge as much as their logbook. Teaching forces you to deeply understand every concept — a benefit that pays off throughout your career.

Step 8: Obtain a Multi-Engine Rating

If you haven't already, you'll need a multi-engine rating before flying turbine airliners. This add-on rating is typically completed at the commercial level and involves learning to manage asymmetric thrust and the unique handling characteristics of twin-engine aircraft. There's no separate written test for the multi-engine rating, but the checkride is demanding.

Step 9: Earn Your Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate

The ATP certificate is the highest pilot certificate issued by the FAA and is required to serve as pilot-in-command (captain) of an airliner operating under Part 121 (scheduled airline service). To earn it, you must:

Meet the minimum flight-hour requirements (verify current figures at faa.gov)
Pass the ATP Airman Knowledge Test — a challenging written exam covering advanced meteorology, high-altitude aerodynamics, turbine systems, and CRM
Complete an ATP Certification Training Program (ATP-CTP) if you plan to operate multi-crew aircraft
Pass an ATP checkride

The ATP written exam is notoriously comprehensive. Preparing with ACS-aligned practice questions and detailed explanations — like those in Aviation Test Prep — ensures you walk into the exam room ready for whatever the test throws at you. Our AI tutor Ace can help you break down high-altitude performance concepts, weather radar interpretation, and multi-crew procedures in a way that sticks.

Step 10: Get Hired and Complete Airline-Specific Training

With your ATP in hand, you're ready to apply to regional airlines — the traditional entry point for most airline careers. The hiring process typically involves an application, simulator evaluation, panel interview, and background/records check. Once hired, you'll complete type-rating training in the specific aircraft you'll fly, along with Crew Resource Management (CRM) and emergency procedures training mandated by the FAA.

Major airlines generally require additional turbine time and often prefer candidates with regional airline experience, though hiring standards vary by carrier and change with market conditions.

Additional Ratings and Certificates Along the Way

Many pilots also pursue optional add-ons that strengthen their résumé or open additional doors:

Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate — teaches and builds hours simultaneously
Certificated Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII) — allows instrument instruction
Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) — allows multi-engine instruction

Each additional certificate requires its own written exam and practical test, so staying sharp on aeronautical knowledge is a continuous commitment throughout your aviation career.

Making the Most of Your Written Exam Preparation

Every certificate and rating on the path to the airlines involves at least one FAA written exam. That means your ability to study efficiently has a direct impact on your timeline and wallet. Aviation Test Prep's platform — built by FAA-certified instructors and powered by AI-enhanced explanations — offers ACS-aligned practice questions for every exam from Private Pilot through ATP. You can explore all available exams at aviationtestprep.com/browse-exams and see how the content maps to ACS knowledge codes at aviationtestprep.com/acs-codes.

Your Airline Career Starts with a Single Step

The journey from zero flight experience to airline captain is long, but it's navigated one certificate, one rating, and one written exam at a time. Thousands of pilots have walked this path before you, and the foundational knowledge you build early will serve you throughout a decades-long career. Focus on mastering the concepts — not just passing tests — and you'll be well prepared for every checkride, every upgrade, and every captain's seat that follows.

Ready to start preparing for your first FAA written exam? Take a free practice test at Aviation Test Prep and see how our ACS-aligned questions and AI tutor Ace can put you on the fast track toward the flight deck.