Obtaining an education in aviation requires a great deal of time and expense. You will have to pass written courses in addition to spending many hours gaining flight experience. Over the course of a typical certification period, aviation certification can prove quite costly. There are four basic businesses or institutions through which you can obtain piloting certifications:

1. A Fixed Base Operator (FBO) is a business which offers a full range of aviation services, from maintenance to charter to instruction. Rentals and instruction make up only a small portion of this business.
2. A flight school makes its business solely through flight training and aircraft rental.
3. A flying club is a non-profit association of pilots and aircraft owners who have joined forces to help each other in reducing expenses and sharing resources. Because these are non-profit, aircraft rental fees tend to be lower than at FBOs or flight schools.
4. Colleges also offer online or traditional degree programs in aviation which include flight training as part of the curriculum. Career options in aviation are greatly enhanced by the presence of a college degree.

The following five aviation certifications can be pursued by aspiring pilots. Some certificates allow you to specialize in categories of aircraft to include airplane and rotorcraft. Each of these has differing educational requirements as each is used for a specific purpose.

Aviation Degree
Online universities and career colleges offer bachelor’s degrees in aviation which increase your qualifications and competitiveness for piloting jobs. Large airline corporations give preference to pilots with degrees, so you will want to consider this as you explore your options. Aviation degrees build upon the fundamental knowledge established through a certificate and expand further on such topics as aerodynamics, Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), radio communications and more. This education, with the addition of the sciences, will enhance your understanding of aviation beyond the standard of many operators.

Sport Pilot Certificate
This certification was created to make entry into aviation easier and more affordable. While it still restricts pilots to smaller and lower-powered aircraft, it allows you to gain air experience which can then be applied to future certifications. As a sport pilot, you will be able to fly for recreational purposes only and carry a maximum of one passenger

Private Pilot Certificate
The greater portion of airplane operators possess this level of certification. It lowers some of the restrictions of the sport pilot to include command of any small aircraft for non-commercial use. You will still be unable to accept compensation for services rendered, though restrictions do allow passengers to pay for a portion of the flight expenses and there are no passenger restrictions outside of the plane’s capacity limits.

Commercial Pilot Certificate
The next step up in pilot certifications is commercial flying, in which you are allowed to accept compensation for flying services. Commercial pilots still specialize in smaller crafts such as those typically seen in crop dusting, though they can specialize in larger aircrafts. With this certification you can perform rudimentary duties such as banner streaming, skydiving piloting and private transport.

Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate
Generally, people are most familiar with airline transport pilots (ATP) or commercial airline pilots. These individuals have a strong knowledge of the more complex aircrafts and generally go through the most training of all the certificates. With this certification you too will be able to work for major airline companies.

Flight Instructor Certificate
These individuals have gone through the necessary certifications and training to become commercial pilots, choosing to utilize their knowledge for the education of other aspiring pilots. The endorsement of a certified flight instructor (CFI) is required in order for a student, private or commercial pilot certificate to be issued. Time and air requirements exist for attaining this license and will vary depending on the category and class of aircraft instructed.