Where you choose to go with a career in aviation will significantly influence the educational requirements you need. The term “professional pilot,” while subjective, is used to define aviation for profit, or piloting for compensation. The only certifications that allow financial compensation for services are those required for a commercial pilot, airline transport pilot (ATP) and flight instructor. Each license varies noticeably in requirements and cost, though each will get you into the air so you can start working toward your dream career.

Aviation Degree
An excellent way to become qualified for many of the more advanced piloting careers is to attend an online college or university to earn a bachelor’s degree in aviation. This type of aviation degree is typical for all standard four-year undergraduate programs and integrates the science of aviation into your study of aerodynamics and pilot certification. Some universities include the certification training in the curriculum and some do not. Aviation degrees generally offer commercial pilot certifications.

Sport Pilot Certificate
The sport pilot license is more of a jumping-off point for aspiring professional pilots. While it does provide you with many opportunities to accumulate hours of experience in the sky, it is a more expensive way to go about gaining certification. Pilots generally prefer to go straight to the commercial license if they intend on making a career of it. Training for a sport pilot certificate typically involves a minimum of 15 hours of flight training and five hours of solo flying.

Private Pilot Certificate
Like the sporting certificate, you will be unable to become a professional pilot with this certificate. It gives you the opportunity to log hours in the air, but it is also an expensive way to go about becoming a commercial pilot. Piloting does not pay much to start, so be cautious about choosing any training that will not jumpstart your career. You will be required to fly a minimum of 40 hours (though most students log closer to 80 hours before a final check flight).

Commercial Pilot Certificate
The first step to becoming a professional pilot is to go through flying courses for this certificate. Employers and aviation law require you to possess this certification before you can legally fly for profit. Some corporations or airline companies prefer candidates who go on to earn their ATP certificate. This rating will enable you to fly for non-transport purposes in aircraft within a specific class. With this license you can also work toward certification in instruments (single or multi-engine) or other classes of aircraft. You will be required to possess upwards of 250 hours of flight time, including 20 hours with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flying.

Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate
The highest level of certification available to pilots is the airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. With this top-level flying course under your belt, you will be authorized to command aircrafts or air carriers with a gross weight of up to 12,500 pounds. Many pilots with this level of training become captains for commercial airline companies, though many corporations are known to hire ATPs for private use. Applicants for this program are required to have a minimum of 1500 hours of flight time to receive ATP certification from a flight school.

Flight Instructor Certificate
Pilots who earn a flight instructor certificate are able to train students for the specific certifications for which they themselves are cleared. For example, a sporting pilot would only be able to be an instructor for sporting aircraft. Many pilots, however, hold at minimum a commercial or ATP license. You will need to know the fundamentals of flight instruction and pass their exams with a general score of 70 percent or higher. Flight instructor certification requires a minimum of 20 hours of training.