Commercial Pilot Certificate
Fly For Hire
Turn your passion into a profession. A Commercial Pilot Certificate allows you to be compensated for flying, opening doors to careers in charter, cargo, aerial photography, banner towing, and more.
- Get paid to fly
- Required for airline careers
- Advanced flight maneuvers
- Professional pilot standards
What Can You Do With a Commercial Pilot Certificate?
A Commercial Certificate opens the door to professional aviation careers
Get Paid to Fly
Unlike Private Pilots, Commercial Pilots can be compensated for flying. Turn your passion into a paycheck.
Fly Charter Operations
Work for Part 135 charter operators, flying passengers and cargo to destinations on demand.
Aerial Work
Fly for aerial photography, surveying, banner towing, pipeline patrol, and other commercial operations.
Corporate Flying
Fly for corporations as a pilot for their company aircraft. Great hours, great pay, and interesting destinations.
Flight Instruction
With additional CFI training, teach others to fly. Many pilots build hours instructing on their way to the airlines.
Airline Career Path
Your Commercial Certificate is required for airline careers. Combined with your instrument rating, you're ATP eligible.
Requirements & Prerequisites
Here's what you need before starting Commercial Pilot training
Pilot Certificates
- Hold a Private Pilot Certificate
- Hold an Instrument Rating (or obtain concurrently)
Flight Experience
- 250 hours total flight time
- 100 hours PIC time
- 50 hours cross-country PIC
Age & Medical
- 18 years old minimum
- FAA Second-Class Medical Certificate
Knowledge Requirements
- Pass FAA Commercial Pilot knowledge test
- Demonstrate advanced aeronautical knowledge
Need to build hours? We offer time-building programs to help you reach the 250-hour requirement efficiently.
What's Included in Your Training
Professional-level training that prepares you for commercial operations
Ground School
Advanced aeronautical knowledge
- Commercial pilot regulations (Part 61, 91, 135)
- Advanced aerodynamics
- Complex aircraft systems
- Weight and balance calculations
- Performance charts and planning
- Commercial decision making
Flight Training
Advanced maneuvers to commercial standards
- Chandelles and lazy eights
- Steep spirals
- Eights on pylons
- Power-off 180° accuracy landings
- Short and soft field operations
- Emergency procedures
Checkride Prep
Final preparation for your commercial checkride
- Written exam preparation
- Oral exam practice
- Maneuvers to ACS standards
- Mock checkrides
- Final stage check
Your Training Milestones
Complex Endorsement
Learn to fly complex aircraft
First weekCommercial Maneuvers
Master chandelles, lazy eights, etc.
10-20 hoursSolo Practice
Polish maneuvers to commercial standards
30-50 hoursCheckride
Pass your FAA practical test
65-80 hoursTransparent Pricing
Investment in your professional pilot career
Flight Training
Ground Training
Materials & Fees
Costs shown are for commercial training only, assuming you already have your instrument rating and 250 hours total time.
Ready to Go Pro? Let's Talk
Schedule a consultation with our commercial training team
Every pilot's path to commercial is different. Let's review your experience, discuss your goals, and create a personalized plan to get you to your commercial checkride efficiently.
What's Included:
- Review your current certificates & hours
- Discuss career goals
- Create time-building plan
- Outline training timeline
Bring your logbook (or digital totals) so we can give you an accurate assessment.
What Our Students Say
Hear from pilots who earned their certificates with us
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Free Commercial Pilot Career Guide
Plan your path from Private Pilot to professional aviator
Our comprehensive guide covers commercial training, career paths, time-building strategies, and what to expect on your journey to professional pilot.
What's Inside:
- Commercial training roadmap
- Career path comparison
- Time-building strategies
- Salary expectations by job type
- Financing and budgeting tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about earning your Commercial Pilot Certificate
How long does it take to get a Commercial Pilot Certificate?
The flight training itself typically takes 2-4 months. However, you need 250 hours total time before you can take your checkride. If you're starting from Private Pilot, you'll need to build hours while also completing your Instrument Rating and Commercial training.
Do I need an Instrument Rating first?
Technically, you can get a Commercial Certificate without an Instrument Rating, but it will have limitations that make it nearly useless for employment. Practically speaking, yes—get your Instrument Rating before or during commercial training.
What can I do with a Commercial Certificate that I can't do with a Private?
The key difference is compensation. As a Private Pilot, you cannot be paid to fly (with limited exceptions). With a Commercial Certificate, you can work as a pilot for charter operations, aerial work, corporate flying, and more.
What kind of jobs can I get with a Commercial Certificate?
Entry-level commercial pilot jobs include flight instruction (with CFI), banner towing, aerial photography, skydive operations, pipeline patrol, and cargo flying. With more hours, you can move into charter, corporate, and eventually airline flying.
Why do I need a complex aircraft for commercial training?
FAA regulations require commercial pilot applicants to have logged time in a complex aircraft (retractable gear, flaps, and controllable pitch propeller) or a turbine-powered aircraft. You'll need at least 10 hours in complex aircraft.
What's the difference between Second-Class and Third-Class Medical?
A Second-Class Medical is required to exercise commercial pilot privileges. It has slightly stricter vision and health requirements than Third-Class, but most pilots who qualify for Third-Class also qualify for Second-Class. The exam is the same; only the standards differ.
How do I build the 250 hours required?
Common methods include: time-building flights (cross-country trips), safety pilot time with instrument students, flying club membership, and renting aircraft for personal flights. Many students also work on their Instrument Rating during this time. We offer structured time-building programs.
Is a Commercial Certificate enough to fly for the airlines?
No. Airlines require an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, which requires 1,500 hours. However, your Commercial Certificate is the foundation—you can build hours as a commercial pilot (flight instructor, cargo, charter) until you reach ATP minimums.
Still have questions?