FAR 141.77 — Part 141 Graduation Limits
FAR 141.77 explains when a Part 141 pilot school can graduate students, recommend them for certificates, and credit previous training toward curriculum requirements.
In Plain English
FAR 141.77 sets the rules a Part 141 pilot school must follow before graduating a student or recommending them for a pilot certificate or rating.
- The school cannot issue a graduation certificate or recommend a student for a certificate/rating unless the student has completed the school's course of training and passed the required final tests.
- A student generally must complete all curriculum requirements to graduate, except where credit is allowed for previous training.
Credit for previous training is capped based on where the prior training came from and what tests the receiving school administers:
- Up to 50% of flight training if the prior training was a Part 141 or 142 approved course and the student passes a proficiency and knowledge test at the receiving school.
- Up to 50% of aeronautical knowledge training if the prior course was Part 141/142 approved and the student passes a knowledge test.
- Up to 25% of flight training if the prior training was not Part 141/142 approved (still requires a proficiency and knowledge test).
- Up to 25% of aeronautical knowledge training if the prior knowledge training was not Part 141/142 approved (knowledge test required).
Previous training must be certified in the student's training record by the prior provider, listing the kind and amount of training and the results of any stage checks or end-of-course tests. This matters because Part 141's structured syllabus is what allows reduced minimum hours compared to Part 61 — the limits keep that training quality intact.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 141.77§ 141.77 Limitations.
(a) The holder of a pilot school certificate or a provisional pilot school certificate may not issue a graduation certificate to a student, or recommend a student for a pilot certificate or rating, unless the student has:
(1) Completed the training specified in the pilot school's course of training; and
(2) Passed the required final tests.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, the holder of a pilot school certificate or a provisional pilot school certificate may not graduate a student from a course of training unless the student has completed all of the curriculum requirements of that course;
(c) A student may be given credit towards the curriculum requirements of a course for previous training under the following conditions:
(1) If the student completed a proficiency test and knowledge test that was conducted by the receiving pilot school and the previous training was based on a part 141- or a part 142-approved flight training course, the credit is limited to not more than 50 percent of the flight training requirements of the curriculum.
(2) If the student completed a knowledge test that was conducted by the receiving pilot school and the previous training was based on a part 141- or a part 142-approved aeronautical knowledge training course, the credit is limited to not more than 50 percent of the aeronautical knowledge training requirements of the curriculum.
(3) If the student completed a proficiency test and knowledge test that was conducted by the receiving pilot school and the training was received from other than a part 141- or a part 142-approved flight training course, the credit is limited to not more than 25 percent of the flight training requirements of the curriculum.
(4) If the student completed a knowledge test that was conducted by the receiving pilot school and the previous training was received from other than a part 141- or a part 142-approved aeronautical knowledge training course, the credit is limited to not more than 25 percent of the aeronautical knowledge training requirements of the curriculum.
(5) Completion of previous training must be certified in the student's training record by the training provider or a management official within the training provider's organization, and must contain—
(i) The kind and amount of training provided; and
(ii) The result of each stage check and end-of-course test, if appropriate.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16347, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 141-9, 62 FR 40908, July 30, 1997; Amdt. 141-12, 74 FR 42564, Aug. 21, 2009]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Before a Part 141 school can issue you a graduation certificate or recommend you for a certificate or rating, what must you have done?
Per FAR 141.77(a), I must have completed the training specified in the school's course of training and passed all required final tests.
Q2If I previously trained at another Part 141 school, how much of my flight training can the new school credit toward its curriculum?
Under FAR 141.77(c)(1), if the prior training was from a Part 141 or 142 approved course and I pass a proficiency test and knowledge test at the receiving school, credit is limited to no more than 50 percent of the flight training requirements.
Q3What if my previous training came from a Part 61 instructor, not a Part 141 or 142 school — can it still count?
Yes, but FAR 141.77(c)(3) and (c)(4) limit that credit to no more than 25 percent of the flight training and 25 percent of the aeronautical knowledge requirements, and I must pass the receiving school's proficiency and/or knowledge test.
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Related Sections in Part 141