FAR 61.19 — Certificate Duration
FAR 61.19 explains how long pilot, student, flight instructor, and ground instructor certificates remain valid, including key 2016 and 2024 changes.
In Plain English
FAR 61.19 sets the rules for how long your pilot and instructor certificates stay valid. The big picture: most modern certificates have no expiration date, but they can still be surrendered, suspended, or revoked.
Key points to remember:
- Pilot certificates (including student pilot certificates issued after April 1, 2016) are issued without an expiration date.
- Student pilot certificates issued before April 1, 2016 expire based on the medical exam date — 60 months if under 40, 24 months if 40 or older. For glider, balloon, or sport pilot applicants, it's 60 months regardless of age.
- Flight instructor certificates issued on or after December 1, 2024 have no expiration. Those issued before that date expire 24 calendar months from the month issued, renewed, or reinstated.
- Ground instructor certificates never expire.
- A pilot certificate based on a foreign pilot license is only valid while that foreign license is effective.
- If your certificate is suspended or revoked, you must return it to the FAA when requested.
- Paper pilot certificates can no longer be used to exercise privileges after March 31, 2010.
This matters operationally because flying on an expired certificate — or after revocation — means you're not legally a pilot in command.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.19§ 61.19 Duration of pilot and instructor certificates and privileges.
(a)(1) The holder of a certificate with an expiration date may not, after that date, exercise the privileges of that certificate.
(2) Except for a certificate issued with an expiration date, a certificate issued under this part is valid unless it is surrendered, suspended, or revoked.
(b)A student pilot certificate issued under this part prior to April 1, 2016 expires:
(1) For student pilots who have not reached their 40th birthday, 60 calendar months after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
(2) For student pilots who have reached their 40th birthday, 24 calendar months after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
(3) For student pilots seeking a glider rating, balloon rating, or a sport pilot certificate, 60 calendar months after the month of the date issued, regardless of the person's age.
(c)(1) A pilot certificate (including a student pilot certificate issued after April 1, 2016) issued under this part is issued without an expiration date.
(2) The holder of a pilot certificate issued on the basis of a foreign pilot license may exercise the privileges of that certificate only while that person's foreign pilot license is effective.
(d)(1) A flight instructor certificate issued under this part on or after December 1, 2024, is issued without an expiration date.
(2) A flight instructor certificate issued before December 1, 2024, expires 24 calendar months from the month in which it was issued, renewed, or reinstated, as appropriate.
(e)A ground instructor certificate is issued without an expiration date.
(f)The holder of any airman certificate that is issued under this part, and that has been suspended or revoked, must return that certificate to the FAA when requested to do so by the Administrator.
(g)Except for a temporary certificate issued under § 61.17 or a student pilot certificate issued under paragraph (b) of this section, the holder of a paper pilot certificate issued under this part may not exercise the privileges of that certificate after March 31, 2010.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, as amended by Amdt. 61-118, 73 FR 10668, Feb. 28, 2008; Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42547, Aug. 21, 2009; Amdt. 61-124A, 74 FR 53644, Oct. 20, 2009; Docket FAA-2010-1127, Amdt. 61-135, 81 FR 1306, Jan. 12, 2016; Docket FAA-2023-0825, Amdt. 61-155, 89 FR 80049, Oct. 1, 2024]
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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Does your private pilot certificate have an expiration date?
No. Under FAR 61.19, a pilot certificate issued under Part 61 is issued without an expiration date and remains valid unless surrendered, suspended, or revoked.
Q2How long is a flight instructor certificate valid?
Per FAR 61.19(d), CFI certificates issued on or after December 1, 2024 have no expiration date, while those issued before that date expire 24 calendar months from the month they were issued, renewed, or reinstated.
Q3If you hold a U.S. pilot certificate based on a foreign pilot license, when can you exercise its privileges?
Under FAR 61.19(c)(2), you may only exercise the privileges of that certificate while your underlying foreign pilot license remains effective.
Studying for a checkride?
§61.113 Privileges & Limits
Private pilot compensation, pro-rata sharing, and BasicMed limits
§61.57 Recent Flight Experience
90-day passenger, night, and instrument currency rules
§61.89 Student Pilot Limitations
Solo student limits: no passengers, no compensation, minimum visibility
§61.51 Pilot Logbooks
Logging training, aeronautical experience, and recency for certificates
§61.23 Medical Certificate Duration
First-, second-, and third-class medical requirement and validity periods
Instrument Rating Requirements
IFR eligibility and aeronautical experience
Related Sections in Part 61