FAR 61.5 — Certificates and Ratings
FAR 61.5 lists every pilot, flight instructor, and ground instructor certificate plus the category, class, type, and instrument ratings issued under Part 61.
In Plain English
FAR 61.5 is the master list of every certificate and rating the FAA issues under Part 61. If you hold a pilot credential, it came from this section. Knowing it helps you understand exactly what you're authorized to do and what your next training milestone looks like.
The section breaks down into four buckets:
- Pilot certificates: Student, Sport, Recreational, Private, Commercial, and Airline Transport Pilot.
- Instructor certificates: Flight Instructor (CFI) and Ground Instructor.
- Pilot ratings added to a certificate (other than student): category (airplane, rotorcraft, glider, lighter-than-air, powered-lift, powered parachute, weight-shift-control), class (e.g., single-engine land, multiengine sea, helicopter, gyroplane, airship, balloon), type ratings (large aircraft, turbojets, powered-lift, others), instrument ratings (airplane, helicopter, powered-lift — only on private and commercial certificates), and the second-in-command type rating for two-pilot aircraft.
- Flight instructor ratings (category, class, instrument, sport pilot) and ground instructor ratings (Basic, Advanced, Instrument).
Operationally, this is how the FAA defines the structure of pilot privileges — each new rating expands what aircraft you can fly and under what rules.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.5§ 61.5 Certificates and ratings issued under this part.
(a) The following certificates are issued under this part to an applicant who satisfactorily accomplishes the training and certification requirements for the certificate sought:
(1) Pilot certificates—
(i) Student pilot.
(ii) Sport pilot.
(iii) Recreational pilot.
(iv) Private pilot.
(v) Commercial pilot.
(vi) Airline transport pilot.
(2) Flight instructor certificates.
(3) Ground instructor certificates.
(b) The following ratings are placed on a pilot certificate (other than student pilot) when an applicant satisfactorily accomplishes the training and certification requirements for the rating sought:
(1) Aircraft category ratings—
(i) Airplane.
(ii) Rotorcraft.
(iii) Glider.
(iv) Lighter-than-air.
(v) Powered-lift.
(vi) Powered parachute.
(vii) Weight-shift-control aircraft.
(2) Airplane class ratings—
(i) Single-engine land.
(ii) Multiengine land.
(iii) Single-engine sea.
(iv) Multiengine sea.
(3) Rotorcraft class ratings—
(i) Helicopter.
(ii) Gyroplane.
(4) Lighter-than-air class ratings—
(i) Airship.
(ii) Balloon.
(5) Weight-shift-control aircraft class ratings—
(i) Weight-shift-control aircraft land.
(ii) Weight-shift-control aircraft sea.
(6) Powered parachute class ratings—
(i) Powered parachute land.
(ii) Powered parachute sea.
(7) Aircraft type ratings—
(i) Large aircraft other than lighter-than-air.
(ii) Turbojet-powered airplanes.
(iii) Powered-lift.
(iv) Other aircraft type ratings specified by the Administrator through the aircraft type certification procedures.
(8) Instrument ratings (on private and commercial pilot certificates only)—
(i) Instrument—Airplane.
(ii) Instrument—Helicopter.
(iii) Instrument—Powered-lift.
(9) Second-in-command pilot type rating for aircraft that is certificated for operations with a minimum crew of at least two pilots.
(c) The following ratings are placed on a flight instructor certificate when an applicant satisfactorily accomplishes the training and certification requirements for the rating sought:
(1) Aircraft category ratings—
(i) Airplane.
(ii) Rotorcraft.
(iii) Glider.
(iv) Powered-lift.
(2) Airplane class ratings—
(i) Single-engine.
(ii) Multiengine.
(3) Rotorcraft class ratings—
(i) Helicopter.
(ii) Gyroplane.
(4) Instrument ratings—
(i) Instrument—Airplane.
(ii) Instrument—Helicopter.
(iii) Instrument—Powered-lift.
(5) Sport pilot rating.
(d) The following ratings are placed on a ground instructor certificate when an applicant satisfactorily accomplishes the training and certification requirements for the rating sought:
(1) Basic.
(2) Advanced.
(3) Instrument.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, as amended by Amdt. 61-110, 69 FR 44864, July 27, 2004; Amdt. 61-113, 70 FR 45271, Aug. 4, 2005; Docket FAA-2023-1275, Amdt. 61-157, 89 FR 92484, Nov. 21, 2024]
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You are flying VFR in Class E airspace at 8,500 feet MSL during the day. What are your minimum visibility and cloud clearance requirements?
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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What pilot certificates are issued under Part 61?
Per FAR 61.5, the FAA issues Student, Sport, Recreational, Private, Commercial, and Airline Transport Pilot certificates, plus Flight Instructor and Ground Instructor certificates.
Q2On which pilot certificates can an instrument rating be placed, and what types are available?
FAR 61.5 states instrument ratings are placed only on private and commercial pilot certificates, and they are issued in Instrument—Airplane, Instrument—Helicopter, and Instrument—Powered-lift.
Q3What aircraft require a type rating under Part 61?
FAR 61.5 lists type ratings for large aircraft other than lighter-than-air, turbojet-powered airplanes, powered-lift, and other aircraft specified by the Administrator through the type certification process.
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