FAR 61.85 — Student Pilot Application
FAR 61.85 explains how to apply for a student pilot certificate, including the required form and who can accept your application. Study guide for pilots.
FAR 61.85 is the starting point for anyone pursuing a pilot certificate. It tells you how and to whom you submit your application for a student pilot certificate.
The rule has two simple requirements:
- Form: You must apply on a form acceptable to the Administrator (the FAA). In practice, this is done through IACRA (or a paper FAA Form 8710-1).
- Where to submit: You must give the application to one of the following:
- A Flight Standards office (FSDO)
- A Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE)
- An Airman Certification Representative (ACR) associated with a pilot school
- A flight instructor (CFI)
- Another person authorized by the Administrator
Why it matters operationally: before you can solo, you need a student pilot certificate in hand. Knowing the proper channels — typically your CFI submitting through IACRA — keeps your training on schedule and avoids delays caused by sending paperwork to the wrong place.
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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?
Q1How does an applicant apply for a student pilot certificate?
Q2Who is authorized to accept a student pilot certificate application?
Q3Can you turn your student pilot application directly in to your CFI?
Student pilot certificate application under § 61.85
As of 2026-06-17, § 61.85 is a two-step application rule: use an FAA-acceptable form, then submit it through one of five authorized acceptance paths. The rule is short, but it is the handoff that turns a new student from “ready to train” into “eligible to solo once § 61.87 is complete.”
| § 61.85(b) path | Best use | Applicant check |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Standards office | Paper applications, special limitations, or cases a local office needs to process. | Bring a complete FAA Form 8710-1 package and identity documents. |
| Designated pilot examiner | When a DPE is already acting as the FAA-authorized certifying official. | Confirm the examiner will accept student-pilot applications before the meeting. |
| Airman certification representative at a pilot school | Part 141 schools that process student certificates through their ACR workflow. | Use the school process and make sure the application routes to the Registry. |
| Flight instructor | The normal path for most new student pilots using IACRA. | The instructor must verify identity and accept/sign the application as certifying official. |
| Other person authorized by the Administrator | A catch-all for FAA-authorized roles not listed by name in § 61.85(b). | Ask what authority they use before relying on this path. |
FAA guidance allows either IACRA or paper FAA Form 8710-1. AC 61-65J says IACRA is quicker because the completed application is transmitted directly for processing, while paper routing adds FSDO and mailing steps.
The FAA public page currently says the certificate arrives by mail in about three weeks and that IACRA can minimize the wait. AC 61-65J warns paper routing can push issuance toward about five weeks from submission.
Use IACRA or paper FAA Form 8710-1; § 61.85(a) only requires a form acceptable to the Administrator.
The certifying official verifies the § 61.83 age and English-language prerequisites before acceptance.
AC 61-65J tells certifying officials to verify the applicant identity and application completeness.
The FAA Registry issues the student pilot certificate; the accepting person does not hand you a plastic card.
Student pilot application FAQ
What does 14 CFR § 61.85 require for a student pilot certificate application?
Section 61.85 requires two things: the applicant must make the student pilot certificate application in a form acceptable to the FAA Administrator, and must submit it to one of the authorized acceptance paths listed in § 61.85(b).
Can a CFI accept a student pilot certificate application?
Yes. Section 61.85(b) lists a flight instructor as one authorized person who may receive the application. FAA AC 61-65J explains that the instructor acts as a certifying official, verifies identity and eligibility, and may use IACRA or paper FAA Form 8710-1.
Do I need a student pilot certificate before starting flight lessons?
No. The FAA student pilot page says the certificate is needed before solo flight, not before taking lessons. The application should still be started early because the Registry must process and issue the certificate.
Is IACRA required for a student pilot certificate?
No. FAA guidance allows either IACRA or paper FAA Form 8710-1. IACRA is preferred because it reduces routing delay and helps the application reach the Airmen Certification Branch more directly.