Regulation Text
To be eligible for a commercial pilot certificate, a person must:
(a) Be at least 18 years of age;
(b) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.
(c) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who:
(1) Conducted the required ground training or reviewed the person's home study on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in § 61.125 of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought; and
(2) Certified that the person is prepared for the required knowledge test that applies to the aircraft category and class rating sought.
(d) Pass the required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in § 61.125 of this part;
(e) Receive the required training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who:
(1) Conducted the training on the areas of operation listed in § 61.127(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought; and
(2) Certified that the person is prepared for the required practical test.
(f) Meet the aeronautical experience requirements of this subpart that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought before applying for the practical test;
(g) Pass the required practical test on the areas of operation listed in § 61.127(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought;
(h) Hold at least a private pilot certificate issued under this part or meet the requirements of § 61.73; and
(i) Comply with the sections of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought.
Research Notes
Regulatory Cross-References
§ 61.123 establishes the baseline eligibility gate for the commercial pilot certificate. Applicants must be at least 18 years old (contrast: private pilot at 17 per § 61.103(a)), able to read, speak, write, and understand English, hold at least a Third Class Medical Certificate, and hold at least a private pilot certificate with an instrument rating in the category and class sought.
The instrument rating requirement is the most critical eligibility gate. A student pursuing the commercial certificate in airplane category single-engine land must hold at least a private pilot certificate with instrument rating in airplane before commercial training begins. AC 61-65J, paragraph 5-2, confirms this sequence. Many students start commercial training without realizing the instrument rating is not optional — it is a hard eligibility requirement under § 61.123(e).
Key Authorities
- AC 61-65J — Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors
- FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for Commercial Pilot — Airplane: FAA-S-ACS-7B
- Legal Interpretation: Brechet (2012) — minimum age of 18 strictly enforced
Medical Certificate Note
A commercial pilot operating under Part 135 or 121 requires a First or Second Class Medical Certificate. Third Class is sufficient only for the issuance of the certificate itself under Part 61. Operators conducting commercial operations impose stricter medical requirements through their OpSpecs.
Amendment History
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AOA Notes
These notes correspond to the highlighted phrases in the regulation text above. Each one flags something worth knowing — a common misread, a checkride gotcha, or a practical pro tip.
CFI Commentary
Highlighted phrases in the regulation text above link to instructor notes at the bottom of this page. Look for the amber or blue highlights — each one flags a gotcha or a pro tip worth knowing.