Regulation Text
§ 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.
Research Notes
Certificate Hierarchy Under Part 61
Section 61.5 provides the complete list of certificates and ratings issued under Part 61. Understanding this taxonomy is foundational for any pilot or CFI because it defines the regulatory universe of what can be issued, held, and endorsed.
Pilot certificates in ascending order: Student → Sport → Recreational → Private → Commercial → Airline Transport Pilot. Note that Sport and Recreational are lateral alternatives to Private, not steps toward it. A sport pilot is not "working toward" a private certificate by holding a sport certificate — they're exercising a parallel (though more limited) privilege set.
Aircraft category ratings: Airplane, Rotorcraft, Glider, Lighter-than-air, Powered-lift, Powered parachute, Weight-shift-control. Class ratings nest within categories (e.g., single-engine land within airplane).
Type ratings (§ 61.5(b)(7)) are required for aircraft over 12,500 lbs MTOW and for all jet-powered aircraft. Type ratings are added to the pilot certificate by notation on the back of the certificate.
Instructor certificate ratings (§ 61.5(c)) are separate from pilot certificate ratings. A CFI rated for airplane single-engine land is not automatically authorized to provide instruction in multi-engine airplanes — requires a separate MEI rating.
Reference: AC 61-65J — full list of certificates, ratings, and endorsement authority.
Amendment History
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.