Private Pilot Requirements

What does it take to become a private pilot?

It takes time, money and commitment.

An absence of any of the above will prevent you from reaching your goal. Less of one can be made up for by extra of another but you will need at least some of each.

The FAA requires the following:

That you be at least 17 years old, although there is nothing to stop you starting training much younger.
You are able to read, speak and understand English.
That you obtain a third-class medical certificate, although you can start training prior to taking the medical
That you pass the FAA written test.
That you pass an oral and flight test.

Before you can take the flight test you must log at least 40 hours of flight time of which at least 20 hours must be flight instruction from a certificated flight instructor including three hours of instrument training, three hours at night and three hours of preparation within 60 days of the flight test.

These are simply minimums and many people fly significantly more in order to achieve the required level of proficiency.

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