How to Get a Student Pilot Certificate (IACRA, Step by Step)
You don’t need it to start lessons — but you need it, and a medical, before your first solo. Here is the whole process.
Last updated June 6, 2026 · by Sami, an FAA-certificated private pilot
Here is the part that surprises new pilots: you do not need a student pilot certificate to start flying. You can take lessons with a certificated flight instructor from day one. What you do need — before your first solo — is a student pilot certificate and a medical. This guide walks the whole process, start to finish.
Do you actually need it to start?
No. The student pilot certificate is the document that lets you fly solo — alone in the aircraft. Until then, every flight is with your instructor, and you can log all of it. Practically, that means you can book a discovery flight and your first several lessons before you apply. Plan to have the certificate (and your medical) in hand by the time you and your CFI are talking about solo, usually somewhere around 15–25 hours in.
Who qualifies
- Be at least 16 years old to fly powered aircraft solo (14 for gliders and balloons). You can apply for the certificate at 16.
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English.
- That is it — no knowledge test and no medical are required to get the certificate itself.
How to apply through IACRA, step by step
Most students apply through IACRA (the FAA’s Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application). You cannot finish it entirely online — the last step is in person with an instructor who confirms who you are.
- Register for an IACRA account as an Applicant and get your FAA Tracking Number (FTN).
- Complete the application (this is the electronic version of FAA Form 8710-1).
- Meet in person with a Recommending Instructor — your CFI — or a FSDO, a designated pilot examiner, or a Part 141 airman certification representative. They verify your photo ID, your English, and your age, then submit the application.
- The FAA processes it. Your temporary certificate is usually available in IACRA within about a week (valid 120 days), and the permanent card arrives by mail in roughly three weeks.
Prefer paper? You can complete FAA Form 8710-1 and submit it through a CFI, a FSDO, or a designated examiner instead. IACRA is faster for most people.
The medical certificate (needed before solo)
Separate from the student certificate, you need at least a third-class medical before you can solo an airplane. You get it from an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME): create a profile in FAA MedXPress, then book the exam. It is worth doing this early — if there is anything in your history that needs review, you would rather find out before you are ready to solo than after.
What has to line up before your first solo
| Before you can solo | How you get it |
|---|---|
| Student pilot certificate | IACRA, with your CFI (this guide) |
| Third-class medical | Exam with an AME via MedXPress |
| Pre-solo knowledge test + endorsement | From your CFI — see the endorsements guide |
| Pre-solo flight training to standard | Logged dual instruction with your CFI |
Does it expire?
No. Since April 1, 2016, student pilot certificates do not expire. Yours stays valid through all of your primary training and is surrendered and superseded the day you pass your private pilot checkride. (If you somehow still hold a pre-2016 certificate, that one expired on its printed date.)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a student pilot certificate before my first lesson?
No. You can start taking flight lessons with an instructor right away. You need a student pilot certificate and at least a third-class medical before your first solo, not before you begin training. Most students apply a few weeks in, once they know they are sticking with it.
How long does it take to get?
When you apply through IACRA, a temporary certificate is usually available online within about a week, and the permanent plastic card arrives by mail in roughly three weeks. The temporary certificate is valid for 120 days, which covers you until the card shows up.
Is there a fee for the student pilot certificate?
There is no FAA fee for the student pilot certificate application itself. You will pay for a medical exam with an aviation medical examiner separately, and that is required before you solo.
Does a student pilot certificate expire?
No. Student pilot certificates issued after April 1, 2016 do not expire. (Older ones expired after 24 or 60 months.) Yours stays valid until it is superseded when you earn your private pilot certificate.
Stop guessing what’s left before your checkride
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