The Complete Student Pilot Endorsements List (AC 61-65)
Every endorsement a student pilot needs on the way to the checkride, with the regulation behind each one.
Last updated June 3, 2026 · by Sami Kosaraju, an FAA-certificated private pilot
An endorsement is a dated, signed note from your instructor that gives you a specific privilege. From your first solo to the checkride, you collect a fairly predictable set, and each one ties back to a regulation with standard wording from Appendix A of FAA AC 61-65J.
The endorsements you’ll collect
| Endorsement | Regulation | When |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-solo aeronautical knowledge | §61.87(b) | After you pass the pre-solo written |
| Pre-solo flight training (make & model) | §61.87(c) | Before first solo, once you have shown proficiency |
| Solo flight (90-day, make & model) | §61.87(n) | Renewed at least every 90 days to keep soloing |
| Solo in Class B airspace or at a Class B airport | §61.95 | If your training takes you into Class B |
| Initial solo cross-country | §61.93(c)(1) | Before your first solo XC |
| Solo cross-country (review before each flight) | §61.93(c)(3) | Route and conditions reviewed before each solo XC |
| Knowledge (written) test | §61.35 / §61.103(d) | Before you sit the FAA written exam |
| Practical test (checkride) | §61.39 / §61.103 | After training is done and the written is passed |
What makes an endorsement valid
An examiner checks endorsements for a few specific things:
- The correct regulation reference and the standard AC 61-65 wording.
- Your instructor’s signature, certificate number, and expiration date.
- The date, since several endorsements (the 90-day solo especially) expire.
- The right make and model wherever the regulation calls for it.
Why a clean record matters on checkride day
On the day of the test, the examiner reviews your endorsements for exactly those elements. A missing date, a 90-day solo that has lapsed, or the wrong citation can hold up a checkride. That is why Waypoint snapshots each endorsement when your CFI signs it, capturing the exact wording, the certificate number and expiration, and the timestamp, so what the examiner sees is precisely what was attested.
Frequently asked questions
What endorsements does a student pilot need?
On the way to a private certificate you usually need pre-solo aeronautical knowledge, pre-solo flight training, a solo endorsement (renewed every 90 days), solo cross-country endorsements, the knowledge-test endorsement, and the practical-test endorsement. The standard wording for each is in Appendix A of FAA Advisory Circular 61-65.
How often does the solo endorsement need to be renewed?
A student pilot solo endorsement has to be given within the previous 90 days for the specific make and model, per 14 CFR §61.87(n). If it lapses, your instructor has to re-endorse you before you can solo again.
What is the difference between the knowledge-test and practical-test endorsements?
The knowledge-test endorsement (§61.35 / §61.103(d)) lets you sit the FAA written exam. The practical-test endorsement (§61.39 / §61.103) says you are ready for the checkride and comes after training is complete and the written is passed.
Where is the official endorsement wording?
In Appendix A of FAA Advisory Circular AC 61-65 (current edition 61-65J). Instructors should use that exact language with the right regulatory references and their certificate information.
Stop guessing what’s left before your checkride
Waypoint auto-computes every §61.109 requirement from the flights you log — free through your Private Pilot certificate.