It generally takes between 18 months and 4 years to become a pilot, depending on the level of training, type of pilot license, and the specific program or school chosen.
Timeline Breakdown
- Private Pilot License (PPL): Typically takes about 3 to 6 months. Some accelerated programs can complete this in as little as 3 months, while others take around 5-6 months depending on full-time or part-time training.
- Commercial Pilot License (CPL): Usually takes around 9 to 18 months after the private pilot phase, including accumulating required flight hours (150-200 minimum). The entire process to be ready as a commercial pilot can take around 1 to 2 years.
- Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL): Requires a minimum of 1500 flight hours and experience, which can take 2.5 to 4 years to accumulate after initial licenses, depending on flight frequency and career path. Becoming an airline pilot often spans 3 to 4 years total.
Summary
- To become a private pilot , the timeframe is about 3-6 months.
- To become a commercial pilot , add approximately 1-2 years.
- To become an airline transport pilot (fully qualified for airlines), it usually takes about 3 to 4 years from zero experience to meeting all requirements, including flight hours.
The exact time may vary by country, flight school, weather conditions affecting flight time accumulation, and whether the pilot trains full-time or part-time.
This comprehensive overview reflects typical pilot training durations worldwide as of 2025.
