Requirements for a pilot school certificate

To obtain a full pilot school certificate (upgrading from provisional status), a school must meet several requirements within the 24 months before applying. The school must have previously held a provisional certificate and completed the proper application forms. It must meet all applicable requirements in the regulation's subparts A through C.

Critically, the school must demonstrate quality instruction through an 80% first-attempt pass rate across all knowledge tests, practical tests, and end-of-course tests for its approved curricula. Additionally, the school must have graduated at least 10 different students from its approved courses.

These requirements ensure that only schools with proven track records of successful student outcomes receive full certification. The pass rate and graduation minimums prevent schools from obtaining full certification without demonstrating they can effectively train pilots to FAA standards. This protects students from enrolling in ineffective training programs.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*