To obtain a student pilot certificate, you'll need to complete an application through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) website. In most cases, your certificated flight instructor (CFI) will process your application, but you also may apply through your local FAA flight standards district office, a designated pilot examiner, or some Part 141 school officials. Talk to your instructor or flight school about applying for a student pilot certificate right when you start training because it may take up to three weeks for the FAA to approve and return the student pilot certificate. You'll need the plastic certificate before you can fly solo. Get answers to frequently asked questions about the student pilot certificate requirements.

A student pilot certificate does not expire. However, medical certificates are good for 24 or 60 months, depending on your age, and some instructor endorsements are only valid for a period of time or specific flights.

Unless you’re flying as a sport pilot, you’ll need to visit an aviation medical examiner (AME) and obtain a medical certificate in order to fly as pilot in command. Your vision must be at least 20/40 for near and distant vision with or without corrective lenses, and you must be able to perceive those colors necessary for the safe pilot performance. For general health and medical related questions, refer to AOPA's medical subject reports prior to visiting your aviation medical examiner. Find an in-depth discussion of the medical certification process here.

A medical is not required, but you will need to have a valid U.S. driver’s license. You must comply with each restriction and limitation imposed by that U.S. driver's license and any judicial or administrative order applying to the operation of a motor vehicle. You must also meet the requirements of Federal Aviation Regulation 61.23(c)(2): You must have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third class airman medical certificate at the time of your most recent application (if you have applied for a medical certificate); you must not have had your most recently issued medical certificate (if you have held a medical certificate) suspended or revoked or most recent Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate withdrawn; and you must not have any medical condition that would make you unable to operate a light sport aircraft in a safe manner.

A lot of variables affect the cost of learning to fly, including the frequency of flight lessons, weather conditions, the kind of aircraft in which you are training and its availability for scheduling, and individual aptitude. A rough estimate would range between $5,000 and $9,000, depending on the certificate being sought.

The same variables that affect the cost of learning to fly will affect the time it takes to earn your certificate. The FAA has established the minimum number of flight hours needed to obtain a certificate. Under Part 61 of the federal aviation regulations, the minimums are 20 hours for a sport pilot certificate, 30 hours for a recreational pilot certificate, and 40 hours for a private pilot certificate. Some schools operate under an alternate regulation, Part 141, which provides more FAA oversight, more rigid schedules, and more paperwork. The added requirements allow them to reduce the minimum hours of private pilot training to 35 hours. However, many schools believe that a true average flight training time for a private pilot is between 50 hours and 60 hours, whether the school operates under Part 61 or Part 141 schools. Others believe that 68 to 70 hours is the more likely average. These flight hours can be spread over a time span of several months to a year or more.

FAR Part 141 schools have more FAA oversight, more rigid schedules, and more paperwork. For the added requirements, they are allowed to reduce the minimum required hours of private pilot training to 35 hours, rather than the 40-hour minimum required when training at a Part 61 flight school. The Part 61 school, on the other hand, is able to be more flexible with training schedules, and has the ability to tailor the curriculum to meet individual students' training needs. Either school must train you to pass the same practical test.

Search the flight school database and find other useful information in AOPA’s online flight school search.

Once you’ve found a flight school, talk to the chief flight instructor about what you want out of training and ask him or her to recommended an instructor who will be a good fit. Talk to the prospective instructor about your learning style, the instructor’s teaching style, and what training will be like. Then, schedule an introductory flight. If it’s not a good fit, you can still switch instructors after you’ve started training.

It depends: For most student pilots, a four-place training aircraft such as a Piper Cherokee or Cessna 172 is probably the most suitable, although a number of other aircraft can provide an excellent introduction to flight while offering reasonable operating costs (for example, the Cessna 152 or a light sport aircraft).

A controversial subject at times, there is no doubt that modern technology has inundated the general aviation cockpit, including training aircraft. The choice is ultimately yours, but some things to consider will be the cost of training in the "glass cockpit" versus conventionally equipped aircraft. Additionally, your future ambitions might involve or require extensive use of glass-cockpit aircraft. In either case, train in an aircraft that best suits your present and future needs and interests.

You don't have to be a particular age before you can begin to take flying lessons. However, you do have to be at least 16 years old before you can solo an airplane (14 years old for operation of a balloon or glider), and 17 before you can be issued a private pilot certificate (16 for balloon or glider). Therefore, it may not be particularly efficient from the standpoint of cost and flight hours to begin lessons too early.

Say "student pilot," and most people think of a youngster chasing a dream. In reality, today's fledgling is likely an adult who's not only chasing, but actually fulfilling a lifelong ambition to be a pilot. Some pilots learn to fly after they retire.

You're referring to the TSA's alien flight training and citizenship validation rule. The effects of this rule depend on whether you are a U.S. citizen or an alien.