This reference organizes the major airman FAA certificates and ratings as well as endorsements that a U.S. aviator (or aviation professional) can earn.It’s grouped by practical “career path” categories (pilot certificates and ratings first, then instructor/ground, then other FAA certificates such as mechanic, dispatcher, etc.).
Abbreviations like ASEL and AMEL are spelled out in-context and listed under the certificate levels where they apply.
Note: Type ratings apply to specific aircraft (commonly turbojets and aircraft over 12,500 lbs) and are not a finite list; this document explains where they fit.
Pilot Certificates (Part 61)
Pilot certificates are the “levels” of pilot privileges. Most pilots progress from Student → Private → Commercial → ATP, with additional ratings (instrument, instructor, type ratings) added as required.
Student Pilot
- Student Pilot Certificate (no category/class rating printed at this level)
Sport Pilot
- Sport Pilot Certificate (category/class privileges depend on the aircraft category and class; see Category & Class Ratings)
Recreational Pilot
- Recreational Pilot Certificate (limited privileges; rarely pursued today)
Private Pilot
- Private Pilot Certificate (category/class privileges depend on the aircraft category and class; see Category & Class Ratings)
Commercial Pilot
- Commercial Pilot Certificate (category/class privileges depend on the aircraft category and class; see Category & Class Ratings)
Airline Transport Pilot (ATP)
- ATP Certificate (category/class depends on the aircraft category/class; see Category & Class Ratings)
- Restricted ATP (R-ATP) (where applicable, for airplane category/class)
Category & Class Ratings (Pilot)
These are the core “what you can fly” ratings that appear alongside pilot certificates. Many are earned at Private and then re-earned (or “held”) at Commercial and ATP where applicable.
Airplane
- ASEL — Airplane Single-Engine Land
- ASES — Airplane Single-Engine Sea
- AMEL — Airplane Multi-Engine Land
- AMES — Airplane Multi-Engine Sea
Common examples by certificate level:
- Private ASEL, Private AMEL, Private ASES, Private AMES
- Commercial ASEL, Commercial AMEL, Commercial ASES, Commercial AMES
- ATP ASEL, ATP AMEL (ATP is typically airplane multi-engine in airline ops)
- R-ATP ASEL, R-ATP AMEL
Rotorcraft
- Rotorcraft Helicopter
- Rotorcraft Gyroplane
Common examples by certificate level:
- Private Helicopter; Commercial Helicopter; ATP Helicopter
- Private Gyroplane; Commercial Gyroplane
Glider
- Glider
Common examples: Private Glider; Commercial Glider
Lighter-Than-Air
- Balloon
- Airship
Common examples: Private Balloon; Commercial Balloon; Private Airship; Commercial Airship
Powered Lift
- Powered Lift
Common examples: Private Powered Lift; Commercial Powered Lift; ATP Powered Lift
Powered Parachute
- Powered Parachute Land
- Powered Parachute Sea
Common examples: Sport / Private / Commercial (as applicable) Powered Parachute Land / Sea
Weight-Shift-Control
- Weight-Shift-Control Land
- Weight-Shift-Control Sea
Common examples: Sport / Private / Commercial (as applicable) Weight-Shift-Control Land / Sea
Instrument Ratings
Instrument ratings authorize IFR operations within a given aircraft category (and, where applicable, class).
These are commonly earned after Private and before/in parallel with Commercial.
- Instrument Airplane
- Instrument Helicopter
- Instrument Powered Lift
Note: Glider and balloon operations do not have an instrument rating equivalent in the same way airplanes/helicopters do.
Type Ratings
A type rating is an authorization for a specific aircraft type (e.g., a particular jet model series).
This is required for most turbojet aircraft and aircraft above 12,500 lbs maximum takeoff weight.
Because it’s aircraft-specific, there isn’t a single “complete list” of type ratings.
Examples (illustrative, not exhaustive):
- B-737
- A-320
- CL-65
- EMB-145
- BE-400
- CE-525 (various citations share / differ by exact series)
Type ratings may include limitations/authorizations such as:
SIC privileges, single-pilot limitations, or other FAA-printed limitations depending on aircraft and checkride.
Flight Instructor Certificates (CFI)
FAA flight instructor certificates authorize you to provide flight training and endorsements. Instructor privileges are tied to category/class.
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
- CFI — Airplane Single-Engine
- CFI — Airplane Multi-Engine
- CFI — Helicopter
- CFI — Gyroplane
- CFI — Glider
- CFI — Powered Lift
Instrument Instructor (CFII)
- CFII — Airplane
- CFII — Helicopter
- CFII — Powered Lift
Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI)
- MEI — Airplane Multi-Engine
Sport Pilot Instructor
- Sport Pilot Flight Instructor (specific to sport pilot category/class operations)
Ground Instructor Certificates
- BGI — Basic Ground Instructor
- AGI — Advanced Ground Instructor
- IGI — Instrument Ground Instructor
Other FAA Certificates (Part 63 / Part 65 / Part 107 / etc.)
These are major FAA certificates outside the pilot/instructor track, including crew positions, maintenance, and unmanned aircraft.
Remote Pilot (UAS)
- Remote Pilot Certificate (Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems) — Part 107
Mechanic
- Mechanic — Airframe
- Mechanic — Powerplant
- Mechanic — Airframe & Powerplant (A&P)
Repairman
- Repairman — Experimental Aircraft Builder
- Repairman — Light-Sport Aircraft (LSA)
- Repairman — Remote Pilot / UAS (as applicable to repairman roles)
Parachute Rigger
- Senior Parachute Rigger
- Master Parachute Rigger
Aircraft Dispatcher
- Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate
Control Tower Operator
- Control Tower Operator (CTO)
Flight Engineer (Part 63)
- Flight Engineer — Turbojet
- Flight Engineer — Turboprop
- Flight Engineer — Reciprocating
Flight Navigator (Legacy / Rare)
- Flight Navigator
FAA Designations (Not Ratings, but Commonly Asked)
These are not “ratings” on a certificate, but FAA-appointed roles with delegated authority (examples):
- DPE — Designated Pilot Examiner
- DME — Designated Mechanic Examiner
- DAR — Designated Airworthiness Representative
- DER — Designated Engineering Representative
Quick Abbreviation List (Common)
- ASEL — Airplane Single-Engine Land
- ASES — Airplane Single-Engine Sea
- AMEL — Airplane Multi-Engine Land
- AMES — Airplane Multi-Engine Sea
- CFI — Certified Flight Instructor
- CFII — Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument
- MEI — Multi-Engine Instructor
- ATP — Airline Transport Pilot
- R-ATP — Restricted Airline Transport Pilot
- UAS — Unmanned Aircraft System
- BGI — Basic Ground Instructor
- AGI — Advanced Ground Instructor
- IGI — Instrument Ground Instructor