Pilot License Conversion Guides

Cross-authority conversion paths for 32 pilot license combinations.

PPL → CPL

FAA → FAA

6 – 14 months full-timeModerate

CPL → ATP

FAA → FAA

1 – 3 years (depends on how quickly hours are accumulated)Hard

Foreign PPL (ICAO contracting state) → FAA PPL

ICAO → FAA

3 – 6 months (verification is the bottleneck)Moderate

EASA CPL → FAA CPL

EASA → FAA

3 – 6 monthsModerate

ICAO ATPL → FAA ATP

ICAO → FAA

4 – 8 monthsHard

FAA PPL → EASA PPL

FAA → EASA

4 – 9 monthsModerate

FAA CPL → EASA CPL

FAA → EASA

8 – 14 monthsHard

EASA ATPL → ICAO ATPL (e.g. Gulf carrier)

EASA → ICAO

1 – 4 months (depending on authority)Easy

FAA Part 107 (initial) → Part 107 Recurrent

FAA → FAA

1-2 hours every 24 calendar monthsEasy

FAA PPL → FAA Instrument Rating

FAA → FAA

3 – 6 monthsModerate

FAA PPL → Multi-Engine Rating

FAA → FAA

1 – 2 weeksEasy

FAA CPL → FAA CFI (Initial)

FAA → FAA

2 – 4 monthsHard

FAA CFI → FAA CFII

FAA → FAA

1 – 2 monthsModerate

FAA CFI → FAA MEI

FAA → FAA

1 – 2 monthsModerate

FAA Recreational Pilot → FAA PPL

FAA → FAA

1 – 3 monthsEasy

FAA Sport Pilot → FAA PPL

FAA → FAA

1 – 2 monthsEasy

Transport Canada CPL → FAA CPL

TCCA → FAA

3 – 5 monthsModerate

CASA Australia ATPL → FAA ATP

CASA → FAA

4 – 8 monthsHard

DGCA India CPL → FAA CPL

DGCA → FAA

3 – 6 monthsModerate

DGAC Mexico CPL → EASA CPL

DGAC → EASA

8 – 14 monthsHard

ANAC Brazil CPL → FAA CPL

ANAC → FAA

3 – 6 monthsModerate

UK CAA ATPL → FAA ATP

UK CAA → FAA

4 – 7 monthsHard

UK CAA PPL → EASA PPL

UK CAA → EASA

2 – 5 monthsEasy

JCAB Japan CPL → FAA CPL

JCAB → FAA

4 – 7 monthsModerate

CAA New Zealand CPL → FAA CPL

CAA NZ → FAA

3 – 6 monthsModerate

FAA PPL Airplane → FAA PPL Helicopter Add-On

FAA → FAA

3 – 5 monthsHard

FAA PPL Airplane → FAA PPL Glider Add-On

FAA → FAA

1 – 4 weeksEasy

FAA PPL → FAA Seaplane Rating

FAA → FAA

3 – 7 days (immersion)Easy

FAA PPL → Tailwheel Endorsement

FAA → FAA

1 – 4 weeksEasy

Part 61 Student → Part 141 Equivalent Path

FAA → FAA

FAA PPL → Spin / Aerobatic Endorsement

FAA → FAA

1 – 3 daysEasy

Part 107 (VLOS) → Part 107 BVLOS Waiver

FAA → FAA

3 – 12 months waiver reviewHard