When Is a Type Rating Required? The Definitive Guide for Pilots

What a type rating is and why it exists

A type rating is a specific, aircraft-by-aircraft authorization added to a pilot certificate, confirming that the pilot has been trained and tested to operate that particular aircraft. It exists because larger, more complex aircraft demand systems knowledge, handling skill, and crew coordination that go well beyond what's covered in general category and class training.

Unlike a category or class rating, which covers broad groups of aircraft, a type rating is tied to one specific make and model — an A320 type rating doesn't authorize a pilot to fly a B737, even though both are commonly flown transport-category jets.

The FAA trigger: weight and jet-powered aircraft

Under FAA regulations, a type rating is required for any aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight over 12,500 pounds, and for any turbojet-powered airplane, regardless of weight. This second condition is why type ratings apply broadly across commercial jet aviation — even smaller business jets fall under the type rating requirement because they're turbojet-powered, not because of their weight alone.

This means the requirement isn't limited to airliners. A pilot moving into corporate jet flying on a turbojet aircraft needs a type rating just as much as a pilot moving into an airline captain seat on a large transport aircraft.

• Any aircraft over 12,500 lbs maximum certificated takeoff weight
• Any turbojet-powered airplane, regardless of weight
• Rating is aircraft-specific — it doesn't transfer between different types

When pilots typically encounter the requirement

Most pilots first face the type rating requirement when moving from single-pilot, smaller aircraft into airline or corporate flying on larger jets. It comes up again any time a pilot changes aircraft type within their career — moving from a B737 to an A320 fleet, for example, requires a new type rating even for an experienced airline captain, since the rating doesn't carry over between different aircraft families.

It also applies to pilots converting a foreign license to FAA credentials. A pilot who already holds a type rating on an aircraft like the A320 under a foreign authority will still need to complete FAA-specific type rating training and testing to hold that authorization on their FAA certificate, even though their systems knowledge from flying the aircraft transfers directly into a faster, more focused training experience.

How a type rating is earned

Earning a type rating involves a structured combination of ground school covering the aircraft's systems, limitations, and procedures, followed by hands-on training in a full-flight simulator that replicates the aircraft's handling and cockpit environment, and concluding with a practical test (checkride) demonstrating the pilot can operate the aircraft to FAA standards.

For most single-aisle and widebody aircraft, this training runs 28-35 days; the combined B757/767 type rating, which covers two aircraft sharing a common type rating, typically runs 35-40 days given the added scope. The exact schedule depends on the training provider's course structure and the pilot's prior experience with similar aircraft.

Choosing the right aircraft and training path

Because a type rating is tied to a specific aircraft, choosing which one to pursue is a career decision, not just a training logistics question — it should align with the fleet operated by the airlines or operators a pilot is targeting. Training centers with simulators across a range of aircraft — A320, A330, ATR 42/72, B737 NG/MAX, B737 Classic, and B757/767 — give pilots flexibility to train on the type that matches their next role.

If you're not sure whether your next career move requires a type rating, or which aircraft to train on, an advisor can review your current certificates and career goals and lay out the specific ground school and simulator path that applies.