Can you become an airline pilot without a high school diploma?

Applicants must meet 1 of the following requirements: Must have a high school diploma with a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Must have completed 24 college credit hours from an accredited institution with a minim cumulative GPA of 2.5. Hold a Private Pilot's Certificate with verification of high school diploma or GED.



People Also Ask

Airline pilots typically need a bachelor's degree and experience as a commercial or military pilot. Commercial pilots typically need flight training, and some employers may require or prefer them to have a degree.

MORE DETAILS

A college degree is not a requirement to become a regional airline pilot, but most regional airline pilots complete their training at flight schools and gain experience through many flight hours.

MORE DETAILS

Airline Pilots must have a valid Commercial Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating and Airline Transport Pilot Certificate to be Pilot in Command. You must have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight time, be over the age of 23 and be able to pass a 1st Class Medical exam.

MORE DETAILS

Annual Pilot Salary Range
How Much Do Pilots Make an Hour? » According to The May 2021 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salary for commercial pilots is $99,640 per year. The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers is $202,180.

MORE DETAILS

The Atlanta-based carrier becomes the last major U.S. airline to remove the college degree requirement. It joins other major airlines like Southwest, United and American Airlines that don't require their pilots to hold a degree.

MORE DETAILS

Eyesight Requirements and Regulations for Commercial Pilots To hold a first or second-class medal certificate, Federal Aviation Regulations require a pilot's vision to be 20/20 or better, with or without correction, in each eye. The standard for near visual acuity is typically 20/40.

MORE DETAILS

While a degree is not necessarily required, major airlines often prefer hiring pilots with a college degree. So having one might give you an edge over other candidates without a degree.

MORE DETAILS

Some students ask themselves, “Am I too old to become a pilot?” and wonder how long they will be able to pursue a career in the air. No one is too old to attend flight school, as long as they are physically capable of operating an aircraft.

MORE DETAILS

In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121. These airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65. However, these pilots may stay on with a Part 121 carrier in some other role, such as flight engineer.

MORE DETAILS

Your HS GPA generally come into question as far as the airlines are concerned but you do want to get that up in college. Airlines, particularly Majors may look at your GPA. Further pilot training isn't easy and relies heavily on hard work and self study. More times than not good grades come from hard work.

MORE DETAILS

Due to the risks to flight safety posed by ADHD, regulatory authorities worldwide consider ADHD a disqualifying condition for pilots. Unfortunately, pilots sometimes fail to disclose ADHD to their Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).

MORE DETAILS

The vast majority of commercial airliners require that their pilots secure full four-year degrees prior to training, and applicants with bachelor's degrees in aviation are generally viewed the most favorably.

MORE DETAILS

While the typical career progression is to first fly for a regional airline, then advance to a major airline, direct programs allow you to go straight to select major airlines at 1,500 hours.

MORE DETAILS

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median U.S. pilot salary at $211,790 in 2022. This means 50% of pilots earn more than this, and 50% earn less. However, there are pilots working for major airlines making more than $700,000 per year.

MORE DETAILS

Instead, commercial pilots are paid per flight hour. Meaning a pilot is only paid while their airplane is running. A pilot's salary is calculated by multiplying the number of flight hours by their hourly rate. For example, the year 1 pay rate for an Envoy first officer is $90 per hour.

MORE DETAILS

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for airline pilots is around $202,180. Medical doctors came in with a salary of $208,000, lawyers $127,990 and engineers with a median annual wage of $79,840.

MORE DETAILS