A Commercial Pilot License is one that allows a pilot to fly aircraft and be recruited by a company for the same. As with driving, the license covers all types of aircraft for which the holder is qualified e.g. multi-engine, single-engine, sea-planes, etc.

The license is issued by the governing aviation authorities once the pilot has completed his training with a qualified instructor and has the necessary experience and knowledge. Most pilots get their basic training from private flying institutes; those who have started out with the armed forces get all the training and experience from there.

Certification comes in five categories. Pilot certificates include a student certificate that is issued by the aviation medical examiner. It is not mandatory to have any knowledge or experience; you must only meet the medical requirements. Then there is a sport certificate, where the applicant must have a minimum of five hours of solo flying. This is followed by a private pilot certificate, where the pilot must have thirty-five hours of flying, which includes twenty hours with an instructor and five of solo flying, some night flying, and cross-country flying; it also requires the pilot to clear an oral exam.

Commercial pilots must hold a valid private pilot license. A minimum of 120 hours of training time is essential, and this must include fifty-five hours with an instructor, ten hours of solo flight, and adequate night and cross-country flying. If flying for compensation, a medical certificate is required and needs to be updated every year. An instrument rating is an added qualification that most pilots must have. This is essential for flying in bad weather conditions. At the end of the training, the pilot has to undergo an oral, written, and practical exam, which then clears him for the license.

Among commercial pilots, being an airline transport pilot is one of the best options available. Some of the requirements include 1,500 hours of flying, an minimum age of twenty-three, and a more-than-average proficiency of the English language. All licensed pilots have to undergo medical tests under an Aviation Medical Examiner and must maintain their health records.