10 FAQs About the R-ATP

What are the ATP and R-ATP?

The Airline Transport Pilot certificate (ATP) is the FAA’s highest pilot certificate, and is required to fly as an airline pilot in the United States. There is only one Airline Transport Pilot certificate — there are multiple ways to qualify for it, however. 

A pilot qualifies for the ATP certificate by holding the Commercial Pilot certificate with Airplane Multi-Engine Land and Instrument Airplane ratings, accruing 1500 total flight hours to include various types of flight time, completing an ATP-CPT course, passing the ATP Knowledge and Practical tests, and being at least 23 years old. FAR §61.159

A pilot can also qualify for the Airline Transport Pilot certificate with fewer flight hours than 1500 when certain educational and training requirements have been met, and/or when younger than age 23 (minimum age is 21). In this case, the pilot can attain the Airline Transport Pilot certificate with restricted privileges, commonly called the “R-ATP”. Note that the R-ATP is not a lesser or separate pilot certificate than the ATP. FAR §61.160 

What is the “restriction on privileges” for the R-ATP? What does the R-ATP allow a pilot to do?

It is not unusual for pilots to have restrictions on their pilot privileges, which are printed on the back of their certificate under Limitations. Common restrictions / limitations include "Circling approaches in VMC only" and "Second-in-command required". IN this case, the pilot’s Airline Transport Pilot certificate will show “Restricted in accordance with 14 CFR 61.167”.

In plain language, this restriction is that the ATP pilot cannot fly as pilot-in-command or captain in airline operations, and cannot act as second-in-command in airline operations that require three or more pilots (longhaul operations that require augmented flight crew to allow for inflight rest).  FAR §61.167(b) and §61.160(g)

An ATP pilot with restricted privileges can be hired by an airline to fly as second-in-command or first officer. When the pilot meets the higher flight time (1500 hours) and age (23) requirements, the restriction is removed from their ATP certificate. Then with 1000 flight hours in airline operations, the pilot can advance to an airline pilot-in-command or captain position. FAR §121.436

How does a pilot qualify for the R-ATP?

A pilot qualifies for the ATP with restricted privileges through one of three different paths. 

Military path: Complete training as a military pilot and build 750 total flight hours. FAR §61.160(a)

College aviation degree path: Complete a four-year Bachelor degree or two-year Associate degree and complete pilot training to attain the Commercial Pilot and Instrument ratings through an FAA-approved R-ATP college degree program, and build 1000 total flight hours (with Bachelor degree) or 1250 total flight hours (with Associate degree or Bachelor degree and 30 credit hours). More information about these programs, below. Ref. FAR §61.160(b), (c), and (d)

Alternative path: Meet all requirements for the ATP, including 1500 hours flight time, before reaching age 23. The pilot can accomplish this with any type of flight training, “zero” college, “zero” military experience. The minimum age is 21. FAR §61.153(a)(2)

How can someone confirm that a college has an R-ATP program? What if the college says they have a Part 141 program or have applied for approval?

Caveat emptor. All FAA-approved R-ATP flight training programs are Part 141, however the reverse is not true. 

The ATP with restricted privileges was introduced in 2014, and was not widely known until the post-Covid pilot shortage caused a rapid increase in demand for pilot training. Many colleges that were already offering structured flight training under FAR Part 141 and have been working to get FAA authorization for their newly created R-ATP degree programs. Nearly 200 colleges have R-ATP degree programs in 2025. FAR §61.169

The only way to absolutely verify that a college holds an FAA Letter of Authorization for their R-ATP program is to check the FAA’s most current published list of Institutions Authorized to Certify its Graduates for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate with Reduced Aeronautical Experience. 

What’s required to enroll in a college R-ATP program?

The student has to apply and be accepted to the college AND accepted into the college’s aviation degree flight training program. The student can have “zero” flight hours or some flight hours or the Private Pilot certificate. The student must complete the Instrument rating and Commercial Pilot certificate in the college R-ATP flight training program in order to qualify for the R-ATP. FAR §61.160(b)(3) and (c)(3)

Pro Tip: Get the FAA First Class medical certificate the first time, to be sure the aspiring airline pilot will qualify. The FAA does not require any medical certificate to begin flight training, requires the Third Class medical certificate to fly solo, the Second Class to fly as Commercial Pilot, and the First Class to fly as Airline Transport Pilot. However most colleges require the First Class medical certificate to apply to their flight training degree programs. FAR §61.23

Can students transfer between colleges?

Transferring from one FAA-approved R-ATP college aviation degree program to another is technically allowed by the FAA, but colleges might not accept transfer students for this program, or might not make the process easy. AC 61-139 paragraph 12

Why not? 1) High demand in terms of new incoming students, and 2) Burden on the college to verify that the previous college’s coursework and curriculum match coursework and curriculum of their own, to meet FAA requirements. Anecdotally, we know of very few successful transfer students.

What if the student changes majors or drops out of college? Can they still get the R-ATP?

A student who finishes a Bachelor degree and completes at least 30 credit hours (as opposed to 60) and all the flight training at the college can still qualify for the R-ATP at 1250 flight total hours. FAR §61.160(d)

Or the student can finish flight training elsewhere, in which case they will need to meet the 1500 total flight hour requirement to attain the ATP (minimum age 23) or R-ATP (minimum age 21). FAR §61.153(a)(2)

What’s the advantage of going to college for the R-ATP? 

Most U.S. major airlines no longer require college degrees to be considered for hiring, but pilots with a college degree (in any major) are still viewed more favorably. The quicker a pilot is qualified and hired at an airline, the more quickly they can begin accruing seniority, skill, experience — and money. 

An R-ATP pilot as young as 21 can be hired by an airline. The mandatory retirement age for airline pilots is 65. Do the math – seniority and longevity at a legacy airline make a BIG difference in career earnings, as in millions of dollars.

Can someone get pilot training elsewhere more cheaply, and skip college?

Yes! See 5 Paths to an Airline Pilot Career.

If the pilot completes training to attain the Commercial Pilot certificate with roughly 250 total flight hours, how do they get to 1000, 1250, or 1500 hours to attain the ATP (R-ATP)?

Many new commercial pilots undertake additional training to become a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI), and start building hours and earning money as an instructor for their flight school or college. Flight instructing is not for everyone, however. Please don't do it unless you plan to be a diligent and conscientious instructor who cares about what you teach and cares about the people you are teaching. Haphazard and hazardous attitudes can result in death.

Other time-building flying jobs include: Scenic tours, banner towing, skydiving, aerial photography, aerial mapping or survey, pipeline or powerline patrol, glider towing, passenger charter, corporate shuttle between cities, subcontractor cargo companies, ferry pilot, airplane demonstrator (sales), traffic watch reporting, forestry pilot, seasonal fire patrol.

May your dreams take flight!

© 2023 Jenny Beatty. All Rights Reserved.

Updated March 2025

Photo credit: Hispanolistic