From high school to commercial flying

If you're 14–18, what matters now?

Next action: Write down your current stage and one unanswered decision. Use Build my path if you need a starting checklist.

The common aeroplane route

1. Check eligibility and medical. A commercial pilot licence (CPL-A) requires a Category 1 medical. A private pilot licence (PPL-A) may use Category 1 or 3. Understand the medical decision.
2. Train toward a PPL. Standard 421.26 sets 17 as the minimum age to hold a PPL-A and 45 hours as the minimum flight experience. Students may need more than the regulatory minimum; ask for a realistic written estimate.
3. Complete CPL requirements. For the non-integrated CPL-A route, Standard 421.30 sets minimum age 18, a Category 1 medical, 200 hours of aeroplane flight time, and specified training after the PPL. Approved integrated programs follow their own standard.
4. Add ratings where a role requires them. A multi-engine rating and instrument rating are separate qualifications. A flight instructor rating is another possible path. Their order depends on your training plan and intended work.
5. Build experience and apply for first work. A CPL does not guarantee a flying job. Ask operators about actual hiring standards, location, additional qualifications, and the work used to build experience.
6. Consider the ATPL later. Standard 421.34 sets a minimum age of 21 and a 1,500-hour total flight-time requirement among other requirements for the aeroplane ATPL. It is a later licensing milestone, not a direct high-school entry program.

Official requirements: Transport Canada, CAR Standard 421 §§421.26, 421.30, 421.34, 421.46.

Choose the next question, not the whole career at once