--- title: "The Path to an EASA Flight Crew Licence · Avioverse" description: "How to get an EASA flight crew licence under Part-FCL: the application, student solo conditions, and the medical certificate." url: "https://avioverse.aero/guides/how-to-get-easa-flight-crew-licence" --- # The Path to an EASA Flight Crew Licence How to get an EASA flight crew licence under Part-FCL: the application, student solo conditions, and the medical certificate. [Dionysis Kefalas](https://avioverse.aero/articles/author/dennis-kefalas) 11 Jun 2026 Updated 21 Oct 2026 4 min read For Air Ops and training organisation staff Part 1 of 5 in EASA Flight Crew Licensing Show parts Hide parts 1. 1 The Path to an EASA Flight Crew Licence 2. 2 [EASA Pilot Licences: LAPL, PPL, CPL, MPL, ATPL](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-licences-explained) 3. 3 [EASA Pilot Exams: Theory and the Skill Test](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-theoretical-knowledge-skill-test) 4. 4 [Pilot Ratings: Class, Type and Instrument](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-class-type-instrument-ratings) 5. 5 [Pilot Revalidation, Recency, Language, Medical](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-licence-revalidation-recency-medical) Quotes checked on 24 Sep 2026 against EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011) — 25 Nov 2025 revision. On this page ## What a flight crew licence is A flight crew licence is the document that says the holder may operate an aircraft. In the EASA system the pilot licences in this series sit in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 — Part-FCL. The shared steps below are in Subpart A, whichever licence is the aim. The licences are the LAPL, the PPL, the CPL, the MPL and the ATPL. | Licence | Stands for | | -------- | ------------------------------- | | **LAPL** | Light Aircraft Pilot Licence | | **PPL** | Private Pilot Licence | | **CPL** | Commercial Pilot Licence | | **MPL** | Multi-Crew Pilot Licence | | **ATPL** | Airline Transport Pilot Licence | What each privilege sentence allows is quoted in [EASA Pilot Licences Explained: LAPL, PPL, CPL, MPL and ATPL](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-licences-explained). This page does not restate those privileges. FCL.010 defines a private pilot, including the exclusion for instruction or examination. [FCL.010 (full rule text)](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/aircrew/part-fcl/subpart-a/fcl-010) Definitions > "Private pilot" means a pilot who holds a licence which prohibits the piloting of aircraft in operations for which remuneration is given, with the exclusion of instruction or examination activities, as established in this Part. Quoted word for word from Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Easy Access Rules for Aircrew, 25 Nov 2025 revision. ## The application FCL.015 is the application for issue, revalidation or renewal, and what shall accompany it. [FCL.015 (full rule text)](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/aircrew/part-fcl/subpart-a/fcl-015) Application and issue, revalidation and renewal of licences, ratings and certificates > (a) An application for the issue, revalidation or renewal of pilot licences and associated ratings and certificates as well as any amendment thereto shall be submitted to the competent authority in a form and manner established by that authority. The application shall be accompanied by evidence that applicants comply with the requirements for the issue, revalidation or renewal of the licence or certificate as well as associated ratings or endorsements established in this Annex (Part-FCL) and in Annex IV (Part-MED). > > \[…] > > (c) A person shall not hold at any time more than one licence per category of aircraft issued in accordance with this Part. > > \[…] > > (f) For the issue of a licence, rating or certificate the applicant shall apply not later than 6 months after having succeeded at the skill test or assessment of competence. Quoted word for word from Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Easy Access Rules for Aircrew, 25 Nov 2025 revision. Point (f) is the step people miss: the application has a deadline after the skill test or assessment of competence. Read that sentence before booking the test. ## Before the first solo [FCL.020 (full rule text)](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/aircrew/part-fcl/subpart-a/fcl-020) Student pilot > (a) A student pilot shall not fly solo unless he or she meets the following conditions: > > (1) is authorised to do so and supervised by a flight instructor; > > (2) prior to receiving the authorisation specified in point (1), has acquired the competence to safely operate the relevant aircraft during the intended solo flight. > > (b) Before his or her first solo flight, a student pilot shall be at least 16 years of age. Quoted word for word from Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Easy Access Rules for Aircrew, 25 Nov 2025 revision. ## Theoretical knowledge and the skill test The pass mark, the time limits, the attempt limits and the skill-test order are quoted in [Theoretical Knowledge and the Skill Test: Passing the EASA Pilot Exams](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-theoretical-knowledge-skill-test). This page does not restate them. ## Medical certificate and language FCL.040 is the exercise rule. The application rule above already names Annex IV (Part-MED). [FCL.040 (full rule text)](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/aircrew/part-fcl/subpart-a/fcl-040) Exercise of the privileges of licences > The exercise of the privileges granted by a licence shall be dependent upon the validity of the ratings contained therein, if applicable, and of the medical certificate as appropriate to the privileges exercised. Quoted word for word from Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Easy Access Rules for Aircrew, 25 Nov 2025 revision. This page does not quote the Part-MED points that name the certificate or the period of validity, so it does not state a class or a number of months. The language-proficiency endorsement, the level and the re-evaluation interval are quoted in [Keeping Your Licence Valid: Revalidation, Recency, Language and Medical](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-licence-revalidation-recency-medical). This page does not restate them. ## Where the other guides go deeper [EASA Pilot Licences Explained: LAPL, PPL, CPL, MPL and ATPL](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-licences-explained) quotes the privilege sentences. [Theoretical Knowledge and the Skill Test: Passing the EASA Pilot Exams](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-theoretical-knowledge-skill-test) quotes the examinations and the skill test. [Ratings on Your Licence: Class, Type and Instrument Ratings](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-class-type-instrument-ratings) quotes class, type and instrument ratings. [Keeping Your Licence Valid: Revalidation, Recency, Language and Medical](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-licence-revalidation-recency-medical) quotes revalidation, recent experience, the language endorsement and the medical certificate. ## Where to read it yourself The EASA Easy Access Rules for Aircrew — Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 consolidated with the annexes, Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material — is a free download from the EASA website. The 2025-11-25 revision is the consolidation these quotes were checked against. Educational content, not regulatory compliance advice. Verify against the current regulation text before relying on it. ## In this series ## Frequently asked questions ### Where do I apply for an EASA pilot licence? Apply to the competent authority using the form and process that authority specifies. Under FCL.015(a), the application must include evidence that you meet the relevant Part-FCL and Part-MED requirements for the licence and its associated ratings or endorsements. ### How soon must I apply for a pilot licence after passing the skill test? You must apply for the issue of a licence, rating or certificate no later than six months after passing the skill test or assessment of competence. FCL.015(f) sets this application deadline. ### What must a student pilot do before flying solo? A student pilot must be at least 16 before the first solo flight and must have a flight instructor's authorisation and supervision. Under FCL.020, before receiving that authorisation the student must have acquired the competence to operate the relevant aircraft safely during the intended solo flight. ### Can I hold more than one EASA pilot licence for the same aircraft category? No. FCL.015(c) says a person may not hold more than one licence issued under Part-FCL for the same category of aircraft at any one time. ## Related - [EASA Pilot Licences Explained: LAPL, PPL, CPL, MPL and ATPL Guide · 5 min](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-licences-explained) - [Theoretical Knowledge and the Skill Test: Passing the EASA Pilot Exams Guide · 7 min](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-theoretical-knowledge-skill-test) - [Ratings on Your Licence: Class, Type and Instrument Ratings Guide · 5 min](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-class-type-instrument-ratings) - [Keeping Your Licence Valid: Revalidation, Recency, Language and Medical Guide · 9 min](https://avioverse.aero/guides/easa-pilot-licence-revalidation-recency-medical) Written by Dionysis Kefalas. Retired Hellenic Air Force Captain and founder of Avioverse. [About the author](https://avioverse.aero/articles/author/dennis-kefalas) [Or request early access →](https://avioverse.aero/register?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.avioverse.aero%2Fcertifications) Share [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Favioverse.aero%2Fguides%2Fhow-to-get-easa-flight-crew-licence)[X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Favioverse.aero%2Fguides%2Fhow-to-get-easa-flight-crew-licence\&text=The%20Path%20to%20an%20EASA%20Flight%20Crew%20Licence)