How long are pilot certificates valid for?

Pilot certificates remain valid indefinitely as long as the holder maintains a current medical certification. This means that as long as the pilot meets the medical standards required for the specific class of their medical certificate, they can continue to exercise the privileges of their pilot certificate.

It's important to note that although the pilot certificate itself does not expire, the medical certificate does have its own validity period depending on the class of medical certification. For example, first-class medical certificates are typically valid for 12 months for pilots under 40 and 6 months for those over 40. However, this medical currency requirement does not affect the ongoing validity of the pilot certificate itself.

Other options might suggest validity timelines that are tied to specific intervals or ages, which do not accurately reflect how pilot certificates function in relation to medical certification.