When must a student pilot certificate be obtained?

A student pilot certificate must be obtained before a student can solo. This certificate is essential for legal reasons, as it grants the student the privileges to pilot an aircraft alone under the supervision of a certified flight instructor. Without it, a student is not permitted to practice solo flying, even after demonstrating the necessary skills and knowledge.

While some may think that the certificate needs to be acquired before beginning flight training or taking the written exam, those activities can be conducted without it. The written exam assesses knowledge of aviation, but is not a requirement for obtaining the student pilot certificate, which is primarily focused on actual flight experience and solo privileges.

A medical certificate is also important, but it is not a prerequisite for obtaining the student pilot certificate itself; students can begin training without it, provided they are not flying solo. However, for solo flight and eventually obtaining a private pilot certificate, a medical certificate will be required. Thus, acquiring the student pilot certificate before solo flight is the critical milestone in a student pilot's journey.