Definition
The specific eligibility, knowledge, experience, and proficiency standards a pilot or other airman must meet to be issued a particular certificate or rating, as set out in 14 CFR Part 61 and related FAA regulations.
Plain English
The official list of things you must do, know, and demonstrate before the FAA will give you a particular pilot certificate or add-on rating.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA handbooks, regulations, training plans, and instructor references when identifying what a student must complete for a certificate or added rating.
Derivation
‘Rating’ comes from the older sense of ‘rate’ meaning to assign a class or grade. A rating on a pilot certificate identifies the class of aircraft or type of operation the holder is qualified for. ‘Requirements’ are simply the conditions that must be met to earn that grade.
Why Pilots Care
Determines what training, tests, and experience are needed before a pilot can legally exercise additional privileges.
Intuition Check
Do not read rating as a score or review here. In FAA use, a rating is an official permission or qualification attached to an aviation certificate.
Example Sentence 1
Before scheduling the checkride, the instructor reviewed the rating requirements in Part 61 to confirm the student had logged every item.
Example Sentence 2
She checked the current rating requirements in Part 61 to confirm the cross-country flight time needed for the commercial certificate.