Definition
A limitation placed on a third-class medical certificate when the FAA medical examiner cannot issue an unrestricted certificate at the time of the exam, but the applicant qualifies to fly under student pilot rules. The certificate is valid only for operations permitted to a student pilot, meaning solo flight under an authorized instructor's endorsements, and does not allow the holder to act as pilot in command while carrying passengers or to exercise private pilot privileges.
Plain English
A note on your medical certificate that says you can only fly as a student pilot — solo, under your instructor's supervision — and not yet as a fully certificated private pilot carrying passengers.
Context Anchor
Seen in medical certificate and pilot certification discussions, especially when a certificate has a limitation printed on it.
Why Pilots Care
The limitation blocks solo or passenger flights until resolved, directly affecting training progress and the ability to complete a private pilot certificate.
Intuition Check
Do not read “privileges” as a general benefit or permission to do anything a student wants. In FAA use, privileges are the specific flying actions a certificate level legally allows.
Example Sentence 1
Her medical certificate was issued with student pilot privileges only, so she could continue solo training but had to apply for an unrestricted medical before her private pilot checkride.
Example Sentence 2
With the student pilot privileges only limitation on her medical, she could only fly with an instructor until she obtained a new certificate.