EASA vs FAA: The Pilot Path Cheat Sheet

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The short version: choose the system that matches where you want to fly for a living. EASA licences are what European airlines hire on. FAA licences are what US airlines hire on. Converting later is possible, but it's never a simple licence swap.

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Key numbers side by side

	EASA (Europe)	FAA (US)
Minimum age for CPL	18	18
Minimum age for ATPL/ATP	21	23 (21 for restricted ATP)
Total time for CPL	200 h (integrated course: less)	250 h (Part 61) / 190 h (Part 141)
Hours before your first airline job	About 200–250 h with a "frozen" ATPL. Cadets get hired straight from school.	1,500 h for the ATP (1,000–1,250 h restricted ATP via approved programmes). Most build hours as paid flight instructors.
Airline theory	14 ATPL exams in one structured block (min. 650 h of study on a modular course)	Separate written tests per certificate/rating, plus an ATP knowledge test
Medical for the airline track	Class 1, get it before you pay for training	First-class (airline pilots), get it before you pay for training
Training styles	Integrated (full-time, about 18–24 months) or modular (step by step, flexible)	Part 141 (structured school) or Part 61 (flexible)
Airline age limit	65	65
Recognised by European airlines without conversion?	Yes	No

The licence ladder

EASA: PPL → (hour building) → ATPL theory (14 exams) → CPL + IR + multi-engine → MCC/JOC → airline selection → type rating → First Officer
FAA: PPL → Instrument Rating → Commercial → CFI (instructor) → build to 1,500 h → ATP → regional airline → major airline

Conversion traps (read this before you pick)

Hours count, licences don't swap. Your logbook hours usually transfer, but you'll redo local exams, checkrides and licence issue steps.
Theory passes rarely move across. EASA ATPL exams don't become FAA written tests, or the other way round.
Medical paperwork is separate. A valid medical in one system doesn't mean the other authority accepts it as-is.
Best case: most of your flying counts, but you still sit local exams. Worst case: it behaves like a partial restart.

Which one is for you?

Choose EASA if: you live in Europe, want to fly for a European airline, and want the fastest path from zero to the right seat.
Choose FAA if: you have the right to work in the US and you're fine with instructing to build hours. It's often cheaper per hour, with a longer road to the airline.
Still unsure? That's exactly what the Pilot Career Fit quiz is for: Take the quiz →

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Rules change. Always check with your national authority, EASA Part-FCL or FAA 14 CFR Part 61/67, before you commit money. This page is a guide, not legal or financial advice.

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Want the full path, step by step?

My course From Zero to the Flight Deck covers both systems in detail, including what switching would cost you. It's closed right now. Join the waitlist to get first access: Join the waitlist →

— Rasmus (@PilotRasmus)