• Hold at least a current private pilot certificate
• Pass the required knowledge test
• Pass the required practical test

Aeronautical experience. A person who applies for an instrument rating must have logged the following:

1. At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes for an instrument -- airplane rating; and
2. A total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time on the areas of operation of this section, to include--
• At least 15 hours of instrument flight training from an authorized instructor in the aircraft category for which the instrument rating is sought;
• At least 3 hours of instrument training that is appropriate to the instrument rating sought from an authorized instructor in preparation for the practical test within the 60 days preceding the date of the test;
• For an instrument -- airplane rating, instrument training on cross-country flight procedures specific to airplanes that includes at least one cross-country flight in an airplane that is performed under IFR, and consists of--
1. A distance of at least 250 nautical miles along airways or ATC-directed routing;
2. An instrument approach at each airport; and
   
3. Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems;

FAR § 61.56 Flight Review.

1. Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (f) of this section, a flight review consists of a minimum of 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour of ground training. The review must include:
1. A review of the current general operating and flight rules of part 91 of this chapter; and
2. A review of those maneuvers and procedures that, at the discretion of the person giving the review, are necessary for the pilot to demonstrate the safe exercise of the privileges of the pilot certificate.
2. *Item (b) only applies to glider pilots.
3. Except as provided in paragraphs (d), (e), and (g) of this section, no person may act as pilot in command of an aircraft unless, since the beginning of the 24th calendar month before the month in which that pilot acts as pilot in command, that person has—
1. Accomplished a flight review given in an aircraft for which that pilot is rated by an authorized instructor and
2. A logbook endorsed from an authorized instructor who gave the review certifying that the person has satisfactorily completed the review.
4. A person who has, within the period specified in paragraph (c) of this section, passed a pilot proficiency check conducted by an examiner, an approved pilot check airman, or a U.S. Armed Force, for a pilot certificate, rating, or operating privilege need not accomplish the flight review required by this section.
5. A person who has, within the period specified in paragraph (c) of this section, satisfactorily accomplished one or more phases of an FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency award program need not accomplish the flight review required by this section.
6. The requirements of this section may be accomplished in combination with the requirements of §61.57 and other applicable recent experience requirements at the discretion of the authorized instructor conducting the flight review.

FAR § 61.123 Commercial Pilot Eligibility requirements: General.

To be eligible for a commercial pilot certificate, a person must:

1. Be at least 18 years of age;
2. Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.
3. Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who:
1. Conducted the required ground training or reviewed the person's home study on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in §61.125 of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought; and
2. Certified that the person is prepared for the required knowledge test that applies to the aircraft category and class rating sought.
4. Pass the required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in §61.125 of this part;
5. (e) Receive the required training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who:
1. Conducted the training on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought; and
2. Certified that the person is prepared for the required practical test.
6. Meet the aeronautical experience requirements of this subpart that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought before applying for the practical test;
7. Pass the required practical test on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought;
8. Hold at least a private pilot certificate issued under this part or meet the requirements of §61.73; and

§ 61.129 Aeronautical Experience- Commercial Pilot

1. For an airplane single-engine rating. Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, a person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 250 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:
1. 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.
2. 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least—
1. 50 hours in airplanes; and
2. 50 hours in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.
3. 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(1) of this part that includes at least—
1. 10 hours of instrument training of which at least 5 hours must be in a single-engine airplane;
2. 10 hours of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered, or for an applicant seeking a single-engine seaplane rating, 10 hours of training in a seaplane that has flaps and a controllable pitch propeller;
3. One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure;
4. One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
5. 3 hours in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test.
4. 10 hours of solo flight in a single-engine airplane on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(1) of this part, which includes at least—
1. One cross-country flight of not less than 300 nautical miles total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nautical miles from the original departure point. However, if this requirement is being met in Hawaii, the longest segment need only have a straight-line distance of at least 150 nautical miles; and
2. 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.