In order to be eligible to obtain glider certification from the FAA a pilot must meet the basic requirements for that certification. According to the FAA glider pilots handbook, there is a minimum age of 14 for pilots with a student certificate that wish to fly solo. The FAA also requires that they complete and log flight training for maneuvers appropriate to the aircraft being flown and demonstrate proficiency and safety. The manner of testing these requirements is left up to individual flight instructors.
Private pilots that wish to obtain a glider certification for their pilots license are required to complete a glider training program and log a minimum number of flight hours. The FAA also requires pilots to pass both knowledge and practical exams to acquire a glider certification. There is a minimum age requirement of 16 to obtain a glider certification for a private pilot license. In order to fulfill the requirements for the practical test for the private glider pilot certification the pilot must first complete the requirements for the student level license.
The commercial and instructors level glider certifications have a minimum age requirement of 18. Pilots must complete the knowledge and practical tests required for the private pilot glider certification in addition to a second practical test. In the event that a pilot already holds a license for power aircraft the knowledge test is not required to obtain a commercial or instructors glider certification.
