Your First Flight Course
Obtaining your FAA Private Pilot Certificate is the first step to your professional aviation career.
Upon admission to UND's aviation programs, students will embark on a comprehensive path towards becoming a professional pilot. The first flight course most students will take is AVIT 102: Introduction to Aviation, our private pilot course. However, students who have obtained their private pilot certificate outside of UND will start their flight training in AVIT 220: Enhanced Basic Attitude Instrument Flying, and AVIT 102 will be waived. No matter your starting point, our program is prepared to further your success.
NOTE: this page contains information for students who are pursuing a degree that requires flight training in an airplane. For questions regarding the helicopter program offered at UND, please contact the Chief Flight Instructor - Helicopter.
Flight Course Progression
* Required flight courses are completed in sequential order and will vary based on selected major. Check degree requirements for the most up-to-date information.
Most students obtain their private pilot certificate through UND by completing AVIT 102: Introduction to Aviation. AVIT 102 is designed as a five-credit course that takes any student, from little or no experience, to a certificated FAA Private Pilot. Our Part 141 private pilot curriculum consists of both a ground school portion and a flight training lab component.
The ground school portion is designed as a full semester, in-person class. You will learn the necessary knowledge needed to make appropriate and safe decisions as a private pilot to earn your certificate. The flight training lab is a 30-lesson curriculum conducted in the Piper Archer and is designed to develop the skills necessary to safely operate an aircraft at the private pilot level to obtain your certificate.
Seats in AVIT 102 are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis as determined by the submission date of the UND confirmation deposit for applicable majors. Not all programs require flight training; see program information for details.
IMPORTANT: In accordance with department policy, once you have enrolled as a student at UND, all required flight training must be completed in residence at UND in Grand Forks to earn credit for each applicable course.
Students who have already obtained their private pilot certificate prior to attending UND will take AVIT 220 as their first flight course. AVIT 102 is waived upon document verification by the Department of Aviation.
There is a strict deadline for incoming students to submit their FAA Private Pilot Certificate and their valid, unexpired medical certificate. Students must submit the required documents by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on August 1st preceding the fall semester they start at UND. See the Frequently Asked Questions section below for more information on deadlines.
AVIT 220 is designed as a four-credit course that combines aspects of both instrument rating and commercial certification training, and adds an additional layer of foundational knowledge by taking weak areas from private pilot training and bolstering student confidence in those subject areas. This ensures everyone who graduates with a degree from UND meets the highest standards of quality in all of the knowledge areas regardless of where a student completed their private pilot training.
Those students that come to UND with their private pilot certificate in-hand may see reduced degree-completion timelines. However, this will vary based on available seats in AVIT 220, the student's individual progression through the remaining required flight training, and their selected degree and its requirements.
Seats in AVIT 220 for new students are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis as determined by the submission date of their FAA Private Pilot Certificate and valid medical certificate via the document submission portal. UND confirmation deposit must also have been submitted. Not all programs require flight training; see program information for details.
Things to Consider
The Department of Aviation has a strict deadline for admitted students to submit their FAA Private Pilot Certificate and their valid, unexpired medical certificate. Students must submit the required documents by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on August 1st preceding the fall semester they start at UND.
For the majority of students, AVIT 102 is the preferred path to obtaining their private pilot certificate. Our program follows a structured curriculum, approved by the FAA, and we are able to provide a large support network to our students. In the event you are interested in starting your private pilot training prior to attending UND, here are a few things to consider carefully before choosing to do so.
The Department of Aviation has a strict deadline for you to submit your FAA Private Pilot Certificate and your valid, unexpired medical certificate via our online submission portal. You must submit the required documents by 11:59 pm Central Time on August 1st preceding the fall semester you start at UND.
If you do not meet this deadline and decide to take AVIT 102, you must complete all 30 flight lessons as outlined in the private pilot course curriculum. Your Part 61 experience will not waive the required flight lessons due to Part 141 requirements.
If you have not begun your private pilot training at least one year prior to starting at UND, you may be unsuccessful in meeting this deadline. Additionally, if you do not have your private pilot check-ride scheduled by May preceding the fall semester you start at UND, it may be too late to complete your training by the deadline.
It is recommended that you contact your local flight training school and inquire about their availability to accept new students, along with seeking information on fleet size, CFIs on staff and their availability, how maintenance-related concerns are addressed, and what other resources are available to you.
UND has a fleet of over 100 aircraft with a CFI group of over 200 supporting our mission. In addition to our fleet and CFI size, we also offer tutoring services (included in your tuition), VR laboratories, state-of-the-art simulators, and in-house aircraft maintenance to ensure a standard of safety while turning around aircraft in an efficient manner to minimize aircraft downtime.
One of the benefits of attending a collegiate flight program is the ability to utilize financial aid to support your flight training cost. If your personal finances and circumstances allow you to support your training outside of the collegiate environment, then starting your flight training before college may be appropriate.
Consistency is a key factor to progressing efficiently through flight training. If your funding is not adequate to cover the entire cost of training, whether at UND or elsewhere, delaying the start of your flight training may be the better option. Frequent or excess delays during flight training, for whatever reason, is detrimental to skill-building and ultimately will increase your total cost to obtain your certificate.
Another consideration is the check-ride cost. Generally, the cost for a private pilot check-ride with a Designated Pilot Examiner ranges from $600 to over $1200 depending on where you are training. At UND, we have Part 141 examining authority, which means we conduct end-of-course tests and not check-rides. As a result, you pay the same hourly instructor and aircraft rates for your certificate granting test as you would any other lesson in the curriculum.
UND's Program and Flight Course Costs is available online.
The availability of the Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) at your flight school should align with your availability to minimize training delays. Consistent training is imperative to building muscle memory and maintaining proficiency.
Another factor to consider is the availability of Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) in your area. It is important to minimize the time between when you are ready for your check-ride and when you complete it to reduce the loss of proficiency.
Based on information provided by our students that have obtained their private pilot certificate outside of UND, the time it took from when they were ready for the check-ride until it was completed ranged from two weeks to five months, depending on the region and the demand for DPEs in their area.
At UND, we have Part 141 examining authority, which means out students do not complete a private pilot check-ride. Instead, they complete an End of Course Test. The End of Course Test is administered by UND personnel, which minimizes wait times and reduces your cost.
Both Part 141 and Part 61 pilot schools are designed to train, educate, and develop safe pilots that can operate in the National Airspace System, but there are a few fundamental differences.
Here at UND, the majority of our airplane flight courses are offered as Part 141 curricula as approved by the FAA under the authority of 14 CFR Part 141, including our private pilot course. The approval process requires numerous steps, including vetting course content and routine inspection by the FAA to ensure the highest quality flight education is provided to our students.
Some of the benefits of a Part 141 school with examining authority, such as UND, include:
- Fewer flight hours required to obtain pilot certificates
- Highly-structured training environment that prepares students for the professional aviation industry
- In-house examiners complete the End-of-Course Tests for the issuance of pilot certificates (not all Part 141 pilot schools have this privilege; UND is approved in accordance with 14 CFR Part 141)
At UND, your flight courses are a part of your class schedule. As such, your training activities are built into your weekly schedule, allowing for better time management to balance coursework, social life, work, and flight training. If you are attempting to complete your private pilot training while attending high school, this may not be the case. It will be your responsibility to fit flight training in on a routine basis around your high school classes, extracurricular activities, and other commitments.
When looking at your ability to add rigorous flight training into your high school schedule, consider the following:
- School and personal commitments
- Commuting to, and from, local flight school/airport
- Preparation for flight and ground lessons
- Time for pre- and de-briefs
- Fatigue from task saturation
Not all flight and ground training are built equally - whether it's Part 141 or Part 61. Our flight training program offers industry-leading education, designed to develop highly skilled professional pilots. Though demanding, the knowledge and skills gained are immensely rewarding.
For example, our operation is based in KGFK, a busy, towered airport routinely ranked in the top 20 busiest airports in the US. In our immediate proximity, we also have a military Class Delta airspace, a TFR, and, in addition to the KGFK Air Traffic Control Tower, radar services are provided by RAPCON. The piloting skills that students learn, and the ability to master communicating with various ATC facilities in an organized but busy airspace, are essential skills that our students will utilize on a day-to-day basis once at their Part 135 or 121 environment as they navigate the complex National Airspace System.
Students that have obtained their certificate at an uncontrolled airport generally tend to struggle as they integrate into our airspace due to the high volume of ATC communication, busyness of our training environment, and UND-specific procedures.
Finally, capacity in AVIT 220 for students that come to UND with their private pilot certificate is limited. Depending on when you complete your training and obtain your certificate, all seats may be filled in your preferred semester, which may result in delays in your program progression.
Students Admitted for 2026-2027
- Follow the admitted student checklist
- Review flight training information for new students
- Pay UND confirmation deposit
- Students who will get their private pilot certificate through UND should watch for emails regarding AVIT 102 flight spots and surveys.
- Incoming students that have their private pilot certificate must submit their FAA Private Pilot Certificate (permanent or temporary) and valid, unexpired medical certificate by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on August 1st preceding the fall semester they start at UND. The Department will begin accepting your documents through the 2026-2027 online submission portal on February 1, 2026.
Students Admitted Prior to Fall 2026
As soon as you obtain your private pilot certificate, submit your pilot and medical certificates through the current online submission portal.
Seats in AVIT 220 for the 2025-2026 academic year are very limited. If you do not have your private pilot check-ride scheduled, it may be best to discuss your flight training progress and outlook with our Chief Ground and Chief Flight Instructors to decide the best course of action on how to complete your private pilot flight training.
Questions? Contact us.
| Question(s) | Contact |
|---|---|
| Questions about ground school | Chief Ground Instructor |
| Questions about flight training | Chief Flight Instructor - Airplane |
| General inquiries | Aerospace Dean's Office |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UND prefer, or recommend, I get my private pilot certificate before attending UND?
Most students that attend UND obtain their private pilot certificate through UND. UND's flight programs are designed to include all airplane flight training, from private pilot through CFI-I. For more insight on determining whether to start your private pilot training at UND or prior to attending UND, consider the Things to Consider section above.
NOTE: Required flight courses will vary based on selected major. Check degree requirements for the most up-to-date information.
If I have a non-US private pilot certificate (or equivalent), can I have AVIT 102 waived and start in AVIT 220?
No, AVIT 102 will not be waived. To be considered for AVIT 102 to be waived, you must have a private pilot certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a U.S. government agency. UND does not assist with license or certificate conversions.
I started my private pilot training in my senior year of high school, but I'm not progressing as quickly as I thought. What should I do?
Everyone progresses through flight training at their own pace. Consult with your CFI on your training timeline. You always have the option to stop your flight training and take AVIT 102 at UND where we have a large support system in place.
Based on what we have seen in the past, admitted students who do not have their private pilot check-ride scheduled by May preceding the fall semester they start at UND have a difficult time obtaining their certificate by August.
My private pilot check-ride was delayed to mid-August. Can I still complete my check-ride and take AVIT 220 instead of AVIT 102 at UND?
The Department of Aviation requires admitted students to submit both their FAA Private Pilot Certificate and valid, unexpired medical certificate via the online submission portal no later than 11:59 p.m. Central Time on August 1st preceding the fall semester they start at UND to begin their flight training in AVIT 220.
Admitted students who are unable to submit their certificates to the Department of Aviation by the deadline have two options:
- Discontinue your private pilot training outside of UND and take AVIT 102 instead. If this option is selected, you may enroll at UND for the fall semester and start taking classes. Depending on seat availability, you may be added to the fall, spring, or summer AVIT 102 roster.
- Defer your UND enrollment to the spring semester and finish your private pilot training. If this option is selected, you must submit your certificates via the online submission portal by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on December 1st preceding the spring semester you start at UND. Seats may be limited or not available, as most seats for AVIT 220 are assigned before the fall semester begins.
Should you decide to complete your private pilot check-ride after the August deadline and enroll into fall semester classes at UND, the option of starting in AVIT 220 will no longer be available. You will be required to take AVIT 102 and all 30 flight lessons associated with the course.
If I don't complete my private pilot training outside of UND and take AVIT 102 instead, will I have to restart my flight training?
Due to regulatory requirements, if you elect to take AVIT 102 you are required to complete all 30 flight lessons as per the FAA-approved training curriculum. Based on your prior experience, the time it takes to complete all required flight training may be less than a student who has no flight experience. Although your hours accrued prior to UND will not count towards your AVIT 102 flight training, it will count towards your total time which you need to continue building even after completing your degree at UND, so none of your hours are wasted.
If I choose to defer my enrollment to the spring semester to finish my training in time for the December 1st deadline, will there be seats available in AVIT 220 during my first year at UND?
It depends. If seats are still open, then you will be offered a spot for the first available semester for AVIT 220. If all seats for AVIT 220 are assigned, you will be added to the waitlist. Should seats become available, those seats will be offered to students on the waitlist in the order the documents were submitted through the online submission portal.
If seats do not become available, you may be rolled into the fall semester roster for AVIT 220 for the subsequent academic year. This will result in delays in your program progression. The Department of Aviation strongly encourages students who are not able to submit their certificates to us by the August 1st deadline to consider taking AVIT 102 instead of continuing to pursue their private pilot certificate elsewhere.
I attended UND Phoenix and completed my end of course test for my private pilot certificate. I am told it may take a while before I get my temporary certificate. What should I do?
Students who have completed all of the private pilot training, including the end of course test through the UND Aerospace Phoenix program should contact the Chief Ground Instructor in Grand Forks to be added to the AVIT 220 roster if seats are available, or the waitlist if all seats are taken. You do not need to wait for your temporary certificate to contact the Chief Ground Instructor.
Unlike FAA check-rides where the temporary certificate is issued immediately upon successful completion of the check-ride, issuance of the temporary certificate may take a few weeks at a Part 141 program with examining authority.