Flight school in Washington

25 pilot training programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

6 schools offer these pilot training programs, and Washington has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Commercial pilots fly and navigate airplanes, helicopters and other aircraft. They usually need flight training, at one of the hundreds of FAA-certified flight schools or as part of a two- or four-year aviation degree, and must meet FAA requirements; airline pilots usually also need a bachelor's degree and experience as a commercial or military pilot.¹ For the FAA commercial pilot certificate you must be at least 18, read, speak and understand English, hold a private pilot certificate, log the required flight time (generally at least 250 hours in an airplane or 150 in a helicopter) and pass a knowledge test and a practical test. Drone pilots who fly for work need the FAA's remote pilot certificate instead: at least 16 and a passed knowledge test.²

In Washington, 8 of the 25 programs take students without a high school diploma, 3 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 14 ask for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 25 programs here are instrument rating or add-on rating course (6 programs), flight instructor (CFI) course (6 programs), private pilot course (5 programs), commercial pilot or professional pilot program (4 programs), and 4 more of 3 other kinds.

See the 25 programs

How much does flight school cost in Washington?

$869 to $6,600 is what most pilot training programs in Washington cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 20 programs with a price. All of them: $119 to $86,820

In the typical program

Finished the program: 73%
Working 6 months later: 74%
Earned a year, estimated: about $24,500
Length: 12 to 37 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Washington may also offer flight school. How these figures are made

Is there free flight school in Washington?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. Most pilot training programs in Washington cost $869 to $6,600. Prices on this page run from $119 to $86,820.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

How to pay for flight school in Washington

WIOA funding can pay for flight school in Washington

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for flight school

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁷⁸

GI Bill for flight school

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁹

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Flight school in Washington

programs with a price cost under $1,000: 7 of 20
most pilot training programs of any state, after Alaska: 2nd

State comparisons use the same figures as the flight school by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Flight school in Moses Lake, Seattle, Longview and other Washington cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Washington

How flight school compares with the rest of transportation and logistics: Transportation and logistics training in Washington

Where the Washington pilot training program numbers come from

Which Washington pilot training programs are on this list?

These are the pilot training programs Washington approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).¹⁰ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Washington offers.

How the prices and results of Washington pilot training programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about flight school in Washington

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Flight school in Washington

How much does flight school cost in Washington?

Is there free flight school in Washington?

All 25 pilot training programs in Washington approved for WIOA funding

Simulator Training

Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI)

Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII)

Sea Plane

Aircraft Solo

Flight Instructor (CFI)

Instrument Pilot

Private Pilot

Commercial Pilot

Helicopter Commercial Pilot

Professional Pilot: Flight Instructor

Professional Pilot: Instrument Pilot

Professional Pilot: Private Pilot

Professional Pilot - Commercial Pilot

Professional Pilot

Helicopter Flight Instructor

Basic Aviation Knowledge

Aviation Technology - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Digital Photography Certificate

Flight Training

Aviation Technology - Unmanned Aerial Systems

Aircraft Rating - Multi Engine

Certified Flight Instructor - Airplane SEL

Commercial Pilot - Airplane SEL

Instrument Rating - Airplane

Private Pilot License