To become a professional pilot requires obtaining several licenses and ratings, including a multi-engine commercial license, instrument rating, and airline transport pilot certificate, which typically requires a bachelor's degree and 1,000-1,500 hours of total flight time depending on your education path. Professional pilot roles include commercial, cargo, private, and medical pilots. Military pilots need 750 hours of experience while civilian pilots typically need 1,000-1,500 hours to be hired by an airline.