Pelican Flight Training is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 141, Part 61, and ACCSC accredited school in Pembroke Pines, Florida (Miami area), and we help pilots transfer in from other programs every year. You keep the flight hours already in your logbook, we evaluate the training you have completed, and our admissions team manages the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) transfer for F-1 and M-1 students from start to finish.
Most students who call us are not starting over. They are mid-program and want a school that keeps them flying. Here is what they tell us matters most:
If any of that sounds like the school you wish you had picked first, a transfer is straightforward.
You do not lose your flight hours when you transfer flight schools. Under 14 CFR 61.51, every pilot must document their own training and aeronautical experience, and that logbook stays with you. Logged time counts toward your certificate or rating regardless of which school you trained at.
Your instructor signs and endorses entries, but the record is yours. When you transfer to Pelican, bring your logbook and training records. We review your total time, the experience already logged, and the endorsements you hold so we can place you at the right point in our curriculum instead of repeating training you have already earned.
This is the single biggest worry transferring students raise, and the answer is reassuring: the hours follow the pilot, not the school.
There is a difference between the hours in your logbook, which always count, and formal curriculum credit at a Part 141 school, which is regulated. When you transfer into a Part 141 program, the FAA sets the limits.
Under 14 CFR 141.77, if your previous training was based on a Part 141 or Part 142 approved course and you complete a proficiency test and a knowledge test given by the receiving school, the credit "is limited to not more than 50 percent of the flight training requirements of the curriculum." The same 50 percent limit applies to aeronautical knowledge training.
| What you bring | How it is treated at Pelican | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Logged flight hours and aeronautical experience | Stay with you, count toward the certificate or rating | 14 CFR 61.51 |
| Curriculum credit (prior Part 141/142 course) | Up to 50%, after a proficiency test and knowledge test by Pelican | 14 CFR 141.77 |
| Training from a non Part 141/142 source | Evaluated individually by our certificate holder, then placed | 14 CFR 141.77 |
| Endorsements and certificates you already hold | Recognized as issued by the FAA | FAA |
In short: you do not start at zero, and a short evaluation tells us exactly where you continue.
Pilots train under one of two FAA frameworks. Part 141 is a structured, FAA-approved syllabus with defined stages. Part 61 is more flexible and built around your logbook and instructor sign-offs.
When you transfer into a Part 141 program like ours, curriculum credit follows the 50 percent rule above. When training continues under Part 61, there is no fixed credit cap: your path is set by what your logbook shows and a readiness check with your instructor. Either way, the goal is the same, which is to certify you safely and efficiently without redoing work you have already done.
If you also hold a license from another country, that is a separate process. See our foreign license conversion program for International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) conversions.
Most of this runs in parallel, so you spend less time grounded between schools.
If you are an international student, transferring schools also means transferring your SEVIS record. Pelican is SEVP-certified, so we can receive your record and issue your Form I-20. The process depends on your visa type, so know which one you hold. If you are unsure, read our guide on F-1 vs M-1 student visas.
For F-1 students, your current DSO sets a transfer release date in SEVIS. On that date, access to your record moves to Pelican, and our DSO creates your new Form I-20. To keep your status, you register for classes and contact our DSO within 15 days of the program start date on your new I-20 (Study in the States; ICE). You keep the same SEVIS identification number and can remain in the United States between programs.
Many flight and vocational students hold the M-1 visa, and the rules are stricter. As a general rule, an M-1 student may transfer only within the first 6 months of attendance, except for circumstances beyond the student's control, and the transfer requires filing Form I-539 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (USCIS Policy Manual). If you are on an M-1, contact us early so we can confirm your timeline before it closes.
No. When you transfer and keep the same SEVIS identification number, you do not pay the $350 I-901 SEVIS fee again. As ICE states, you do not have to pay the SEVIS fee when you transfer schools (ICE I-901 FAQ; Study in the States). Your existing payment carries over with your record.
If your program recently ended, you may still transfer. F-1 students can start a transfer during the 60-day grace period after completing studies, and the SEVIS record must be transferred before that window closes (ICE). Your new program generally must begin within 5 months. Reach out well before the 60 days end so there is time to process everything. For financing and visa planning, see our resources for U.S. and international students.
Having your paperwork ready keeps the transfer moving. Bring:
Upload these through our application page, which is the one place to submit your documents securely. If anything is missing, our admissions team will tell you what to request from your current school.
Cost is one of the most common reasons pilots transfer. Our Professional Pilot Program is priced at $68,310, which is $40,685+ less than ATP for comparable training. Because you arrive with hours already logged and curriculum credit applied where the rules allow, most transferring students pay only for the training they still need, not for a full program from zero.
We walk you through your remaining stages and what each costs before you commit, so there are no surprises. For a side-by-side look at how we compare on price and structure, read Pelican vs ATP.
You can transfer into any stage of training that fits your experience:
Private Pilot License (PPL), Instrument Rating (IR), Commercial Pilot License (CPL), Multi-Engine, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and the full Professional Pilot Program.
From Private through Commercial and instructor ratings, at one of only four FAA Part 141 helicopter-accredited schools in the US.
If you started in airplanes and want to add helicopters, or the reverse, a transfer is also the moment to adjust your track. Tell admissions your goal and we will map the shortest compliant path to it.
If you completed your Commercial Pilot License (CPL) and Instrument Rating at another school and want to build the 1,500 hours required for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate in the United States, the fastest path is becoming a flight instructor here. Pelican offers a Standardization Program designed specifically for pilots in this situation.
The program standardizes your existing CPL with Instrument Rating to U.S. FAA standards and then takes you through CFI, CFII, and CFI MEL so you can instruct legally in the United States from day one after certification.
| Standardization Program | Price |
|---|---|
| Total Price | $32,298 |
| Total Price with discount | $26,000 |
Included in the price: books and supplies, renters insurance for the first 12 months ($500), fuel charges, all applicable taxes, and the $515 admission fee.
This program is available under the F-1 visa with Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Once you complete your instructor ratings, you can instruct at Pelican legally, earn income, and build your flight hours in the United States: up to 6 months of CPT during the program and 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation.
The transfer takes one business day. Submit your documents, transfer your SEVIS record to Pelican, and start school the next day, with no gap in enrollment and no waiting period between schools.
The students who transfer to us usually fall into a few groups. Some trained at a school that lost aircraft availability and could not schedule lessons. Some watched their costs climb past what they budgeted. International students often arrive because their previous school could not support their visa status the way they needed. In nearly every case the fix is the same: review the logbook, confirm visa timing, run the evaluation, and get back in the air. Our team has handled these transitions for students from more than 30 countries, and we will tell you honestly whether transferring helps your timeline before you commit.
Reviewed by Pelican Flight Training admissions and chief instructor staff.
Yes. Pelican offers a Standardization Program specifically for pilots in this situation. We standardize your existing CPL-IR to FAA standards and then certify you as a CFI, CFII, and CFI MEL. Total price is $32,298, with a discounted price of $26,000. The program is available under the F-1 visa with CPT work authorization, so you can instruct at Pelican and build your 1,500 hours in the United States. The SEVIS transfer takes one business day, submit your documents and you can start the next day with no gap between schools.
Yes. Pelican accepts transferring students at any stage of training. We are an FAA Part 141, Part 61, and ACCSC accredited, SEVP-certified school in Pembroke Pines, Florida, so we can review your hours, apply credit where the rules allow, and support F-1 and M-1 visa transfers. Start at our admissions or apply-now page.
No. Under 14 CFR 61.51 your logbook and the aeronautical experience in it belong to you and count toward your certificate or rating no matter where you trained. Bring your logbook to Pelican and we place you in the curriculum based on the time you have already logged.
Under 14 CFR 141.77, training from a Part 141 or Part 142 approved course can be credited up to 50 percent of the curriculum, after you complete a proficiency test and a knowledge test given by Pelican. Training from other sources is evaluated individually before you are placed.
Your current Designated School Official sets a transfer release date in SEVIS. On that date your record moves to Pelican, and our DSO issues a new Form I-20. To keep status, you register and contact our DSO within 15 days of the start date on your new I-20. Your SEVIS ID stays the same.
No. When you transfer and keep the same SEVIS identification number, the $350 I-901 SEVIS fee does not have to be paid again. As ICE confirms, you do not pay the SEVIS fee when you transfer schools. Your existing payment carries over with your record.
Usually only within your first 6 months of attendance, except for circumstances beyond your control, and the transfer requires filing Form I-539 with USCIS. Because the M-1 window is short, contact our admissions team early so we can confirm your timeline before it closes.
Yes. For F-1 students who keep the same SEVIS record, you can remain in the United States between programs rather than leaving and returning. Your record moves on the transfer release date, and you continue your status by reporting to your new DSO on time.
Bring your pilot logbook with totals and endorsements, training transcripts or stage records, any FAA certificates and ratings, your current Form I-20 and visa documents if international, and a photo ID or passport. Upload them through our application page and we will tell you if anything is missing.
Timing depends on your current school setting the transfer release date and on your program start date. International students must report to the new DSO within 15 days of the start date on the new I-20, and a new program generally must begin within 5 months. Start early so processing has time.
Possibly. F-1 students can begin a transfer during the 60-day grace period after finishing studies, but the SEVIS record must transfer before that window closes. After the grace period the record is no longer active. Contact us well before day 60 so we can move your record in time.
It can. Part 141 credit follows the 50 percent rule and requires evaluation tests. Part 61 has no fixed credit cap and is driven by your logbook and an instructor readiness check. We will recommend the path that certifies you fastest based on your records and goals.
Contact admissions with your current school, total hours, and visa type, then upload your records through our application page. We review everything, run a short evaluation, coordinate your SEVIS transfer if needed, and place you in the right stage. Apply now or message us on WhatsApp to begin.
You do not have to stay at a school that is not working for you. Send us your hours and visa details, and we will give you a clear plan: where you start, what it costs, and how your SEVIS transfer will run.
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Welcome to Pelican Flight Training, Florida's premier flight school offering one of the best training programs for pilots from around the world. We offer a structured program that will take you all the way from private pilot rank to ATP and airline readiness.
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