I remember as a student pilot I've always wondered about those License Cards.

To me it always seemed like in the end with all my licenses done, I'd have to carry around a dozen cards whenever I go flying.

Well, if you were wondering about this also, then I've got good news! Whatever you do, the maximum of cards you will have at a moment for your flight licenses is going to be two.

So you start off with your paper Mediacl/Student License. No Card so far.

Then as soon as you pass your Private Pilot's Checkride you're going to get your first Plastic Card License.

This one you keep until you get your Commercial one. And guess what, you have to make your private license card invalid (e.g. punch a hole in it), so you still only have one current Card.

(Actually that was not the case for me, since my US PPL was based on my german PPL and since my german PPL was still valid I could still keep my valid US PPL, while having my US CPL. That's the only situation, that I know about, where this applies though.)

Then let's say you're into it and get your Instrument Rating done. Now instead of getting an Instrument Rating Card you get a brand-new Commercial Card, with a note on the back saying "Intrument" under the Ratings section.

And again you have to render your old Commercial Card invalid. (You're actually getting a bunch of invalid cards after a while).

Ok, so you continue on your path and get done with the Instructor rating (CFI). Now that's where that second Card enters the stage.

For CFI you actually get a separate card, which has the limitation, that it has to be accompanied by your Commercial Card to be valid.

(If you ever wondered what your CFI License number is going to be by the way, it's easy. Say your License Number is 1234567 - then your CFI License number is going to be 1234567CFI)

Then when you get your Instrument Instructor rating (CFII) it's the same game as with the instrument rating, only that this time the word "Instrument" is going to be written on your brand-new CFI Card.

And that's what the License looks like (All are the same card design actually you can't tell the difference without reading what it says on the card):