The occupation “Commercial Pilots” is in O*NET Job Zone 3 (Specific Vocational Preparation 6.0 to under 7.0), below the Job Zone 4 / SVP 7.0 level the work route requires. Experience in it does not qualify you; you can still enter with a high school education: a completed twelve-year course of formal elementary and secondary study.
The facts for this occupation
| O*NET-SOC code | 53-2012.00 |
|---|---|
| Job Zone | 3 |
| Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) | 6.0 to under 7.0 |
| Occupation group | Transportation and Material Moving |
| DV work-experience route | Does not qualify |
What the DV rule requires
To qualify through work, the Department of State requires “two years of experience in the last five years, in an occupation which, by U.S. Department of Labor definitions, requires at least two years of training or experience that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating of 7.0 or higher.” Otherwise you need a high school education: a twelve-year course of formal elementary and secondary study comparable to a U.S. high school; equivalency certificates such as the GED are not accepted.
Department of State: confirm your qualifications ↗ · O*NET OnLine: Job Zones ↗
How to enter instead
- Through education: a completed twelve-year course of elementary and secondary study comparable to a U.S. high school (equivalency certificates such as the GED are not accepted).
- If the work you actually did matches a different occupation in Job Zone 4 or 5, check that occupation: the officer looks at your real duties, not only your job title.
Similar occupations
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Zone 4 · Qualifies
- Air Traffic Controllers Zone 3
- Airfield Operations Specialists Zone 3
- Flight Attendants Zone 1–2
- Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors Zone 1–2
- First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand Zone 1–2
- Recycling Coordinators Zone 1–2
- First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators Zone 3
Search all 923 occupations → · Browse every occupation by group →
Questions about this occupation
Does the occupation “Commercial Pilots” qualify for the DV lottery?
Not on its own. It is in O*NET Job Zone 3; the work route needs Job Zone 4 or 5. You can still qualify through a completed twelve-year education.
What Job Zone and SVP does the occupation “Commercial Pilots” have?
Job Zone 3, with Specific Vocational Preparation 6.0 to under 7.0, in the O*NET 31.0 database.
How many years of experience do I need?
Two years of experience within the last five years, in an occupation in Job Zone 4 or 5 (SVP 7.0 or higher). Otherwise you need a completed twelve-year course of elementary and secondary education.
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. LotteryUSA has modified all or some of this information (it states whether each occupation meets the DV work-experience route). USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Retrieved 2026-10-21.