Originally Posted by
zondaracer
The correct order is:
FAA medical
Private Pilot
Instrument Rating
Commercial pilot
Certified flight instructor or pipeline flying (or something similar for low time pilots)
ATP
There's nothing "correct" about getting the instrument rating before the commercial. It's more common, and in a lot of cases makes more sense to do it in that order, but that's not the same as "correct" I got my commercial certificate before my instrument rating. For my particular set of circumstances, it worked better that way.
I haven't heard about this "pipeline flying" certificate. Tell me more.