The simple answer to that question is that you become an official, properly credentialed seaplane pilot by earning the FAA Single- or Multiengine-Sea (SES and MES) class rating on your airman's certificate, or in the case of a Private, Commercial or Sport Pilot flying a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA), you earn a seaplane endorsement in your logbook. The SES rating or LSA logbook endorsement is earned through formal instruction. The FAA does not specify a minimum amount of instruction required to earn the rating or endorsement, so it's up to you and your authorized seaplane instructor. It may be as few as four or five hours of dual flight instruction plus the check ride or instructor evaluation, or many more if you want to be razor-sharp on all aspects of handling a seaplane including operating out of confined lakes, docking, and river ops.
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