QUOTE(Becky_KSTS)
The card type license is fairly new in the US; a couple of years now I think.
Yes, the credit-card type certificate came out in 2003. Finally a positive change from the piece of paper that the ticket had always been. I still don't know why the FAA didn't require a picture on the new one and perhaps some biometrics (such as a fingerprint) on the new one as long as they made the change. Though, I think this will be the case in the near future.
You can get a new plastic certificate, if you have paper, by ordering a replacement, getting a new rating or lic. upgrade, etc. I got mine in Oct. 2003 as the result of changing my certificate number from my SSN to a number issued by the FAA. (When I first got a PPL certificate in 1981 nobody was concerned about identity theft, etc. and using your SSN wasn't considered a bad idea.)
Oh, BTW, the quality of the new plasic one isn't all that great. The image will wear off with handling. But it is better than the paper.