The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate authorizes a pilot to provide instruction for compensation. Maintaining this certificate requires timely administrative action and ongoing professional development to retain instructional privileges. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires instructors to establish recent experience every 24 calendar months. This biennial requirement ensures instructors remain current on regulations, safety procedures, and teaching methods. Failure to meet this recency requirement results in the suspension of instructional privileges.
Meeting the Prerequisites for Renewal
Establishing recent experience must be satisfied every 24 calendar months to maintain a valid instructor certificate. This requirement is governed by FAR 14 CFR § 61.197, which outlines the acceptable renewal methods. Although instructor certificates no longer display a physical expiration date, the 24-month recency cycle remains mandatory.
The renewal application can be submitted within the three calendar months preceding the end of the 24-month period, known as the renewal window. Submitting during this time maintains the original recency end date, ensuring a full 24 months until the next requirement. If the requirement is satisfied earlier, the new 24-month period begins from the month of completion, effectively shortening the current cycle. The instructor must hold an active, non-expired certificate at the time of renewal.
Renewal Through a Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC)
The most common method for satisfying the recency requirement is completing an approved Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC). A FIRC is an FAA-sanctioned ground training course that reviews new regulations, safety initiatives, teaching techniques, and aeronautical knowledge. These courses are typically a minimum of 16 hours and refresh the instructor’s knowledge base.
FIRCs are offered in various formats, including in-person classroom settings, remote learning, and self-paced online courses (eFIRCs). The online format is popular due to its flexibility, allowing instructors to complete training at their convenience. Upon successful completion of the course material and a final examination, the FIRC provider issues a graduation certificate.
This certificate is the formal documentation needed to process the renewal application. The instructor must present the completion certificate to an authorized representative, such as a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) or an FAA Safety Team Representative (FAASTeam Rep). This representative reviews the documentation and processes the renewal electronically through the FAA’s system.
Renewal Through a Practical Test
A less common, but valid, method for satisfying the recency requirement is successfully completing a practical test, or checkride. An instructor can pass a practical test for an additional flight instructor rating, such as a Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII) or Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI). The successful addition of any new instructor rating automatically renews all existing instructor privileges.
Instructors may also renew by passing a practical test for a rating already held on their current certificate. This re-examines their teaching and flying proficiency in a specific category or class. This option requires extensive preparation, as the testing standards are equivalent to those of an initial instructor certification practical test.
The checkride must be administered by an authorized individual, typically a Designated Pilot Examiner or an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI). This renewal method requires a significant time commitment for both preparation and the flight test itself. Consequently, it is usually chosen by instructors who are already seeking to expand their instructional privileges.
Administrative Renewal Based on Instructional Activity
Active instructors meeting specific performance metrics may renew their certificate based on sustained teaching activity. This administrative method recognizes instructors who have demonstrated competence and success in training pilot applicants. The primary criterion requires the instructor to have endorsed at least five students for a practical test within the preceding 24 calendar months.
To qualify, at least 80 percent of those endorsed students must have passed their practical tests on the first attempt, demonstrating the quality of the instruction provided. This specific performance metric mandates detailed record-keeping by the instructor. Alternatively, an instructor may qualify by serving as a Chief Flight Instructor at an approved Part 141 flight school, or as a company check pilot or check airman in a Part 121 or Part 135 operation.
Documentation must include logbook entries detailing student names, the type of practical test, the endorsement date, and the test outcome. This evidence is presented to an authorized FAA representative who verifies the records. Once verified, the representative processes the administrative renewal.
Reinstating an Expired CFI Certificate
If an instructor fails to satisfy the recency requirement within the 24-month period, instructional privileges are immediately suspended. This lapse requires reinstatement, which is distinct from renewal. The FAA provides a brief window for instructors to quickly regain their privileges.
If the requirement is missed, the instructor enters a three-calendar-month grace period immediately following the end of the 24-month cycle. During this period, the instructor may reinstate privileges by completing an approved Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC). Instructional privileges remain suspended until the FIRC is complete and the reinstatement application is processed.
If more than three calendar months pass beyond the recency period, the only reinstatement option is passing a flight instructor practical test. This checkride must be conducted by an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector or an authorized Designated Pilot Examiner. The reinstatement practical test must be for a rating already held and requires the instructor to meet the same standards as an initial applicant.
Finalizing the Renewal: The Documentation and Submission
Regardless of the chosen method—FIRC, practical test, or instructional activity—the final step is submitting the application to the FAA. This is typically done electronically using the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) system. The instructor must initiate a new application for “Recency” and complete FAA Form 8710-1 within the IACRA platform.
The applicant must present necessary documents to the authorized reviewer, such as a DPE, FAASTeam Representative, or ASI. These documents include photo identification, the current CFI certificate, and specific proof of compliance. Proof includes the FIRC graduation certificate or logbook records demonstrating the five-student, 80 percent pass rate for activity-based renewal.
The authorized reviewer verifies the identity, inspects the supporting documentation, and confirms the electronic application’s accuracy. Once the reviewer signs off on the application in IACRA, it is submitted for final processing. A new temporary certificate is typically issued, restoring the instructor’s full instructional privileges.