The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) designation is a professional authorization allowing a pilot to provide flight and ground instruction for compensation. New pilots often debate whether the CFI status is correctly classified as a “rating” or a “certificate.” This confusion stems from how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) structures pilot authorizations under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 61. Understanding the precise regulatory term is important for pilots pursuing this advanced qualification. This article examines the FAA’s classification system and the specific requirements for obtaining and maintaining the instructor status.
The Certified Flight Instructor Credential
The CFI status is correctly defined as an instructional certificate within the context of FAA regulation. This authorization is granted under 14 CFR Part 61, which governs the certification of pilots and flight instructors. Although often informally called a “rating,” this term is technically inaccurate in precise regulatory language. The instructional certificate grants the holder the authority to log flight time as an instructor and provide specific training toward various pilot certificates and ratings. This authorization must be affixed to an existing, higher-level pilot certificate, such as a Commercial Pilot Certificate or an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate.
Understanding FAA Classification Terms
The FAA utilizes three distinct classifications to organize a pilot’s privileges and limitations under 14 CFR Part 61. A Certificate establishes the overall level of operational privilege a pilot holds, such as the Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. These documents define the general scope of flying the pilot is permitted to conduct.
Ratings define what a pilot can fly or how they can fly it, and these are added to an existing certificate. Examples include Aircraft Category ratings (e.g., Airplane, Rotorcraft), Class ratings (e.g., Single-Engine Land), and the Instrument Rating.
The third classification includes Endorsements and Authorizations, which are specific permissions granted by an instructor or the FAA for particular training or operational duties. The CFI falls into this latter category as an instructional authorization, enabling the pilot to conduct specific training activities.
Minimum Requirements for Eligibility
Before a candidate begins practical training for the instructional certificate, they must satisfy several prerequisites. The applicant must hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate or an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate with the corresponding category and class rating for the instruction they intend to give. This ensures the candidate possesses a high level of operational proficiency.
Candidates must also successfully complete two knowledge tests administered by the FAA:
- The Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) knowledge test, which assesses the applicant’s understanding of learning processes, teaching methods, and effective communication.
- The aeronautical knowledge test required for the Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA) or other category rating sought.
Flight experience requirements must also be met, though the exact hours vary by instruction category. Applicants must log a minimum number of hours as Pilot in Command (PIC) and possess cross-country flight experience.
The CFI Training and Testing Process
The CFI training process differs significantly from prior pilot certificates, focusing on the ability to teach rather than just the ability to fly. Candidates must undergo extensive ground instruction, learning how to structure complex aviation topics into digestible lessons for students at varying levels of experience. This phase emphasizes mastery of the material to a deeper, instructional standard, well beyond the level required for a Commercial Pilot.
Training involves developing and utilizing a syllabus to ensure systematic coverage of all required aeronautical knowledge and maneuvers. Trainees must master the practical application of Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) principles, including techniques for effective questioning, error correction, and student critique. The instructor candidate must be able to adapt their teaching style to address different learning plateaus.
The final hurdle is the practical examination, commonly referred to as the checkride. This test requires the applicant to assume the role of the instructor, demonstrating the ability to teach all maneuvers and procedures, not just perform them. The FAA examiner acts as the student, often playing different roles, requiring the candidate to exhibit strong risk management and instructional judgment in real-time scenarios. The applicant must show they can accurately analyze a student’s performance and provide clear, concise instruction while maintaining command of the learning environment. Successfully passing this examination results in the issuance of the Flight Instructor Certificate.
Keeping the Instructor Certificate Valid
The instructional certificate requires renewal every 24 calendar months to maintain its validity under 14 CFR Part 61. There are several pathways available to renew the authorization:
- Completing a Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC), which is an approved course designed to update the instructor on regulatory changes and instructional techniques.
- Endorsing at least five students for a practical test, provided a minimum of 80% of those students pass on their first attempt.
- Passing an additional practical test for a new flight instructor rating, such as adding an Instrument Instructor (CFII) or Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) authorization.