A Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) holds the authority to train and recommend new pilots for various certificates and ratings under Federal Aviation Regulations. This instructional privilege requires active maintenance to ensure the instructor remains proficient and current in teaching methods and aviation knowledge. Unlike many other pilot certificates, a CFI’s instructional authority is not granted indefinitely and is subject to regular review by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Maintaining this status is a matter of regulatory compliance, ensuring the instructor is continually engaged with the latest procedures and standards.
Understanding the CFI Certificate vs. Privileges
A fundamental point of clarification for any flight instructor is the distinction between the physical certificate and the instructional privileges it conveys. The flight instructor certificate itself, the plastic card issued by the FAA, no longer carries an expiration date printed on its face, a change implemented to align with other permanent airman certificates.
However, the privileges to actually act as a flight instructor and provide training are not permanent. The authority to instruct requires the CFI to meet “recent experience requirements” every 24 calendar months to maintain currency. If these recurrent experience requirements are not met, the instructor’s privileges lapse, meaning they cannot legally provide flight instruction. The CFI certificate remains in their possession, but the instructional authority is invalid until the recent experience requirements are satisfied.
The Standard CFI Recent Experience Timeline
A flight instructor must satisfy the recent experience requirements at least every 24 calendar months to keep their instructional privileges active. This two-year period is a fixed regulatory cycle. The 24-calendar-month period begins from the month the certificate was initially issued, or from the month the previous recent experience requirements were accomplished.
If an instructor completes the required recent experience within the three calendar months preceding the month their current period ends, the new 24-calendar-month period begins the following month. For instance, if the current period ends in June 2026, and the instructor completes the renewal requirements in April 2026, the new period will still begin in July 2026. This three-month window allows flexibility in scheduling activities while retaining the original expiration month.
Methods for Maintaining CFI Privileges
Flight instructors have several distinct options for maintaining their instructional privileges, all of which are designed to demonstrate continued proficiency and activity in the training environment. The choice of method often depends on the instructor’s level of activity and their professional goals. Each method is equally valid for satisfying the 24-calendar-month recent experience requirement.
Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC)
The FIRC is a popular method for maintaining instructional privileges, especially for instructors who may not be actively teaching full-time. This course is an FAA-approved program that can be completed either in person or through an online training provider. The curriculum focuses on regulatory updates, best instructional practices, and changes to the airman certification standards.
A graduation certificate from an approved FIRC, when submitted to the FAA, satisfies the recent experience requirement. This course must be successfully completed within the three calendar months preceding the month the current recent experience period ends to retain the original end date.
Additional Flight Instructor Rating
Another method to maintain currency is by successfully passing a practical test for an additional flight instructor rating. Adding a new instructor rating, such as a Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) or Instrument Flight Instructor (CFII), demonstrates a high level of instructional proficiency. The successful completion of this practical test with an examiner renews all of the instructor’s existing flight instructor privileges for another 24 calendar months. This is an option for instructors seeking to expand their professional capabilities.
Student Endorsement Activity
An instructor may also renew their privileges based on their active involvement in student training and their success rate. This method requires the flight instructor to have endorsed a minimum of five applicants for a pilot certificate or rating practical test within the preceding 24 calendar months.
A further condition is that at least 80 percent of those applicants must have passed their respective practical tests on the first attempt. This requirement is intended to validate the instructor’s effectiveness and the quality of their instruction. This option is common for active instructors who maintain a high level of student success.
Reinstating Expired CFI Privileges
If a flight instructor allows their 24-calendar-month recent experience period to lapse, their instructional privileges become invalid, and they must follow a formal reinstatement process. The standard renewal methods are no longer sufficient once the deadline has passed. The FAA recently introduced a grace period that provides a less burdensome path for instructors who have only recently lapsed.
If three calendar months or less have passed since the end of the recent experience period, the instructor may reinstate their privileges by completing an approved Flight Instructor Refresher Course. This offers a short-term, lower-cost alternative to immediately facing a practical test. During this three-month grace period, the instructor cannot exercise instructional privileges until the FIRC is completed and the application is submitted.
If more than three calendar months have passed, the instructor must undergo a practical test for reinstatement. This test must be conducted by an FAA inspector or an authorized examiner for one of the flight instructor ratings held. The instructor must prepare for this practical test as if they were taking the initial CFI check ride, which involves demonstrating both flight proficiency and instructional knowledge. This check ride is a comprehensive evaluation and typically requires substantial preparation.
Advanced CFI Status and Endorsements
Beyond the basic requirements for maintaining instructional privileges, some flight instructors pursue advanced designations to enhance their professional standing. The Gold Seal Flight Instructor designation is an FAA accolade recognizing instructors who maintain a high level of training activity and a superior first-time pass rate among their students.
To qualify, an instructor must hold an Advanced or Instrument Ground Instructor certificate and have endorsed a minimum of ten applicants for a practical test within the preceding 24 months. Of those ten applicants, at least eight must have passed their practical test on the first attempt, demonstrating an 80% first-time pass rate.
Instructors with specialized ratings, such as the Instrument Flight Instructor (CFII) or Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI), must ensure they maintain the specific recent experience requirements for those endorsements as well. While the basic CFI privileges are maintained through the methods previously discussed, the authority to provide specialized instruction requires a continuous focus on the unique requirements of those advanced ratings.