How to Become a Certificated Flight Instructor

If you want to share your love of flying with others, being a certificated flight instructor might be the perfect career path for you! We'll help you understand all the requirements you need to get started!

Steps

  1. Image titled Become a Certified Flight Instructor Step 1
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    Gain your private pilot license by enrolling in a flight school or other program with a certificated flight instructor.[1]
    • Complete the coursework successfully and apply for a private pilot license. This means you can fly a private aircraft without pay.
    • You must be at least 17 years old to take part in testing for your private pilot license.[2]
  2. Image titled Become a Certified Flight Instructor Step 2
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    Get an instrument rating.[3]
    • You gain this rating by flying according to instrument flight rules (IFR).
    • This allows you to fly in certain weather conditions such as rain and fog.
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  3. Image titled Become a Certified Flight Instructor Step 3
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    Apply for a commercial pilot license.
    • You must be at least 18 years old, have 250 hours of flight time in the air, hold an instrument rating and undergo an additional medical exam.[4]
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    Seek a flight instructor certificate.
    • Your commercial pilot license and instrument rating must be issued for the type of aircraft with you will be using for teaching prospective pilots.
    • Gain a logbook endorsement from an authorized flight instructor that lists time spent learning the fundamentals of flight instruction.
    • Take and pass a knowledge test for flight instructors.
    • Complete and pass a practical test for flight instructors.
    • Prove that you are able to provide sufficient instruction in the areas of spin entry, spins and spin recovery.
    • Log a minimum of 15 hours of being in command of a pilot.
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    Receive a flight instructor certificate and begin working as a certified flight instructor.
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    Sign the logbook of every person that receives training from you.
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    Do not give more than 8 hours of flight training during each 24-hour period.[5]
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    Maintain your flight instructor certificate through the renewal process.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    I am a retired commercial pilot with a 737-type rating. What do I need to do to get a CFI in a single engine land airplane?
    Danoyachtcapt
    Danoyachtcapt
    Top Answerer
    If you don't have any current time in aircraft, you will first need to get a type rating in the aircraft you want to teach in. Then you can start training for your CFI certificate.
  • Question
    I am a glider flight instructor with commercial ratings in ASEL and gliders. What do I need additionally to become an ASEL instructor?
    Danoyachtcapt
    Danoyachtcapt
    Top Answerer
    You need to get together with an ASEL (Aircraft Single Engine Land) instructor and get started, first in getting your certificate in ASEL. Then you can get your instructors license.
  • Question
    Are there sponsorship options?
    Mzm555
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    Usually no; however, an option open by many airlines is a "cadetship program" which hires a select few applicants every year or few years (depending on the airline) to which the chosen applicants are fully trained from scratch, no flying experience needed. The only condition is you will usually be under contract to the airline for a certain number of years, after which you are then free to switch jobs, airlines, etc...
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Warnings

  • Not complying with all of the federal rules and regulations associated with being a flight instructor can have serious consequences. Always stay up to date on news from the Federal Aviation Administration.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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Things You'll Need

  • Private pilot license
  • Instrument rating
  • 250 hours of flight time
  • Commercial pilot license
  • Logbook endorsements from authorized flight instructors
  • Passing results on medical, knowledge and practical flight tests
  • Proof that you are competent to instruct others during specific areas of flight
  • 15 hours of time in command of a pilot


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References

  1. ↑ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/how-to-get-a-private-pilot-license/
  2. ↑ https://www.faa.gov/pilots/become/rec_private/
  3. ↑ https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/active-pilots/ratings-and-endorsements/instrument-rating
  4. ↑ https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.129
  5. ↑ https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.195
  6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_instructor

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 12 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 105,150 times.
112 votes - 91%
Co-authors: 12
Updated: September 16, 2021
Views: 105,150
Categories: Aviation Careers
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