FAR 61.183 — Flight Instructor Eligibility
FAR 61.183 sets the eligibility rules for a CFI certificate: age, English, pilot certificate, knowledge tests, spin training endorsement, and PIC time.
In Plain English
FAR 61.183 lists what you must do and have to qualify for a flight instructor certificate or an additional CFI rating. It's the gatekeeper rule before you can start training students yourself.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English (the Administrator can add operating limitations for medical reasons).
- Hold a commercial or ATP certificate with the appropriate category and class rating, plus an instrument rating if seeking an airplane single-engine, multiengine, powered-lift, or instrument CFI rating.
- Receive an instructor endorsement on the fundamentals of instructing (FOI) and pass the FOI knowledge test (unless you already hold a CFI/ground instructor certificate, hold a state teaching certificate for 7th grade or higher, or teach at an accredited college).
- Pass the CFI knowledge test for the rating sought (e.g., FIA).
- Receive a logbook endorsement on the areas of operation in §61.187(b) and pass the practical test.
- For airplane or glider CFIs, get a spin training endorsement and demonstrate proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and recovery.
- Log at least 15 hours of PIC in the category and class for the rating sought.
This matters because it ensures every CFI has the experience, knowledge, and instructional skill to safely teach others.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.183§ 61.183 Eligibility requirements.
To be eligible for a flight instructor certificate or rating a person must:
(a) Be at least 18 years of age;
(b) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's flight instructor certificate as are necessary;
(c) Hold either a commercial pilot certificate or airline transport pilot certificate with:
(1) An aircraft category and class rating that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought; and
(2) An instrument rating, or privileges on that person's pilot certificate that are appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought, if applying for—
(i) A flight instructor certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating;
(ii) A flight instructor certificate with an airplane category and multiengine class rating;
(iii) A flight instructor certificate with a powered-lift rating; or
(iv) A flight instructor certificate with an instrument rating.
(d) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor on the fundamentals of instructing listed in § 61.185 of this part appropriate to the required knowledge test;
(e) Pass a knowledge test on the areas listed in § 61.185(a)(1) of this part, unless the applicant:
(1) Holds a flight instructor certificate or ground instructor certificate issued under this part;
(2) Holds a teacher's certificate issued by a State, county, city, or municipality that authorizes the person to teach at an educational level of the 7th grade or higher; or
(3) Is employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university.
(f) Pass a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in § 61.185(a)(2) and (a)(3) of this part that are appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought;
(g) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor on the areas of operation listed in § 61.187(b) of this part, appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought;
(h) Pass the required practical test that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought in an:
(1) Aircraft that is representative of the category and class of aircraft for the aircraft rating sought; or
(2) Flight simulator or approved flight training device that is representative of the category and class of aircraft for the rating sought, and used in accordance with a course at a training center certificated under part 142 of this chapter.
(i) Accomplish the following for a flight instructor certificate with an airplane or a glider rating:
(1) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor indicating that the applicant is competent and possesses instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery procedures after providing the applicant with flight training in those training areas in an airplane or glider, as appropriate, that is certificated for spins; and
(2) Demonstrate instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery procedures. However, upon presentation of the endorsement specified in paragraph (i)(1) of this section an examiner may accept that endorsement as satisfactory evidence of instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery procedures for the practical test, provided that the practical test is not a retest as a result of the applicant failing the previous test for deficiencies in the knowledge or skill of stall awareness, spin entry, spins, or spin recovery instructional procedures. If the retest is a result of deficiencies in the ability of an applicant to demonstrate knowledge or skill of stall awareness, spin entry, spins, or spin recovery instructional procedures, the examiner must test the person on stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery instructional procedures in an airplane or glider, as appropriate, that is certificated for spins;
(j) Log at least 15 hours as pilot in command in the category and class of aircraft that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought; and
(k) Comply with the appropriate sections of this part that apply to the flight instructor rating sought.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40907, July 30, 1997; Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42561, Aug. 21, 2009]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What are the basic eligibility requirements to obtain an initial flight instructor certificate?
Per FAR 61.183, you must be at least 18, able to read/speak/write/understand English, hold a commercial or ATP certificate with the appropriate category, class, and (where required) instrument rating, pass the FOI and CFI knowledge tests, receive the required endorsements, pass the practical test, and have at least 15 hours PIC in the category and class sought.
Q2What spin training requirements apply to an airplane or glider CFI applicant?
FAR 61.183(i) requires a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor stating the applicant is competent and instructionally proficient in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery, after training in an aircraft certificated for spins, and the applicant must be able to demonstrate that proficiency on the practical test.
Q3Who is exempt from taking the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) knowledge test?
Under FAR 61.183(e), the FOI test is not required if the applicant already holds a flight or ground instructor certificate issued under Part 61, holds a state/county/city teaching certificate for 7th grade or higher, or is employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university.
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Related Sections in Part 61