FAR 61.213 — Ground Instructor Eligibility
FAR 61.213 sets eligibility for a ground instructor certificate: age, English proficiency, and knowledge tests on instructing and aeronautical areas.
In Plain English
FAR 61.213 lays out who can earn a ground instructor certificate or rating. To qualify, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be able to read, write, speak, and understand English. If a medical condition prevents this, the Administrator can issue the certificate with operating limitations.
- Pass a fundamentals of instructing (FOI) knowledge test covering the learning process, effective teaching, student evaluation and testing, course development, lesson planning, and classroom techniques.
- Pass a knowledge test on aeronautical areas appropriate to the rating sought:
- Basic ground instructor: §§ 61.97, 61.105, and 61.309.
- Advanced ground instructor: §§ 61.97, 61.105, 61.125, 61.155, and 61.309.
- Instrument ground instructor: § 61.65.
The FOI test is waived if you already hold a ground or flight instructor certificate under Part 61, hold a state/local teaching certificate valid for 7th grade or higher, or are employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university. This matters because ground instructors endorse student knowledge tests and provide the aeronautical training pilots rely on before checkrides.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.213§ 61.213 Eligibility requirements.
(a) To be eligible for a ground instructor certificate or rating a person must:
(1) Be at least 18 years of age;
(2) Be able to read, write, speak, 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 ground instructor certificate as are necessary;
(3) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, pass a knowledge test on the fundamentals of instructing to include—
(i) The learning process;
(ii) Elements of effective teaching;
(iii) Student evaluation and testing;
(iv) Course development;
(v) Lesson planning; and
(vi) Classroom training techniques.
(4) Pass a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas in—
(i) For a basic ground instructor rating §§ 61.97, 61.105, and 61.309;
(ii) For an advanced ground instructor rating §§ 61.97, 61.105, 61.125, 61.155, and 61.309; and
(iii) For an instrument ground instructor rating, § 61.65.
(b) The knowledge test specified in paragraph (a)(3) of this section is not required if the applicant:
(1) Holds a ground instructor certificate or flight 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.
[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, as amended by Amdt. 61-110, 69 FR 44869, July 27, 2004; Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42562, Aug. 21, 2009]
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Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What are the basic eligibility requirements to obtain a ground instructor certificate?
Per FAR 61.213, an applicant must be at least 18 years old, be able to read, write, speak, and understand English, and pass knowledge tests on the fundamentals of instructing and on the aeronautical knowledge areas appropriate to the rating sought.
Q2Under what circumstances is the fundamentals of instructing knowledge test not required?
FAR 61.213(b) waives the FOI test if the applicant already holds a Part 61 ground or flight instructor certificate, holds a state or local teacher's certificate valid for 7th grade or higher, or is employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university.
Q3What aeronautical knowledge areas are tested for an advanced ground instructor rating?
FAR 61.213(a)(4)(ii) requires a knowledge test covering the aeronautical areas in §§ 61.97, 61.105, 61.125, 61.155, and 61.309 for the advanced ground instructor rating.
Studying for a checkride?
§61.113 Privileges & Limits
Private pilot compensation, pro-rata sharing, and BasicMed limits
§61.57 Recent Flight Experience
90-day passenger, night, and instrument currency rules
§61.89 Student Pilot Limitations
Solo student limits: no passengers, no compensation, minimum visibility
§61.51 Pilot Logbooks
Logging training, aeronautical experience, and recency for certificates
§61.23 Medical Certificate Duration
First-, second-, and third-class medical requirement and validity periods
Instrument Rating Requirements
IFR eligibility and aeronautical experience
Related Sections in Part 61