FAR 61.417 — Sport Pilot CFI Ratings
FAR 61.417 explains that a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating does not list category/class ratings — those come via logbook endorsement.
In Plain English
FAR 61.417 answers a common question for sport pilot flight instructor (CFI-S) candidates: Will my certificate show what aircraft I can teach in? The short answer is no.
Here's how it works:
- When you pass the practical test for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating, the FAA issues you a CFI certificate that does not list any aircraft category (airplane, glider, etc.) or class (single-engine land, weight-shift control, etc.) ratings.
- This is true regardless of which aircraft privileges you're seeking.
- Instead, the FAA gives you a logbook endorsement specifying the category and class of aircraft in which you're authorized to provide training.
Why it matters operationally: Your authority to instruct comes from your logbook endorsement, not the plastic certificate in your wallet. You must carry that endorsement (or a copy) and be ready to show it. To add training privileges in another category/class, you'll need additional training and another endorsement — the certificate itself never changes.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 61.417§ 61.417 Will my flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating list aircraft category and class ratings?
Your flight instructor certificate does not list aircraft category and class ratings. When you successfully pass the practical test for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating, regardless of the aircraft privileges you seek, the FAA will issue you a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating without any category and class ratings. The FAA will provide you with a logbook endorsement for the category and class of aircraft you are authorized to provide training in.
[Docket FAA-2001-11133, 69 FR 44875, July 27, 2004, as amended by Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 61-159, 90 FR 35218, July 24, 2025]
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Does your flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating list the aircraft category and class you can teach in?
No. Per FAR 61.417, the CFI certificate with a sport pilot rating is issued without any category or class ratings, regardless of the privileges sought.
Q2If your CFI-S certificate doesn't list category and class, how do you prove what aircraft you're authorized to provide training in?
FAR 61.417 states that the FAA provides a logbook endorsement specifying the category and class of aircraft in which you may provide training.
Q3After passing your sport pilot CFI practical test in weight-shift-control, what does the FAA actually issue you?
Under FAR 61.417, the FAA issues a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating — with no category/class listed — plus a logbook endorsement for the category and class you tested in.
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Related Sections in Part 61