To become a certified flight instructor (CFI) in the US you must be at least 18, hold a commercial or airline transport pilot certificate with the right category and class rating (plus an instrument rating for most airplane CFIs), pass knowledge tests on the fundamentals of instructing and on aeronautical knowledge, and pass an FAA practical test. The rules are in 14 CFR Part 61, Subpart H.
Most CFIs aren't career teachers. BLS says many pilots get a flight instructor certificate after their commercial certificate because it helps them build flight time and experience quickly and at less personal expense, on the way to an airline job.
I've taken the requirements straight from the federal regulations on eCFR and the career data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, read in October 2026.
CFI eligibility at a glance (14 CFR 61.183)
| Requirement | What the regulation says |
|---|---|
| Age | At least 18 |
| Language | Able to read, speak, write and understand English |
| Pilot certificate | Commercial pilot or airline transport pilot certificate with the right aircraft category and class rating |
| Instrument rating | Needed for airplane single-engine, airplane multiengine, powered-lift and instrument instructor ratings |
| Fundamentals of instructing | Logbook endorsement plus a knowledge test, unless you're exempt |
| Aeronautical knowledge | A second knowledge test for the rating you want |
| Flight proficiency | Logbook endorsement on the areas of operation |
| Spin training | For airplane or glider ratings, an endorsement and demonstrated instructional proficiency in stalls and spins |
| Practical test | Pass the practical test in a representative aircraft or approved simulator |
How to become a flight instructor, step by step
- Earn your private pilot certificate, then your instrument rating and commercial pilot certificate. BLS lists the usual order: student, private, instrument, commercial, multi-engine, then airline transport pilot.
- Log ground training on the fundamentals of instructing: the learning process, effective teaching, evaluation and testing, course development, lesson planning and classroom techniques.
- Pass the fundamentals of instructing knowledge test. You're exempt if you already hold a flight or ground instructor certificate, a state teacher's certificate for 7th grade or higher, or you teach at an accredited college or university.
- Pass the knowledge test for the rating you want.
- Get your spin training endorsement for an airplane or glider rating.
- Get the logbook endorsement from an authorised instructor and pass the practical test.
The rule that changed: CFI certificates and recent experience
Here's the insight that older guides get wrong. Section 61.197 is now titled recent experience requirements for flight instructor certification. To use your CFI privileges, you need to have met one of the recent experience requirements within the preceding 24 calendar months. The options include:
- passing a practical test for a rating on your certificate or an extra instructor rating
- endorsing at least 5 applicants for a practical test in the last 24 calendar months, with at least four in five passing first time
- serving as a company check pilot, chief flight instructor or similar role in a part 121 or 135 operation
- completing an approved flight instructor refresher course within the preceding 3 calendar months
Once you're teaching, there's a daily limit too: under 61.195, a flight instructor may not conduct more than 8 hours of flight training in any 24-consecutive-hour period.
Who can train you to be a CFI
Not every instructor can sign you off. Under 14 CFR 61.195, the instructor who gives flight training to an initial CFI applicant must meet extra requirements, such as having held a flight instructor certificate for at least 24 calendar months and given at least 200 hours of flight training for an airplane, rotorcraft or powered-lift rating. Ground training for an initial applicant must come from an instructor who's held a ground or flight instructor certificate for 24 calendar months and given at least 40 hours of ground training, or given at least 100 hours in an FAA-approved course.
Ask your flight school which of its instructors meet those tests before you book CFI training. It saves you from discovering it at the paperwork stage.
Pay and where it leads
The BLS pilot profile doesn't give a separate pay figure for flight instructors, but it does show where the path goes. In May 2025 the median pay was $123,220 for commercial pilots and $232,140 for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers, as of October 2026. BLS projects 7% growth for airline and commercial pilots from 2025 to 2035, with about 16,400 openings a year.
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My verdict
Becoming a CFI is the most practical way to build hours after your commercial certificate, and the rules are clearer than most forums make them sound. Get your instrument and commercial done, put real effort into the fundamentals of instructing, and do the spin training early. Then keep your recent experience current every 24 calendar months, because that, not an expiry date, is what keeps you teaching.
Frequently asked questions
What are the requirements to become a certified flight instructor?
Under 14 CFR 61.183 you must be at least 18, read, speak, write and understand English, hold a commercial or airline transport pilot certificate with the right ratings, pass knowledge tests and pass a practical test.
Do you need an instrument rating to be a CFI?
For airplane single-engine, airplane multiengine, powered-lift and instrument instructor ratings, yes, the regulation requires an instrument rating or equivalent privileges.
Who is exempt from the fundamentals of instructing test?
People who already hold a flight or ground instructor certificate, hold a state teacher's certificate for 7th grade or higher, or are employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university.
How many hours can a flight instructor teach in a day?
Under 14 CFR 61.195, a flight instructor may not conduct more than 8 hours of flight training in any 24-consecutive-hour period.
Why do pilots become flight instructors?
BLS says many pilots get a flight instructor certificate after their commercial certificate because it helps them build flight time and experience quickly and at less personal expense.
How do CFIs stay current?
Section 61.197 requires flight instructors to meet one of the recent experience requirements within the preceding 24 calendar months, such as a practical test, a strong pass record for endorsed students, or an approved refresher course.
