Becoming a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI)—commonly referred to as a Certified Flight Instructor—is one of the most rewarding and strategic steps in a pilot’s journey. Whether you’re looking to build flight time, improve your aeronautical skills, or start a teaching career, instructing is often the first professional aviation role for many pilots.
This guide explains everything you need to know about earning your CFI certificate, including the benefits, requirements, training process, salary, and renewal procedures.
Why Become a Certificated Flight Instructor?
Many aspiring airline and corporate pilots become CFIs to accelerate their flight experience. Since most aviation jobs require hundreds to thousands of flight hours, instructing students is a highly effective and consistent way to accumulate those hours.
Beyond logging time, teaching makes you a better pilot. CFIs reinforce their own skills by explaining complex flight concepts, correcting errors, and mentoring new pilots. Instructors are viewed as role models in the aviation community, laying the foundation for the next generation of aviators.
How Long Does It Take to Become a CFI?
There is no set timeline to become a Certificated Flight Instructor. However, you must already hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate, which requires a minimum of 250 total flight hours.
Once you’ve earned your commercial license, many pilots can complete the CFI rating within 4–8 weeks, depending on how often they train and how quickly they pass the required written and practical exams.
Types of Certificated Flight Instructor Ratings
There are several specialized CFI ratings you can pursue, each expanding your teaching privileges:
- CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor – Airplane Single-Engine): Teaches basic flight maneuvers in single-engine aircraft.
- CFII (Certificated Flight Instructor – Instrument): Provides instruction on flying under instrument flight rules (IFR).
- MEI (Multi-Engine Instructor): Instructs students on multi-engine aircraft operations.
Many instructors earn all three to increase job flexibility and earning potential.
CFI Salary and Earning Potential in 2025
CFIs typically earn an hourly wage, and rates vary depending on the type of instruction, the school, and your location. Some instructors are paid a salary, but hourly rates are more common.
📊 CFI Pay Ranges:
- Hourly: $15–$50+
- Annual: $28,000–$65,000+
Instructors with advanced ratings (like CFII or MEI) and a steady stream of students tend to earn more. Additionally, instructing is a direct path toward meeting the minimum hours required for airline and corporate flight jobs.
Eligibility Requirements to Become a Certificated Flight Instructor
To be eligible for a CFI certificate, you must meet the following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements:
✅ Be at least 18 years old
✅ Read, write, speak, and understand English
✅ Hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate
✅ Hold an Instrument Rating
✅ Have logged at least 250 total flight hours
✅ Hold a valid FAA 3rd Class Medical Certificate (or higher)
✅ Receive a logbook endorsement on the fundamentals of instruction
✅ Pass both a knowledge test and a practical test for the specific instructor rating
How to Earn Your CFI Certificate
The process of becoming a Certificated Flight Instructor includes:
Instructor Training Program: Learn the principles of instruction, lesson planning, and how to evaluate students.
Knowledge Exams: Pass two FAA written tests—the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) and the CFI knowledge test.
Practical Test (Checkride): Complete an FAA checkride with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), demonstrating both your teaching and flying skills.
CFI training is often completed at flight schools or academies with dedicated instructor development programs.
CFI Renewal Requirements (2025)
- ✈️ Complete a Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC): Offered online or in-person, these FAA-approved courses are a convenient renewal option.
- 🛫 Earn an additional instructor rating or take a practical test for a rating you already hold.
- 👨🎓 Endorse at least 5 students for FAA practical tests with an 80% or better first-time pass rate.
- 🎖️ Complete a military instructor proficiency check, if applicable.
Summary:
Becoming a Certificated Flight Instructor is a powerful career move—especially if you’re aiming for the airlines or want to share your passion for aviation. It enhances your flight experience, sharpens your skills, and places you in a position of mentorship and leadership.
Whether you call it “certified” or “certificated,” one thing remains true: earning your CFI is a milestone that opens doors and shapes futures—starting with yours.
