Becoming a flight instructor (CFI) is the most common next step after the commercial certificate, and for good reason: it is how most career pilots get paid to build the hours they need toward the airlines. You need a commercial certificate first, you pass two knowledge tests, and you take a CFI checkride now measured against FAA-S-ACS-25. Here is how it works.
Part of our Commercial Pilot guide. Also see the multi-engine rating guide.
What a CFI certificate is
A flight instructor certificate lets you give the flight and ground training that students need to earn their own certificates and ratings, and to sign them off for solo flight and checkrides. It is a separate certificate layered on top of your pilot certificates, and it is the first credential that lets you be paid to teach in an airplane.
Prerequisites
- Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate (a private certificate is not enough to instruct)
- Hold an instrument rating if you intend to add the instrument instructor (CFII) rating later, which lets you teach instrument students
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
- Meet the age and experience rules for the instructor certificate
The two knowledge tests
The initial CFI requires two written knowledge tests, not one:
- Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI). This is the teaching-theory test: how people learn, the teaching process, the learning environment, and how to evaluate students. It is unique to the instructor path.
- Flight Instructor (CFI) knowledge test. The aeronautical knowledge test for the instructor certificate, covering the subject matter you will teach.
Many candidates prepare for these the same disciplined way they did for the earlier FAA knowledge tests.
The CFI checkride and FAA-S-ACS-25
The CFI practical test is now measured against FAA-S-ACS-25, the Flight Instructor Airman Certification Standards introduced in 2024 that replaced the older practical test standards. The checkride is demanding: you are graded not just on flying the maneuvers but on teaching them, explaining the underlying knowledge, and demonstrating from the right seat. The initial CFI has a reputation as one of the hardest checkrides in aviation precisely because you must perform and teach at the same time.
Adding the instrument instructor rating (CFII)
Most instructors add the instrument instructor (CFII) rating soon after the initial CFI, because it lets you teach instrument students and is in high demand at flight schools. It requires your CFI certificate plus an instrument rating. One quirk worth knowing: while the initial CFI moved to the ACS, the CFII practical test still uses the older Practical Test Standards, FAA-S-8081-9E, so that is the document to study from for the instrument instructor checkride.
Why most career pilots instruct
Instructing is the classic way to bridge the gap between a fresh commercial certificate and an airline job. A pilot needs 1,500 hours for an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate (reduced to 1,000 or 1,250 hours under certain restricted-ATP programs), and a new commercial pilot is nowhere near that. Teaching lets you log those hours while being paid rather than paying, which is why so many professional pilots spend a year or two as a CFI on their way up. For a sense of where the path leads, see our pilot salary guide.
What you'll need
Study guides for your advanced ratings, all from PilotMall.com.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a commercial certificate to become a flight instructor?
Yes. You must hold at least a commercial pilot certificate to earn a flight instructor certificate. A private certificate is not enough to instruct.
How many knowledge tests does the CFI require?
Two: the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) test on teaching theory, and the Flight Instructor (CFI) aeronautical knowledge test.
What standard is the CFI checkride measured against?
The CFI practical test is now measured against FAA-S-ACS-25, the Flight Instructor Airman Certification Standards introduced in 2024.
Does the CFII have an ACS?
Not yet. The initial CFI uses FAA-S-ACS-25, but the instrument instructor (CFII) practical test still uses the older Practical Test Standards, FAA-S-8081-9E.
Why do so many pilots become instructors?
Instructing lets a new commercial pilot get paid to build hours toward the 1,500-hour ATP minimum, which is why it is the most common step between the commercial certificate and an airline job.