Flight Instructor: How to Become a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)

Think about this for a moment: who taught the first pilots how to fly? "Ground school" for the Wright brothers may have consisted of studying available information from balloon pilots and other sources, then extrapolating their best theories on how that would apply to fixed-wing flight.

Lucky you—you’ve had the benefit of learning aeronautical theories and hands-on skills from many a wise flight instructor, and now you’re considering paying it forward, logging flight time to put toward the next step in your career, and making some cash in the process.

Ready to help out new pilots? Let's get into how to become a certified flight instructor.

Table of Contents

How to Become a Flight Instructor

Certified Flight Instructor Requirements

Certified Flight Instructor Requirements

To hold a Certified Flight Instructor certification, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be able to read, write, speak, and a strong understanding of the English language
  • Hold either a commercial pilot certificate (CPL) or an airline transport pilot certificate (ATP)

What is a Certified Flight Instructor?What Is a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)?

A Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) guides students through the process of becoming a pilot and keep them safe while doing it. They teach both the aeronautical knowledge areas with ground school and the mechanics of real-life flight (typically at a flight school or FBO).

Like a schoolteacher, an authorized Flight instructor CFI spends time outside the “classroom” developing lesson plans and preparing visual learning aids. The goal is to increase safety in how you teach students and to assist them in passing their knowledge exam and getting their pilot's license.

Keep in mind that many pilots recall their flight instructors as being considered role models when they were student pilots. Your actions have a big impact on their futures.

Pros & Cons of Being a CFI

Pros:
    • Enhances your own piloting skills
    • Keeps you ahead of the airplane
    • Allows you to share the joy of flight and mentor future pilots
    • Accrue flight time towards ATP for low hour pilots
    • Gain more right-seat experience
    • Begin earning money
Cons:
    • Involves a lot of hard work day in and day out
    • The transition from student to instructor can be challenging
    • Dealing with lesson cancellations
    • Less flight time left-seat

A CFI Teaching a student about the pitot tube on an aircraftWhat Does a Flight Instructor Do?

Responsibilities

Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) develop lesson plans and use the adult learning methodology to build students' hands-on skills.

You will need to be comfortable teaching students of various ages from teens to adults and seniors. First explain how to execute a skill like flaring prior to landing.

Then you demonstrate the skill for the student and have the student imitate the skill (perhaps by talking you through the maneuver or mimicking your motions as you perform the skill).

Once the student has imitated the skill, you allow them to practice doing it while you coach and serve as a safety net.

Finally, once they are ready, you sign them off for solo flights and continue to serve as a ground-based mentor.

Teaching Methodology

  • Explain: Describe the skill or maneuver.
  • Demonstrate: Showcase the skill for the student.
  • Imitate: Have the student replicate the skill.
  • Practice: Allow the student to practice while providing guidance.
  • Mentor: Sign off for solo flights and continue to serve as a ground-based mentor.

Earning Potential

Just how much can you expect to earn on the career path of being a CFI? Well, that depends on where you’re located.

According to ZipRecruiter’s most flight instructors earn between $50,000 and $73,000 with the average American Certified Flight Instructor taking home $65,870.

Want to know what your earning potential looks like in your current location (or decide if it would be worth it to relocate)? Use the “add location” function on ZipRecruiter’s Flight Instructor Salary page to view average salaries by state, city, or even zip code.

Are you ready for adventure and open to relocate to the flight school? Scroll through the complete state by state list of average hourly wage and annual salary for flight instructors.

Different flight schools will offer different hourly rates, make sure to ask your potential place of employment if they pay a certificated flight instructor a salary or only pay on a contract basis per flight hour with a student.

A CFI Teaching a Student About Checking the Fuel Tanks and SumpsIs It Hard to Become a Flight Instructor?

Earning a flight instructor certificate is different from all the other pilot certificates you have gotten thus far because when you take your check ride, the examiner isn’t simply checking to see if you have the knowledge and skills necessary to be a safe pilot at the level you’re testing for.

This time they are more focused on whether you are a good teacher. You have already demonstrated your piloting abilities, but do you have what it takes to transfer that cerebral and practical knowledge to students in a replicable manner?

During your CFI check ride, the examiner will seek to answer these questions. This makes for perhaps the longest and most challenging check ride you have experienced.

Insights from a Flight Instructor

Ryan Huber, a flight instructor in Mesa, AZ, speaks on the truth about flight instructing and shares his personal experience. Ryan says that being a flight instructor is:

“—a lot of hard work day in and day out.”

He says that the transition from student to instructor is challenging at first. Instead of having someone in the right seat to be your safety net, you are now responsible to be that safety net for your student.

Ryan highly recommends becoming a CFI saying that it makes you an exceptional pilot. Being a CFI:

“—There is nothing else like it because you have to understand what your students are going through and predict things before they happen—multitasking in a way that you have probably never done before.”

Ready to take on this challenging yet rewarding career? Here’s how to get started.

Steps to Become a Flight Instructor - Pilot MallSteps to Become a Flight Instructor

Are you wondering "How do I become a certified flight instructor?" We'll cover all the steps you need to know.

1. Confirm Your Eligibility

To hold a Certified Flight Instructor certificate, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be able to read, write, speak and understand English
  • Hold either a commercial pilot certificate or an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate

2. Check Your Medical Certificate

Since you have your commercial or ATP certificate, there should be no issues, but before you sign up for your CFI check ride, make sure you have a current medical certificate (either a First or Second Class Medical Certificate).

3. Pass FAA Written Exams

The CFI written exam is similar to others you have taken, just with a broader scope. It encompasses everything from the recreational, private and commercial levels.

You will also be taking a second written exam called the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI). The FOI tests your knowledge of instructional topics like the learning process and training techniques.

4. Develop Lesson Plans

As a Flight Instructor, you need to create lesson plans that align with the FAA Practical Test Standards (PTS). The plans you develop now as part of your training and testing process can be used in the future, so put plenty of time and effort into them.

Consider your visual aids with your lesson plan and remember the power of a good chart, drawing, diagram or model to help you illustrate and explain a concept to your students. You'll want to help students learn how to pass their knowledge test and practical test.

Pro Tip: Review the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) Aviation Instructor’s Handbook and take note of the basic principles for how to become a good instructor.

5. Role Play with Other Flight Instructors

By the time you get to your check ride, you want to have developed confidence and ease with delivering your lesson plans and guiding a student through the learning process. Confidence comes with practice, so your CFI instructor will play the role of student.

They will have you practice instructing from sitting in the right seat where you will explain and demonstrate maneuvers, then coach and evaluate your “student.” 

Pro Tip: To help you practice instructing a student, study the Airman Certification Standards (ACS), keeping in mind that this is primary resource you will be using to gauge your students’ level of preparation for their check rides.

6. Pass Your Check Ride

You’ve been through the check ride process plenty of times, so you know it can be an all-day event. Well, brace yourself because the CFI check ride is certainly an all-day event and may even turn into a multi-day event. There is simply a lot of information and a great many topics that your examiner needs to cover.

Denverpilot described it best in one of the Pilots of America forums:

“They have to figure out in a few short hours whether or not you can fly (the least important part - you've already demonstrated that multiple times by then), instruct on the ground, find ways to convey and clarify concepts, show you can evaluate and teach those concepts in flight, allow the pilot to make mistakes while still being ultimately responsible for everyone on board's safety, and do it all in a relatively professional manner.”
 

During the CFI checkride, your examiner will be playing the role of student. Remember to give a thorough safety briefing and to explain each topic thoroughly and clearly. Pay attention to what your student is doing at all times and ensure that they are performing safe and legal maneuvers.

Above all, remain professional and engaging. Think back to your favorite flight instructors—the ones who knew how to explain a challenging topic or coach you through a tricky maneuver—and emulate them.

Remember that one of the most rewarding parts of being a Certified Flight Instructor is the chance to share the joy of flight and mentor the next batch of flight students.

Ready to take the plunge and become a flight instructor and become a valued member of the aviation community?

Improve your CFI training with our collection of Flight Training Material: Certified Flight Instructor.

 ASA Flight Instructors Manual

ASA The Flight Instructor’s Manual

A comprehensive textbook and guide for flight instructors. Make good use of your CFI rating with a wide range of topics including the basics of instruction, teaching ground school, pre-solo training, teaching how to effectively operate aircraft for solo flights and obtaining a private pilot certificate.

View Product

Interested in Aviation-based Careers?

Do you want to become a flight attendant? Or maybe work as an Air Traffic Controller? Our guides are designed to help!

Did you find this article helpful?

Do you think we missed anything important about flight instructors? Let us know in the comments below!

CfiEducationTraining

Leave a comment

All comments are moderated before being published

Featured products

Bose A30 Aviation Headset with Bluetooth - PilotMall.com
Bose
🔥 Hurry Only 2 left!
Bose A30 Aviation Headset Dual Plug Battery Power General Aviation with Bluetooth
Sale price$1,299.00 USD
In stock
MyGoFlight Flight Bag PLC Pro 2024 Edition - PilotMall.com
MyGoFlight
🛍️ New Product
MyGoFlight Flight Bag PLC Pro 2024 Edition
Sale price$299.00 USD
In stock
Cessna® 172 Skyhawk SP (Red) Clear Canopy Limited Edition Large Mahogany Model - PilotMall.com
High Flying Models
360 View
Cessna® 172 Skyhawk SP (Red) Clear Canopy Large Mahogany Model
Sale price$449.00 USD
In stock

Latest Blog Posts

View all
Reinventing Experimental Aircraft with Veloce Planes

Reinventing Experimental Aircraft with Veloce Planes

Aircraft

As a private pilot, it's likely that one of your main motivations was to avoid the long lines at the airport and have the freedom to fly anywhere you desire. But did you know that you can also construct your very own aircraft?

Homebuilt aircraft are becoming more and more popular these days with several different experimental aircraft kits on the market.

I had the opportunity to interview the Owner of Veloce, Dr. Jamie Fettig on how he's revolutionizing the market by creating a twin-engine DIY plane kit!

Intrigued? Read on for more!

Getting Your Drone License An Easy Step by Step Guide

Getting Your Drone License: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Drone

Did you know that if you intend to use your drone for commercial-related work you need a remote pilot certificate? Did you know that even recreational flyers need to pass a safety test? Many don't! You're required to pass a part 107 test in order to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.

But how exactly is this accomplished? We'll share with you all the steps you need whether you're interested in drones recreationally or want to get your drone license to build a lucrative career as a remote pilot!

The Best Student Pilot Essentials: A Comprehensive Guide

The Best Student Pilot Essentials: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you or your child wanting to explore your passion for aviation? Get started on your flight training the right way by knowing the correct steps to take and the right materials to have on hand.

In this guide, we will cover the best student pilot essential items to have in your flight bag along with the right certifications and the requirements you’ll need.

Ready? Let’s get into it!