CFI Training Materials

You need the FAA Aviation Instructor's Handbook (FAA-H-8083-9B) as your primary reference, plus focused test prep for the Fundamentals of Instructing and the Flight Instructor Airplane writtens. Most candidates add an oral exam guide and the current FAA-S-ACS-25 ACS to finish checkride preparation.

Yes. The Certified Flight Instructor Airplane certificate requires two separate written exams: the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI), which covers teaching theory, and the Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA), which reframes aeronautical knowledge for instruction. Both must be passed before your practical test.

The Fundamentals of Instructing written has 50 questions with a 1.5-hour time limit, and you need 70 percent to pass. The Flight Instructor Airplane written is longer at 100 questions over 2.5 hours, also requiring a 70 percent passing score.

The Aviation Instructor's Handbook, FAA-H-8083-9B, is the source material for the FOI written. It covers the laws and levels of learning, the teaching process, lesson planning, student evaluation, professionalism, and communication, making it essential reading for every new flight instructor.

Both prepare you for the same FAA exams, so choose by learning style. Gleim offers a structured, syllabus-driven workflow with books and online ground schools, while ASA pairs concise explanations with a book-plus-software bundle. Pick one brand and stick with it rather than mixing systems.

The ASA Flight Instructor Oral Exam Guide presents likely examiner questions organized by subject, including the Fundamentals of Instructing, regulations, and airplane systems framed for teaching. It helps you rehearse clear, instructor-style answers and aligns your preparation with the current FAA-S-ACS-25 Flight Instructor ACS.