Instructor Training

Flight instructors are pilots who hold an additional qualification allowing them to teach. Becoming one is a recognised step in many careers. This guide describes what an instructor course is, how systems differ, and what to check. It is not a substitute for the authority's requirements.

What an instructor qualification is

In most systems an instructor qualification is a separate rating or certificate on top of a pilot licence. It has prerequisites, typically a pilot licence of a certain level, a certain amount of experience and a pass at a specific test. The United States, Canada and the EASA system each use different names and structures.

• United States: flight instructor certificates are issued under Part 61. Eligibility is set in the rules for flight instructors; see the United States page.
• Canada: Transport Canada lists instructor ratings in its licensing standard, including a category of instructor rating with its own experience entry (Canada page).
• Germany and other EASA states: the German page notes that FI, CRI, IRI, TRI and SFI are the instructor authorisations in the EU framework, handled by the competent authority (Germany page). Different codes mean different things: for example an instructor for classes of aircraft versus one for instrument or type rating training.

Because terminology varies, always ask which exact authorisation the course leads to and what it allows you to teach.

Typical elements of an instructor course

• Ground training in teaching methods and the syllabus.
• Flight training, including practice in teaching from the instructor's seat.
• A final assessment, usually conducted by an examiner or inspector approved by the authority.
• Administrative steps: application to the authority and a licence entry.

The details differ. Some systems require an instructor to work under supervision for a period after qualifying, others have restrictions on which students they may teach.

Why people take it

Reasons include building experience, working in a school and teaching others. This site does not promise any employment outcome. Schools decide whom they hire, and the number of vacancies varies. A qualification does not guarantee a position, and a school that advertises "instructor jobs after the course" is not promising recruitment unless it says so in a contract. Ask for the terms in writing.

Questions about prerequisites

Before enrolling, confirm:

• Which licence and experience are needed, according to the authority.
• Whether your licence is accepted in the country where you plan to train. A foreign licence may need conversion or validation first; see Investigating Licence Conversion.
• Whether your medical is valid for the privileges you intend to use.
• Whether language proficiency requirements apply for instruction.
• Whether non-citizens need a visa or security clearance to take the course; for example, in the United States see the United States page.

Check the provider

Some instructor courses are run by flight schools; some by dedicated organisations; some by individual instructors. Ask how the provider is approved or registered. On this site, approval status is shown with labels such as Verified in authority record, Stated by the school, Not verified and Sources conflict; see Verification explained. Approval is not a quality ranking, and it is not an employment guarantee.

Questions to ask

• Which instructor authorisation will I hold, and what are its privileges and limits?
• Who conducts the final test? Is the examiner fee included?
• What is the expected structure and time, and what happens if I need more?
• Does the school hire its own graduates, and on what terms?
• What do I need to do to keep the rating valid?

You may also want to look at the site's flight instructor courses, and read Understanding Ratings and Endorsements for background on how instructor ratings fit with other ratings.