CFI Quick Reference
Updated July 2026 · by Jeff, pilot and builder of Zeekin Around
What you sign, what you may not do, and the vocabulary the oral is graded on. Always write the endorsement from the current AC 61-65 — this table tells you which one you need, not the wording to copy. Reg citations here reflect the current CFR, including the December 2024 change that removed the flight instructor certificate's expiration date in favor of a recent-experience requirement.
Endorsements you will sign
| Endorsement | Reg | When |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-solo aeronautical knowledge | 61.87(b) | After the student passes your written pre-solo knowledge test and you review the incorrect answers |
| Pre-solo flight training | 61.87(c)(1) and (2) | Maneuvers and procedures of 61.87(d)–(j), in the make and model to be flown |
| Pre-solo flight training at night | 61.87(o) | Required separately before any night solo; specific make and model |
| Solo flight — first 90-day period | 61.87(n) | Specific make and model; the student may not solo without a current one |
| Solo flight — each additional 90-day period | 61.87(p) | Renewed every 90 calendar days by an instructor who gave the training |
| Solo takeoffs and landings at another airport within 25 NM | 61.93(b)(1) | Local-area solo beyond the home field, short of cross-country privileges |
| Solo cross-country (general) | 61.93(c)(1) and (2) | Plus a separate endorsement for each individual cross-country flight |
| Solo cross-country — each specific flight | 61.93(c)(3) | You review that student's planning for that route and conditions, every time |
| Repeated solo cross-country not more than 50 NM | 61.93(b)(2) | The standing endorsement for a repeated short route |
| Solo flight in Class B airspace | 61.95(a) | And a separate one for an airport located within Class B (61.95(b)) |
| Complex airplane | 61.31(e) | Retractable gear, flaps, and a controllable-pitch propeller |
| High-performance airplane | 61.31(f) | More than 200 horsepower |
| High-altitude (pressurized) airplane | 61.31(g) | Service ceiling or max operating altitude above 25,000 ft MSL |
| Tailwheel airplane | 61.31(i) | Normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings, wheel landings (unless the manufacturer recommends otherwise), and go-around procedures |
| Flight review | 61.56(a) and (c) | 1 hour ground + 1 hour flight, every 24 calendar months |
| Instrument proficiency check | 61.57(d) | Required once instrument currency has been lapsed more than six calendar months |
| Prerequisites for a practical test | 61.39(a)(6)(i) and (ii) | Given within the preceding 2 calendar months; plus the review-of-deficiencies endorsement if the knowledge test showed any |
| Knowledge test (private/commercial/etc.) | 61.35(a)(1) and the certificate's own section | The rating-specific pairing is listed in AC 61-65 app. A |
Sample wording for every one of these is in AC 61-65 appendix A. Use the current revision — endorsement text changes between revisions, and an outdated endorsement is a finding on your student's checkride, not just yours.
Your limitations as a CFI
| Limit | Rule |
|---|---|
| Flight training hours | No more than 8 hours of flight training in any 24-consecutive-hour period (61.195(a)) |
| Aircraft ratings | You must hold the instructor certificate and the pilot certificate with that category and class (61.195(b)) |
| Certificate duration | A certificate issued on or after December 1, 2024 has no expiration date; one issued before that expires 24 calendar months from issue, renewal, or reinstatement (61.19(d)) |
| Recent experience | You may exercise instructor privileges only if you satisfied a 61.197(b) recent-experience requirement within the preceding 24 calendar months — pass a CFI practical test, endorse at least 5 applicants with an 80% first-attempt pass rate, serve as a company check pilot or chief instructor, or complete an approved refresher course |
| Spin training endorsement | Required for the initial airplane instructor rating — instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery (61.183(i)) |
| Logbook entries | Log the training you give; entries must show date, total flight time, location, type of aircraft, and the nature of the training, with your signature and certificate number (61.51) |
Fundamentals of instructing vocabulary
Study strategy — 61.183 eligibility, the two knowledge tests, lesson plans, and teaching from the right seat — lives on the How to Prepare page.