If you are on your way to becoming a pilot for the airlines, a charter company, or working as a corporate pilot, you will usually be required to have more flight time and experience than the 200-300 hours you earned while pursuing your ratings. One way to increase your time and experience is to become a flight instructor.

Flight Instructors teach at various levels. They offer primary instruction for a Private Pilot Certificate, as well as more advanced instruction for Commercial, Instrument, Multi-Engine and Airline Transport Pilot. Time spent instructing can be logged as your flight time enabling you to build hours while you work.

In order to obtain a Flight Instructor Certificate, you must hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate, and you must successfully pass the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI), Flight Instructor FAA Knowledge Test, and a Practical test which consists of an oral exam as well as a flight test.

Be at least 18 years of age
Hold a current FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate or ATP Certificate
Hold a valid FAA 3rd class Medical Certificate
Have the ability to read, speak, write and understand the English language
Pass the FAA Knowledge Test
Pass the FAA Practical Flight Test and Oral Exam