Requirements

• According to the Naples Air Center in Naples, Florida, the Federal Aviation Administration has defined a number of requirements for prospective flight instructors. To become a certified flight instructor, or CFI, pilots must already possess at least a commercial pilot certificate prior to beginning training. The prospective CFI must also be at least 18 years old and hold a valid FAA Class II medical certificate. In addition, a student flight instructor must demonstrate knowledge of aviation theories on a specialized theory test and pass a series of oral and practical tests with an FAA flight examiner. Flight instructors must also be proficient in the English language, and schools may specify that CFI students be able to speak, read and write in English.
  
  

Certifications

• In addition to the basic CFI license, flight instructors may obtain a number of certifications that allow them to teach additional types of aviation. According to the Sacramento, California, flight school Sky Walk, Inc., flight instructors who want to teach students in a multiengine aircraft must hold a CFI-ME certificate. Those who wish to go a step further and teach other prospective flight instructors must hold a Certified Flight Instructor Instructor, or CFII, certificate. In addition, the Easy Flight website notes that flight instructors can obtain an ultralight certificate to instruct students on navigating powered parachutes and other ultralight aircraft.
  
  

Costs

• The price of a CFI certification varies considerably from area to area and even from school to school, but it typically accounts for at least 15 hours of flight instruction, 10 hours of ground school, several hours of flight briefings and miscellaneous materials. Schools may offer package rates for as low as $4,600 as of November 2010; add-on certificates such as CFI-ME and CFII can cost up to $6,000 more. Pilots who need additional instruction or more than the average amount of flight time may pay considerably more.
  
  

Benefits

• The Certified Flight Instructor certificate is one of the highest achievements a pilot can earn, according to Sky Walk. With this certification, pilots can earn extra money or begin a career in teaching student pilots the art of aviation. In addition, flight instructors can count hours in the plane with a student toward FAA mandatory flight times. Sky Walk points out that the CFI certificate serves as a point of departure for pilots who want to move on to higher-paying flight-related careers.
  
  

Considerations

• Despite the benefits of holding a CFI certificate, flight instructors often endure a number of demands associated with the position. The Ask a CFI website notes that flight instructors don't automatically attain multiengine flight ratings or retain instrument flight privileges. In addition, flight instructors must renew the certification every 24 months.