FAA Rolls Out New Endorsement Requirement for Flight Instructor Candidates

For decades the FOI exam did not require an endorsement stating that candidates were prepared to take and pass the exam, however that will change September 1.

The changes will bring the FOI in line with many other pilot certificates that require the applicant, per the Federal Aviation Regulations, to have a "written statement or logbook endorsement from an authorized ground or flight instructor certifying that the applicant completed an applicable ground training or home study course and is prepared for the knowledge test, or a certificate of graduation issued by a part 141 school.”

The FAA uses third-party provider PSI Services LLC to provide the tests, also known as written exams. The testing centers were notified about the FOI endorsement requirement in a July 24 email from PSI, which FLYING obtained.

"During a recent review of the regulations associated with the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) test, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that applicants are required to present an endorsement from an authorized instructor or a certificate of graduation from a Part 141 school as authorization for their first attempt," the email said.

"Currently, the FAA’s [testing] matrix states that no authorization is required for an initial attempt of the FOI. The FAA has notified PSI that an updated test matrix will be published to reflect that applicants must present an endorsement for an initial attempt of the FOI effective September 1, 2024."

Applicants can find a testing center near them online and schedule the test. The test is uploaded to the test provider, which is typically a FBO or flight school. On the day of the exam, the test taker is required to present a legal photo ID, an endorsement from an instructor (if required), or the certificate equivalent.

The testing center administrators proctoring the tests are responsible for reviewing and scanning the endorsement and must turn the applicant away from testing if they are not able to meet the endorsement requirement.

In the July 24 email, PSI reminded proctors that "allowing an applicant to proceed with testing without meeting the FAA’s identification or authorization requirements may result in revocation of proctoring privileges."

Although prior to September 1 test applicants are not required to provide an endorsement to take the test, the endorsement is already being issued per § 61.183(d), § 61.185 and AC 61.65.

The FAA did not respond to a request for comment.