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Flight Instructor (CFI) Airplane practice test and AI study plan
Prepare for the FAA Flight Instructor – Airplane (FIA) knowledge test. Track every topic on the test, master each one with an AI tutor that cites the FAA handbooks, and take timed mock exams weighted like the real thing.
- Questions
- 100
- Time allowed
- 2.5 hours
- Passing score
- 70%
- ACS topics
- 1004
How it works
What’s on the FIA test
Questions come from the knowledge and risk management elements of the Flight Instructor for Airplane Category ACS. Our mock exams spread the 100 questions across its areas in proportion to how many topics each has; the FAA does not publish its exact weighting.
| Area of operation | Topics | Mock exam questions |
|---|---|---|
| II. Technical Subject Areas | 207 | 19 |
| III. Preflight Preparation | 44 | 5 |
| IV. Preflight Lesson on a Maneuver to be Performed in Flight | 4 | 1 |
| V. Preflight Procedures | 60 | 6 |
| VI. Airport and Seaplane Base Operations | 19 | 3 |
| VII. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds | 243 | 22 |
| VIII. Fundamentals of Flight | 28 | 3 |
| IX. Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers | 75 | 8 |
| X. Slow flight, Stalls, and Spins | 125 | 12 |
| XI. Basic Instrument Maneuvers | 65 | 7 |
| XII. Emergency Operations | 82 | 8 |
| XIII. Multiengine Operations | 37 | 4 |
| XIV. Postflight Procedures | 15 | 2 |
Taking the FIA knowledge test
What you need before, during, and after the FAA Flight Instructor – Airplane test. Requirements change, so confirm with the sources below before you schedule.
Recent changes
- Starting October 26, 2026, some questions include their images on screen instead of in the testing supplement.
Before the test
- Minimum age
- You must be at least 16 to take the FIA test.
- Authorization
- No endorsement is needed to take the knowledge test.
- Registration
- Get an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) by creating a profile in IACRA, then schedule with PSI, the FAA's testing vendor, online or by phone at 844-704-1487. Cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours ahead, and arrive about 15 minutes early.
- Cost
- PSI charges $175 per knowledge test, plus tax where it applies.
On test day
- Format
- 100 multiple-choice questions in 2.5 hours (150 minutes). You need 70% to pass.
- Bring
- A current government-issued photo ID that shows your date of birth, signature, and physical residential address (a P.O. box doesn't count). Applicants under 18 without an acceptable ID need a parent or guardian to attest to their identity.
- Provided
- The test center provides the testing supplement, scratch paper, and a pen, and the test software has a built-in calculator. You may bring an E6B, plotter, or a basic or aviation calculator if you clear its memory in front of the proctor, though the center can refuse any personal calculator.
After the test
- Results
- You get your printed Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR) at the test center as soon as you finish. It shows your score and a code for each knowledge area you missed.
- Validity
- A passing result is valid for 24 calendar months for the practical test.
- If you fail
- You need additional training and a written endorsement from the authorized instructor who gave it, then present the failed test report at the retest. There is no required waiting period.
- Higher score
- You can retake a passed test to improve your score after 30 days; the most recent score is the one that counts.
- Next step
- Pass the flight instructor practical test, where the examiner must evaluate every area you missed. You must be 18 to hold a flight instructor certificate.
Sources: 14 CFR 61.39 · 14 CFR 61.49 · 14 CFR 61.183 · FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix · FAA airman testing · PSI FAA testing programs · FAA Order 8080.6H. Checked October 2026.
Online ground school courses for the FIA test
A course teaches the material; KTR Helper helps you master it and track what’s left. Here are the options we know of. Listings marked Sponsored are paid placements and appear first; the rest are shown in a rotating random order.
- Flight Instructor Study Courses Sheppard Airtest prep app, works offline
Separate question-based study courses for each instructor test that work offline.
- Online Ground School: Flight or Ground Instructor Gleim Aviationvideo course + test prep
10 modules of about 35 hours with study guides, videos, and quizzes; the test sign-off is included.
- Prepware Online ASAtest prep
Cloud-based question bank with study sessions and practice tests for one chosen FAA knowledge test, with 24 months of access.
- GroundSchool - Flight and Ground Instructor Dauntless Aviationtest prep app, works offline
FAA-style questions with explanations for flight and ground instructor tests and the FOI, with free updates.
- Flight Instructor (CFI) & FOI Ground School & Test Prep Bundle King Schoolsvideo course + test prep
About 14.5 hours of CFI video and 3 hours of FOI video, with FAA-style questions, explanations, and unlimited randomized practice exams.
- FAA Test Prep Online: Flight and Ground Instructor plus FOI Gleim Aviationtest prep
1,200+ multiple-choice questions with explanations, study sessions, and unlimited exam-style practice tests.
- Flight Instructor Checkride and Test Prep Course (CFI, CFII and FOI) Sporty'stest prep
Study guides and test-prep modules with 3,500 FAA-style questions built on ASA Prepware, oral exam flashcards, and an FOI test endorsement.
- CFI & FOI Courses MzeroAvideo course
9 FOI lessons and 17 CFI lessons delivered as video ground school.
- Free FAA Practice Test – CFI/FOI King Schoolspractice examFree
Free practice exam drawing FAA-style questions from King's CFI and FOI question database.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Flight Instructor (CFI) Airplane knowledge test?
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The FAA Flight Instructor – Airplane (FIA) knowledge test has 100 multiple-choice questions, 2.5 hours (150 minutes) to answer them, and a passing score of 70%.
What does the Flight Instructor (CFI) Airplane test cover?
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Questions come from the knowledge and risk management elements of the Flight Instructor for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards: Technical Subject Areas; Preflight Preparation; Preflight Lesson on a Maneuver to be Performed in Flight; Preflight Procedures; Airport and Seaplane Base Operations; Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds; Fundamentals of Flight; Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers; Slow flight, Stalls, and Spins; Basic Instrument Maneuvers; Emergency Operations; Multiengine Operations; Postflight Procedures.
How old do you have to be to take the Flight Instructor (CFI) Airplane test?
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You must be at least 16 to take the FIA test.
Do I need an endorsement to take the FIA test?
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No endorsement is needed to take the knowledge test.
How much does the Flight Instructor (CFI) Airplane knowledge test cost?
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PSI charges $175 per knowledge test, plus tax where it applies. You schedule through PSI after getting an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) in IACRA.
How long are FIA test results valid?
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A passing result is valid for 24 calendar months for the practical test.
What happens if I fail the FIA test?
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You need additional training and a written endorsement from the authorized instructor who gave it, then present the failed test report at the retest. There is no required waiting period.
How should I study for the Flight Instructor (CFI) Airplane test?
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Take a ground school course to learn the material, then use KTR Helper to track all 1004 ACS topics, master each one with the AI tutor and practice questions, and take timed mock exams. After the test, add your knowledge test report and the codes you missed move to the top of your plan for the checkride.
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