Practice tests › HFA
Flight Instructor (CFI) Helicopter Added Rating practice test and AI study plan
Prepare for the FAA Flight Instructor Helicopter (Added Rating) (HFA) 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
- 25
- Time allowed
- 1 hours
- Passing score
- 70%
- ACS topics
- 734
How it works
What’s on the HFA test
Questions come from the knowledge and risk management elements of the Flight Instructor for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating ACS. Our mock exams spread the 25 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 | 172 | 4 |
| III. Preflight Preparation | 44 | 2 |
| IV. Preflight Lesson on a Maneuver to be Performed in Flight | 4 | 1 |
| V. Preflight Procedures | 32 | 2 |
| VI. Airport and Heliport Operations | 28 | 1 |
| VII. Hovering Maneuvers | 72 | 2 |
| VIII. Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds | 104 | 3 |
| IX. Fundamentals of Flight | 28 | 1 |
| X. Performance Maneuvers | 53 | 2 |
| XI. Emergency Operations | 143 | 4 |
| XII. Special Operations | 47 | 2 |
| XIII. Postflight Procedures | 7 | 1 |
Taking the HFA knowledge test
What you need before, during, and after the FAA Flight Instructor Helicopter (Added Rating) 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 HFA test.
- Authorization
- No endorsement is needed to take the test, but the added-rating test is only for applicants who already hold a flight instructor certificate.
- 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
- 25 multiple-choice questions in 1 hours (60 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 practical test, where the examiner must evaluate every area you missed on the knowledge test.
Sources: 14 CFR 61.35 · 14 CFR 61.39 · 14 CFR 61.49 · 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 HFA 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.
- 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 Helicopter Ground School & Test Prep (CFI) King Schoolsvideo course + test prep
About 13.5 hours of video with FAA-style flight instructor questions after each segment.
- Flight Instructor Study Courses Sheppard Airtest prep app, works offline
Separate question-based study courses for each instructor test that work offline.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Flight Instructor (CFI) Helicopter Added Rating knowledge test?
+
The FAA Flight Instructor Helicopter (Added Rating) (HFA) knowledge test has 25 multiple-choice questions, 1 hours (60 minutes) to answer them, and a passing score of 70%.
What does the Flight Instructor (CFI) Helicopter Added Rating test cover?
+
Questions come from the knowledge and risk management elements of the Flight Instructor for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards: Technical Subject Areas; Preflight Preparation; Preflight Lesson on a Maneuver to be Performed in Flight; Preflight Procedures; Airport and Heliport Operations; Hovering Maneuvers; Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds; Fundamentals of Flight; Performance Maneuvers; Emergency Operations; Special Operations; Postflight Procedures.
How old do you have to be to take the Flight Instructor (CFI) Helicopter Added Rating test?
+
You must be at least 16 to take the HFA test.
Do I need an endorsement to take the HFA test?
+
No endorsement is needed to take the test, but the added-rating test is only for applicants who already hold a flight instructor certificate.
How much does the Flight Instructor (CFI) Helicopter Added Rating knowledge test cost?
+
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 HFA test results valid?
+
A passing result is valid for 24 calendar months for the practical test.
What happens if I fail the HFA test?
+
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) Helicopter Added Rating test?
+
Take a ground school course to learn the material, then use KTR Helper to track all 734 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.
Related practice tests
Ready to start studying for the HFA?
Free account. No credit card.