— Here is the skinny on the new FAA rule removing Expiration Dates from CFI Certificates —

  • Yes, starting Dec 1st, 2024, the FAA is removing the “Expiration Date” from CFI certificates!
  • Do I still need to “renew” my CFI Certificate every 2 years then, even with no Expiration Date?
    • Yes! The only practical difference is that the terms are renamed– “CFI Recency” instead of “CFI Renewal”, and “Recent Experience Date” instead of “Expiration Date”
    • However, YOU STILL MUST COMPLETE the same Recency / Renewal requirements every 2 years to keep your CFI certificate valid!
    • While the “Expiration Date” won’t be printed on the physical CFI certificate anymore, it is renamed to “Recent Experience Date” and will only be shown on the FAA’s Airmen Registry website
    • Otherwise the new Recent Experience requirements are still the same as they were for Renewal previously
  • What are the new Recent Experience requirements?
    • They are nearly identical to the previous “Renewal” requirements! You can basically change the word “Expiration” to “Recent Experience”, and almost everything else about the process remains the same!
    • Completing a FIRC (like ours!) and submitting an 8710 through a Certifying Official (an ACR, DPE, or FAA Inspector) every 2 years (just like the previous rules!) satisfies the requirement. So if you’re reading this, just keep “renewing” through a FIRC every 2 years and you’ll be good to go!
    • Check 14 CFR 61.197 for the other methods available to maintain Recency every 2 years, but again they are basically the same as previous “Renewal” methods (Instructor record, passing a Practical Exam, FIRC, etc)
  • What happens if I don’t complete the Recency requirements within 24 months of my previous Expiration or Recent Experience Date?
    • You will not be allowed to instruct!
    • However, you will have a grace period of 3 months to complete your Recent Experience requirement, like a FIRC. You will not be allowed to instruct during that time, but if you complete the Recent Experience requirement during that time, then you are current again. 
    • If you exceed the 3 month grace period, your CFI certificate is no longer valid or able to “Renew”, so you must Reinstate your certificate by Practical Exam / Checkride to use it again, just like if it expired under previous rules
  • Do I still need to submit an IACRA 8710-1 application to prove my Recent Experience Date?
    • Yes! Nearly identical to the previous “Renewal” requirement, you must submit an IACRA 8710 through a Certifying Official (ACR, DPE, or FAA Inspector) to document your new Recent Experience Date.
    • IACRA will have a new application selection available starting Dec 2nd to submit for CFI Recent Experience Update
  • Can’t I just use my FIRC graduation certificate to prove Recent Experience?
    • No! You must also document your Recent Experience Date with the FAA by submitting an IACRA 8710 application– the same as the previous “Renewal” requirement
  • How can a student or CFI check or prove the Recent Experience Date of a CFI if it’s not on their card?
    • CFI Recent Experience Dates will be kept available to the public on the FAA’s Airmen Registry website
    • The Airman Registry website will be updated when the CFI submits an 8710 showing the required Recent Experience