Instructor Endorsement Now Required for Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) Knowledge Test : Flight Training Central

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FAA’s third-party knowledge test provider, PSI Services, recently provided notice that, effective September 1, 2024, applicants taking the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) Knowledge Test, will be required to receive an instructor endorsement before taking the exam.

Prior to this notice, the FOI exam did not require an instructor endorsement which is common for tests associated with flight and ground instructor certification. However, the current FAA Knowledge Testing Matrix (revised 09/01/24) includes this update.

The applicable language from the FAA Knowledge Testing Matrix includes:

Acceptable forms of authorization for Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) (effective September 1, 2024):

Certificate of graduation issued by an FAA certificated pilot school. (14 CFR § 61.71(a))
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. (14 CFR § 61.183(d), 14 CFR § 61.185(a)(1), 14 CFR § 61.405(a)(1)).

In its email to testing providers, PSI stated that “during a recent review of the regulations associated with the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) test, the Federal Aviation Administration 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 eligibility requirements for a flight instructor certificate are provided in § 61.183 (Eligibility Requirements). § 61.183(d)(e) provides that a person must:

(d) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor on the fundamentals of instructing listed in § 61.185 of this part appropriate to the required knowledge test;

(e) Pass a knowledge test on the areas listed in § 61.185(a)(1) of this part, unless the applicant:

(1) Holds a flight instructor certificate or ground instructor certificate issued under this part;

(2) Holds a teacher’s certificate issued by a State, county, city, or municipality that authorizes the person to teach at an educational level of the 7th grade or higher; or

(3) Is employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university.

Applicants scheduled to take the FOI exam on or after September 1 will be notified via email that they must receive an endorsement in order to take their test.

A sample test endorsement is provided below.

Fundamentals of instructing knowledge test: § 61.183(d).

I certify that__________________________________________________ [First name, MI, Last name] has received the required fundamentals of instruction training of § 61.185(a)(1). I have determined that [he or she] is prepared for the Fundamentals of Instructing knowledge test.

DATE_______________________________________CFI______________________________________

CFI NO._____________________________________EXP______________________________________

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