Big changes are coming for certified flight instructors on December 1, 2024. While it's been widely publicized that CFIs will no longer have an expiration date associated with their certificate under the new rules, CFIs are required to maintain recent flight instruction activity or participate in a flight instructor refresher course (FIRC) at least every 24 months. Failure to document and apply for recency will have the same effect as a CFI expiring.

You may have forgotten that pilot certificates never expire. Once a pilot, always a pilot. You never have to take another test or worry about another checkride. All you need is a Flight Review with a local CFI. A little brush-up with your local CFI with enough flights to demonstrate competence again (minimum one hour), and you're back in the air.

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.