Three ratings share the ground instructor certificate — Basic, Advanced, and Instrument — and the regulation that separates them, 14 CFR §61.215, is short enough to settle the question in one table.
What each rating authorizes (§61.215)
| BGI | AGI | IGI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground training — sport / recreational / private | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Ground training — commercial, ATP, CFI knowledge areas | — | ✓ | — |
| Ground training — instrument rating | — | — | ✓ |
| Ground portion of flight reviews | sport/rec/private only | any (except instrument training) | — |
| Ground training for instrument proficiency checks (IPC) | — | — | ✓ |
| Knowledge-test recommendations | sport/rec/private | all except instrument | instrument |
Two things jump out. BGI is a strict subset of AGI. And AGI + IGI together cover everything — AGI handles every certificate and rating except instrument, IGI handles instrument and IPC ground training. All three ratings also carry §61.215(d) endorsement authority for the people you've trained or recommended.
The tests each one requires (§61.213)
Every route starts with the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) knowledge test — waived under §61.213(b) if you already hold a CFI or ground instructor certificate, hold a state/county/city/municipal teacher's certificate for 7th grade or above, or teach at an accredited college or university. Then one knowledge test per rating:
- BGI test — sport, recreational, and private pilot knowledge areas
- AGI test — those plus commercial and ATP knowledge areas
- IGI test — the §61.65 instrument-rating knowledge areas
No endorsement is needed to sit for any of them, and there's no flight time, medical, or pilot certificate required for any ground instructor rating.
So which should you get?
Skip BGI unless you have a specific reason. The FOI requirement is identical, the issuance appointment is identical, and the AGI test — while broader — is well covered by standard test prep. For the extra study you get privileges across every non-instrument certificate instead of stopping at private. The main honest case for BGI is wanting the easiest possible test and knowing you'll only ever teach at the sport/rec/private level.
Take AGI and IGI together if you'll teach at all seriously. Flight schools, sim training providers, and part-141 ground schools generally want both, because a ground-school syllabus crosses the instrument line constantly. The study overlap is large, and the issuance appointment processes both for one fee.
IGI alone makes sense mainly for instrument-focused roles — an instrument ground school, IPC ground training — or as the add-on when you already hold an AGI (you're FOI-exempt at that point, so it's one written and one appointment).
Virtual issuance with an FAA examiner — BGI, AGI, or IGI, worldwide, $200 flat. AGI + IGI together in one appointment for one fee.
Getting it issued
Whichever rating you choose, issuance is the same administrative action: an IACRA application, government photo ID, your test reports, and a short appointment with an examiner — about 20 minutes, temporary certificate issued on the call. The full checklist, FOI-exemption details, and the §61.217 currency rule are on the ground instructor certificate page, with rating-specific detail on the AGI and IGI pages, and the step-by-step in how to become an advanced ground instructor.
Frequently asked
Is BGI worth getting before AGI?
Rarely. BGI's privileges are a strict subset of AGI's, the FOI requirement is the same, and the issuance appointment is the same. Unless you specifically want the easiest test and only ever plan to teach sport/recreational/private students, go straight to AGI.
Can an AGI teach instrument ground school?
No. 14 CFR 61.215(b) explicitly excepts the instrument rating from AGI privileges — instrument ground training and IPC ground training require an IGI (or a CFII). That split is why AGI + IGI is the standard pairing.
Do I have to take the FOI test three times for three ratings?
No — once, ever. The FOI pass satisfies 61.213(a)(3), and once you hold any ground instructor certificate, 61.213(b)(1) makes you FOI-exempt for every rating you add after that. Adding IGI to an existing AGI, for example, takes just the IGI knowledge test and the appointment.
Can a BGI or AGI give a flight review?
The ground portion only — a BGI at the sport/rec/private level, an AGI for any flight review except instrument training. The flight portion must be given by a flight instructor (CFI).
Do ground instructor certificates expire?
No, but exercising them requires recent experience under 14 CFR 61.217: instructing activity, a flight instructor refresher course, or a proficiency endorsement within the preceding 12 calendar months.