The advanced ground instructor certificate is one of the most under-rated credentials in aviation, mostly because of how little it takes to get: two knowledge tests and a 20-minute administrative appointment. No checkride, no oral exam, no flight time, no medical. Here's the whole path, with the actual regulations it comes from.
What an AGI actually lets you do
Under 14 CFR §61.215(b), an advanced ground instructor may provide ground training and knowledge-test recommendations for any certificate or rating — private, commercial, ATP, flight instructor knowledge areas — except the instrument rating, plus the ground portion of any flight review. The instrument side belongs to the IGI, which is why most people take both. §61.215(d) also lets you endorse the logbook or training record of anyone you've trained or recommended.
One carve-out worth knowing (added October 2024): §61.215(e) says the ground training for an initial CFI applicant must come from an instructor qualified under §61.195(h)(1) — that one course is outside a ground instructor's lane.
Step 1 — the FOI knowledge test (or an exemption)
§61.213(a)(3) requires a pass on the Fundamentals of Instructing test: the learning process, effective teaching, student evaluation, course development, lesson planning, classroom technique. You can skip it entirely under §61.213(b) if you hold a flight instructor or ground instructor certificate already, hold a state/county/city/municipal teacher's certificate authorizing you to teach 7th grade or higher, or are employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university.
Step 2 — the AGI knowledge test
§61.213(a)(4)(ii) points the AGI test at the aeronautical knowledge areas for private, commercial, and ATP certificates (§§61.97, 61.105, 61.125, 61.155, 61.309). No instructor endorsement is required to sit for it — self-study is normal, and any of the standard test-prep courses covers it. If you're planning to add IGI, taking the two tests back-to-back is common; the study material overlaps heavily.
Step 3 — the issuance appointment
With test results in hand, the certificate is issued through an administrative IACRA appointment with an examiner. Start an IACRA application, note your FTN, and bring government photo ID plus the test reports (AKTRs). The appointment itself is about 20 minutes: identity verification, test-result review, IACRA sign-off, and the temporary certificate issued on the spot. The permanent plastic arrives from the FAA in 4–6 weeks.
Daytona DPE issues ground instructor certificates virtually, worldwide — the appointment is a video call, and AGI and IGI are processed together in one appointment for one $200 fee when you show up with both AKTRs plus FOI (or an exemption).
Virtual issuance, worldwide, $200 flat. No travel fees, no rescheduling fees, no unqualified fees.
What it costs, all-in
- Knowledge tests: PSI testing-center fees, typically in the $150–$200 range per test (FOI + AGI, so two tests unless you're FOI-exempt)
- Examiner fee: $200 flat for the issuance appointment — AGI and IGI together still one $200 fee
- Study material: free to modest — the test-prep apps and books all cover these tests
No aircraft rental, no instructor hours, no medical exam. For an FOI-exempt applicant it's one written and one appointment.
After issuance — the one currency rule
The certificate never expires, but §61.217 requires recent experience to exercise it: within the preceding 12 calendar months, activity as a ground or flight instructor, a flight instructor refresher course, or a proficiency endorsement from an authorized instructor. If you let it lapse, an endorsement restores it — never a re-test.
Full requirements, FOI-exemption details, and the document checklist live on the ground instructor certificate service page.
Frequently asked
How long does it take to become an AGI?
As long as it takes you to pass two knowledge tests. The issuance itself is a 20-minute video appointment, typically 3–5 business days from first contact. Most people go from deciding to certificated inside a few weeks.
Do I need any flight time or a pilot certificate to become an AGI?
No. Ground instructor certificates have no flight-time requirement, no medical, and you don't need to be a pilot at all — the qualifying credentials are the FOI and AGI knowledge tests.
Is there a checkride for the AGI?
No. There is no practical test for any ground instructor certificate. The examiner verifies identity and test results and processes the IACRA application — an administrative action.
Should I get the IGI at the same time?
Usually, yes. AGI covers ground training for everything except the instrument rating; IGI covers instrument. The study material overlaps, and the issuance appointment handles both for one $200 fee if you bring both test reports.
Does the AGI expire?
The certificate never expires. To exercise it, 14 CFR 61.217 requires recent experience in the preceding 12 calendar months — instructing activity, a flight instructor refresher course, or a proficiency endorsement from an authorized instructor.