- What This Exam Actually Is
- The Numbers at a Glance
- Registration, Fees and Identification
- The Ten Knowledge Areas in One Pass
- High-Yield Topics Worth Memorizing
- Eligibility, the FOI Exemption and Retests
- IGI vs IRA vs FII vs AGI
- Lifetime Certificate, 12-Month Currency
- Test-Day Rules and Pacing
- A Domain-Ordered Review Plan
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The FAA IGI knowledge test has 50 questions, a 150-minute limit, and a 70% passing score.
- PSI publishes a US$175 plus tax voucher price; initial IGI testing needs no instructor endorsement.
- The ten domains mirror 14 CFR 61.65(b); the FAA does not publish weighted percentages for them.
- Ground instructor certificates never expire, but exercising privileges needs 61.217 recent experience within 12 calendar months.
What This Exam Actually Is
The IGI is the FAA knowledge test called Ground Instructor Instrument, test code IGI. Passing it is the aeronautical-knowledge step toward the Instrument Ground Instructor rating, which lets you teach instrument ground subjects and give the endorsements tied to that instruction. It is not the Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA) test, the Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane (FII) test, the Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI) test, or the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) test. Those are separate FAA knowledge tests with their own question banks and eligibility paths.
Two features set this exam apart from most pilot tests. First, there is no practical test and no flight-time requirement: 14 CFR 61.213 does not require a pilot certificate for this ground instructor rating. Second, the certificate itself has no expiration date, which changes how you think about maintaining it. This one-page-style review pulls the facts together; if you want the full strategy behind them, the IGI Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt goes deeper.
The Numbers at a Glance
Everything below comes from the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix and related FAA publications. Memorize this table first; it answers most of the questions candidates ask in the first week.
| Item | IGI Fact |
|---|---|
| Issuer | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) |
| Test name and code | Ground Instructor Instrument (IGI) |
| Delivery | Computer-based, multiple choice, at authorized PSI testing centers |
| Scored questions | 50 (excludes any unscored validation items) |
| Time allowed | 150 minutes (not two hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Minimum testing age | 16 |
| Testing supplement | FAA-CT-8080-3F |
| Voucher price (PSI) | US$175 plus applicable tax |
| CY2025 FAA volume report | 2,751 administrations; 99.71% passing rate; 93.11% average score |
For a closer look at what 70% means in practice, see IGI Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. For the broader data picture, IGI Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows explains how to read the FAA volume figures.
Registration, Fees and Identification
What you need before test day
- An FAA Tracking Number (FTN) obtained through IACRA.
- Acceptable identification that satisfies the testing center's requirements.
- A scheduled appointment with PSI at an authorized knowledge-testing center.
What the fee covers
PSI publishes the FAA Airman Knowledge Test voucher price at US$175 plus applicable tax. That is the price of the test sitting only. It is not a prep-course price, and it is not the total cost of any separately required FOI test. If you are budgeting, add study materials and any FOI-related testing separately; the IGI Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown walks through each line item.
Endorsements: initial test versus retest
An initial IGI attempt requires no instructor endorsement or other written authorization. A retest after failure is different: you must present the failed Airman Knowledge Test Report and the required instructor training or proficiency endorsement. Keep that failed report; you cannot retest without it. Scheduling windows and logistics are covered in IGI Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
The Ten Knowledge Areas in One Pass
The ten domains are the aeronautical-knowledge headings in 14 CFR 61.65(b), which 61.213 incorporates for this rating. They are statutory subject areas, not an FAA-published weighted blueprint. The FAA identifies the testing supplement and Learning Statement Codes for the IGI rather than percentage weights, so any site quoting "Domain 5 is 15% of the exam" is inventing a figure. Treat all ten as fair game.
- Federal Aviation Regulations that apply to flight operations under IFR.
- Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) information applicable to IFR operations.
- Air traffic control system and procedures for instrument flight operations.
- IFR navigation and approaches using navigation systems.
- IFR en route and instrument approach procedure charts, and how to use them.
- Aviation weather reports and forecasts, including forecasting trends from reports and personal observation.
- Safe and efficient operation of aircraft under instrument flight rules and conditions.
- Critical weather situations and windshear avoidance.
- Aeronautical decision making and judgment.
- Crew resource management, including crew communication and coordination.
The full breakdown, with how each area tends to appear on the test, is in IGI Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 10 Content Areas.
High-Yield Topics Worth Memorizing
Because the FAA does not weight the domains, your job is to be competent across all ten, with extra drilling where chart and weather questions demand precise reading. These blocks summarize what instrument ground instructor candidates are expected to be able to explain, since the rating is about teaching this material.
Regulations and the AIM (Domains 1 and 2)
Expect questions that require you to apply IFR rules rather than recite them.
- IFR operating rules in Part 91, including what is required for flight in instrument conditions.
- Where the AIM expands on regulatory requirements, such as communications, clearances, and procedures.
- Knowing which source answers a question: the regulation sets the requirement, the AIM explains the procedure.
ATC, Navigation and Charts (Domains 3, 4 and 5)
This cluster rewards candidates who can read a chart and a clearance together.
- Clearance elements and the logic behind ATC procedures for instrument flight.
- How navigation systems support en route flying and instrument approaches.
- Interpreting en route charts and instrument approach procedure charts, including minimums, altitudes, and procedural notes.
- Using the FAA-CT-8080-3F supplement correctly, since figures and legends come from it during the test.
Weather (Domains 6 and 8)
Weather is two of the ten areas, so it deserves proportionate time even without published weights.
- Decoding aviation weather reports and forecasts, and judging trends from them.
- Recognizing critical weather situations that threaten instrument flight.
- Windshear avoidance: what it is, how to anticipate it, and how to teach avoidance.
Operations, ADM and CRM (Domains 7, 9 and 10)
These are judgment-flavored areas where reading each answer choice carefully matters.
- Safe and efficient instrument operations, including how conditions change decisions.
- Aeronautical decision making and judgment as applied to instrument scenarios.
- Crew resource management: communication and coordination among crew members.
Eligibility, the FOI Exemption and Retests
Certificate eligibility under 14 CFR 61.213
To be eligible for the certificate, you need to be at least 18, meet the specified English proficiency standard, pass the applicable aeronautical-knowledge examination, and satisfy the Fundamentals of Instructing knowledge requirement unless exempt. Note the distinction: you can sit the IGI test at 16, but certificate eligibility requires age 18.
Who is exempt from FOI knowledge
- Holders of a ground or flight instructor certificate.
- Holders of a teaching certificate that permits teaching at grade 7 or higher.
- Teachers employed at an accredited college or university.
If none of those describe you, plan for the FOI knowledge requirement as a separate item. No pilot certificate, flight-time minimum, or practical flight test is required for this ground instructor rating. The complete eligibility picture is in IGI Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
IGI vs IRA vs FII vs AGI
These acronyms get confused constantly, and they do not share an exam. The table below separates them by purpose rather than claiming they overlap in content.
| Test | Full Name | What It Is For |
|---|---|---|
| IGI | Ground Instructor Instrument | Knowledge test toward the Instrument Ground Instructor rating; ground instruction only |
| IRA | Instrument Rating Airplane | Knowledge test for a pilot seeking an instrument rating in airplanes |
| FII | Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane | Knowledge test for flight instructors adding instrument airplane privileges |
| AGI | Advanced Ground Instructor | A different ground instructor knowledge test covering a broader scope |
The practical takeaway: IGI privileges concern instrument ground instruction and applicable endorsements. They do not grant authority to provide flight instruction. Preparing with IRA or FII material as a substitute risks studying the wrong blueprint, so use IGI-specific practice questions such as those on the main IGI practice test site.
Lifetime Certificate, 12-Month Currency
This is the point candidates most often get wrong. Under 14 CFR 61.19(e), ground instructor certificates are issued without an expiration date. That does not mean you may instruct indefinitely without upkeep. To exercise the privileges, 61.217 requires recent experience within the preceding 12 calendar months, satisfied by any one of these alternatives:
- Qualifying ground-instructor activity.
- Qualifying flight-instructor activity.
- An approved flight instructor refresher course.
- A proficiency endorsement from an authorized instructor.
Key Takeaway
Think of it as two separate clocks: the certificate itself never lapses, but your ability to use it does. There is no fixed continuing-education-unit requirement in the rule, so do not substitute one. Track which 61.217 alternative you are using and keep documentation.
Test-Day Rules and Pacing
The testing rules come from FAA Order 8080.6H, Conduct of Airman Knowledge Tests (chapter 3), which is the active guidance and replaces the canceled AC 60-11C. In summary:
- Approved calculators and navigation aids are allowed, subject to memory clearing and proctor approval.
- The FAA-supplied testing supplement is available for chart and figure questions.
- Outside study materials are prohibited in the testing room.
Pacing the 150 minutes
With 50 scored questions and 150 minutes, you have roughly three minutes per question on average, which is generous. Because validation items may be mixed in without being identified, you cannot tell which questions are unscored, so give every question full effort. Spend extra time on chart-based items, where locating the right figure in the supplement is part of the skill, and leave time to review flagged answers. Read each stem fully; judgment-style questions in the decision-making and CRM areas often hinge on one qualifying phrase.
For perspective on how candidates fare overall, the FAA's CY2025 Airman Knowledge Test Volume Report recorded 2,751 IGI administrations, a 99.71% passing rate, and a 93.11% average score. These are administration-level results for 2025, not a 2026 figure and not a first-attempt-only pass rate, so treat them as context rather than a promise.
A Domain-Ordered Review Plan
One short, IGI-specific sequence beats generic scheduling. The logic: build the regulatory and chart foundation first, because weather, operations, and judgment questions all assume you can read an approach chart and know the rules. Adjust the pace to your background.
Rules and Procedures
- Domains 1 and 2: IFR regulations and the AIM.
- Domain 3: ATC system and instrument procedures.
Navigation and Charts
- Domains 4 and 5: navigation systems, en route charts, approach charts.
- Practice locating figures in the FAA-CT-8080-3F supplement.
Weather and Operations
- Domains 6 and 8: reports, forecasts, critical weather, windshear.
- Domain 7: safe and efficient instrument operations.
Judgment and Full Review
- Domains 9 and 10: decision making and CRM.
- Timed mixed sets across all ten areas; revisit missed topics.
Run timed sets on the IGI practice tests in the final week so the 150-minute format feels routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAA testing matrix lists 50 questions, excluding any unscored validation items, with 150 minutes allowed and a 70% passing score. The exact number of extra unscored items is not established by the table.
Not for an initial attempt. You need an FAA Tracking Number through IACRA and acceptable identification. A retest after failure requires the failed Airman Knowledge Test Report and the required instructor training or proficiency endorsement.
No. Under 14 CFR 61.19(e) ground instructor certificates have no expiration date. However, exercising privileges requires one of the 61.217 recent-experience alternatives within the preceding 12 calendar months.
That depends on your goals and local demand, and no credential-specific salary premium has been verified. The Is the IGI Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and IGI Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis separate credential eligibility from broader ground-instructor job pay.
PSI publishes an FAA Airman Knowledge Test voucher price of US$175 plus applicable tax. That covers the test sitting only, not study materials or any separately required FOI test.
Keep this sheet handy as a quick reference, then confirm the details that matter to you against the FAA sources before you schedule. For a broader orientation to the credential, see What Is IGI Certification?, and when you are ready to drill questions, head to the IGI Exam Prep practice test.