- What IGI Training Actually Prepares You For
- Eligibility First: Who Can Take the Test
- How the Test Works: Format, Timer and Scoring
- The Ten Knowledge Areas You Must Master
- Sequencing the Ten Areas Over Six Weeks
- Choosing Training Materials and Using the Supplement
- Registration, Fees and Test-Day Logistics
- After You Pass: Certificate, Currency and Privileges
- IGI vs IRA vs FII vs AGI: Training Focus Compared
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The FAA IGI knowledge test has 50 questions, a 150-minute limit and a 70% passing score.
- Initial IGI testing needs no instructor endorsement; retesting after a failure requires the failed report plus an instructor endorsement.
- The ten training areas mirror the aeronautical-knowledge headings in 14 CFR 61.65(b), not a weighted exam blueprint.
- PSI lists the FAA knowledge-test voucher at US$175 plus applicable tax; FOI testing is separate unless you are exempt.
What IGI Training Actually Prepares You For
Training for the Instrument Ground Instructor rating means preparing for the FAA knowledge test named Ground Instructor Instrument, test code IGI. It is not the Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA) test, the Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane (FII) test, the Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI) test, or Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI). Those are separate FAA knowledge tests with different purposes, and mixing them up is the most common way candidates waste study hours.
The credential is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. It authorizes you to provide ground instruction in instrument subject matter and to give certain related endorsements. It does not authorize flight instruction. Training therefore centers on two things at once: mastering instrument-rating-level aeronautical knowledge, and being able to explain it accurately. If you are brand new to the credential, start with our overview, What Is IGI?, and then return here for the preparation detail.
One feature sets this credential apart from many others. There is no flight-time minimum, no practical test and no requirement to hold a pilot certificate under 14 CFR 61.213 for the ground instructor rating itself. The entire gate is a knowledge test, which means your training plan is a knowledge plan, not a flying plan.
Eligibility First: Who Can Take the Test
Before you spend money on materials, confirm where you stand. The FAA testing matrix sets a minimum testing age of 16 for the knowledge test, but certificate eligibility under 14 CFR 61.213 requires age 18, the specified English proficiency, passing the applicable aeronautical-knowledge test, and FOI knowledge unless you are exempt. Our IGI requirements guide walks through each prerequisite in more depth.
What You Need to Sit the Test
- An FAA Tracking Number (FTN) obtained through IACRA.
- Acceptable identification at the testing center.
- For an initial attempt: no instructor endorsement or other written authorization.
- For a retest after failure: the failed Airman Knowledge Test Report and the required instructor training and proficiency endorsement.
FOI Exemptions
The Fundamentals of Instructing knowledge requirement is separate from the IGI test. Under 61.213 you may be exempt from it if you already hold a ground or flight instructor certificate, hold a qualifying teaching certificate permitting you to teach at grade 7 or higher, or are employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university. If none of those apply, plan for the FOI test as an additional item with its own cost and preparation.
How the Test Works: Format, Timer and Scoring
The IGI is a computer-delivered, multiple-choice knowledge test administered by PSI at authorized knowledge-testing centers. The FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix specifies:
| Feature | IGI Specification |
|---|---|
| Scored questions | 50, excluding any unscored validation items |
| Time allowed | 150 minutes (2.5 hours) |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Minimum testing age | 16 |
| Question format | Multiple choice, computer-delivered |
| Testing supplement | FAA-CT-8080-3F |
Do Not Plan Around a Two-Hour Timer
Some prep pages describe a two-hour limit. The FAA testing matrix says 150 minutes. Training to a shorter clock is not dangerous, but it can lead you to rush questions that deserve a careful read. Use 150 minutes as your reference when you take timed practice sessions.
Scored Questions Versus Validation Items
The matrix lists 50 questions and notes that this figure excludes unscored validation items. The exact number of additional unscored items is not stated in the table, so do not trust anyone who quotes a precise total. The practical lesson: treat every question as if it counts, because you cannot tell which ones are validation items. For the scoring detail, see our page on the IGI passing score.
What You May Bring
Under the test-aid rules in FAA Order 8080.6H (chapter 3), approved calculators and navigation aids are permitted subject to memory clearing and proctor approval, along with the supplied testing supplement. Outside study materials are prohibited. Do not rely on the older, canceled AC 60-11C for these rules; the active order governs.
The Ten Knowledge Areas You Must Master
The IGI does not publish a weighted domain table. Instead, the FAA test table points to the testing supplement and Learning Statement Codes. The ten areas below reproduce the aeronautical-knowledge headings in 14 CFR 61.65(b), which 61.213 incorporates for this rating. They are statutory subject areas, not a weighted exam outline, so no area can be claimed as "the biggest." Our complete guide to the ten content areas goes deeper on each one.
Domain 1: Federal Aviation Regulations Applying to IFR Flight Operations
Know the rules that govern instrument flight, because you will be teaching them.
- IFR equipment, currency and experience provisions from Part 61 and Part 91
- Alternate airport and fuel planning rules for IFR flights
- Operating requirements around clearances, minimums and lost-communication behavior
Domain 2: Aeronautical Information Manual Material for IFR
The AIM is where procedure is explained in prose, and questions often test whether you know where a rule's practical interpretation lives.
- Instrument-relevant AIM chapters on navigation aids, approaches and ATC services
- Pilot and controller responsibilities during instrument operations
- Lighting and visual-transition cues near the minimums
Domain 3: Air Traffic Control System and Instrument Procedures
Understand what ATC expects and how clearances are structured.
- Clearance elements and readback expectations
- Departure, en route and arrival procedure concepts
- Radar services and handoffs from a pilot's perspective
Domain 4: IFR Navigation and Approaches Using Navigation Systems
Expect questions about how navigation systems work, how they are tested and how approaches are flown.
- VOR, GPS and other navigation system operation and limitations
- Approach types and the sequencing of procedure segments
- Equipment checks and what a discrepancy means
Domain 5: En Route and Instrument Approach Procedure Charts
Chart interpretation is a hands-on skill; learn it by reading real charts.
- Symbols, altitudes, minimums and notes on approach charts
- En route chart structure: airways, fixes, minimum altitudes
- Using the supplement figures during the test
Domain 6: Aviation Weather Reports, Forecasts and Trend Reasoning
This area requires both decoding products and reasoning about what the weather will do next.
- Reading observations and forecasts for instrument planning
- Connecting products to trends and personal observation
- Deciding what the weather picture means for a proposed flight
Domain 7: Safe and Efficient Operation Under IFR Conditions
Covers how instrument flight is actually conducted, including performance and control with reference to instruments.
- Attitude instrument flying concepts and instrument cross-checking
- Holding, approach and missed-approach considerations
- Efficiency and safety trade-offs in instrument operations
Domain 8: Critical Weather Situations and Windshear Avoidance
Know the hazards that make instrument flight dangerous and the avoidance strategies.
- Recognition of icing, thunderstorm and low-visibility threats
- Windshear indicators and avoidance actions
- Weather-driven go/no-go reasoning
Domain 9: Aeronautical Decision Making and Judgment
Questions here test whether you can recognize hazardous attitudes and apply decision frameworks.
- Risk identification and mitigation in instrument scenarios
- Judgment under time pressure and in deteriorating conditions
- How to teach decision making, not only apply it
Domain 10: Crew Resource Management, Including Communication and Coordination
Know how crews share information and workload, which matters for instruction in multi-pilot contexts.
- Communication and coordination principles
- Workload management and task prioritization
- Recognizing breakdowns in crew coordination
Key Takeaway
Do not allocate study time by invented percentages. Because the ten areas are statutory headings rather than weighted domains, spread your preparation evenly at first, then shift hours toward the areas where your practice results are weakest.
Sequencing the Ten Areas Over Six Weeks
You do not need an elaborate method. What matters is the order: foundations that other topics depend on come first, judgment topics come last because they draw on everything before them. This is one possible arrangement tied directly to the domains above; adjust it to your background. For a broader preparation approach, read our IGI study guide.
Regulations and the AIM (Domains 1-2)
- Read the IFR-relevant regulations, then the matching AIM sections
- Note where a regulation and its AIM interpretation differ in emphasis
ATC and Navigation (Domains 3-4)
- Work through clearance structures and procedure types
- Review navigation system operation and approach segments
Charts (Domain 5)
- Practice with real en route and approach charts
- Become comfortable locating answers in the supplement
Weather (Domains 6 and 8)
- Decode reports and forecasts, then reason about trends
- Study critical weather hazards and windshear avoidance together
Operations, ADM and CRM (Domains 7, 9, 10)
- Tie instrument operations to decision-making frameworks
- Review crew coordination concepts
Timed Practice and Review
- Take full-length sessions against the 150-minute limit
- Revisit weak domains using missed-question analysis
Mixing in practice questions from the start is more effective than saving them for the end. When a missed question exposes a gap, return to the matching domain. Our IGI practice test is built for exactly that loop.
Choosing Training Materials and Using the Supplement
The training market has several established offerings. Sheppard Air, Gleim Aviation, ASA, King Schools and OpenExamPrep all provide instrument-related or ground-instructor preparation of some kind. Treat their claims as marketing information and verify anything regulatory against FAA sources. The FAA's own requirements, not a vendor page, decide what the test covers and how it is administered.
What to Look For
- Alignment with the actual test. The material should address instrument-rating-level knowledge as it relates to the ten areas above, not another instructor test.
- Chart and figure practice. Because the testing supplement FAA-CT-8080-3F is provided at the test, you should practice with the same figures.
- Explained answers. Rationales matter more than raw question counts, because the goal is to understand and later teach the material.
- Honest numbers. Be wary of any source quoting precise domain weights; the FAA does not publish a weighted IGI blueprint.
Get Comfortable with the Supplement
The testing supplement is the only reference you may use during the test besides approved calculators and navigation aids. Spend real time with the figures and learn where information lives, so that on test day you are reading rather than searching. For a condensed review aid once you are near the end of preparation, see the IGI cheat sheet.
Registration, Fees and Test-Day Logistics
Registration runs through PSI at authorized knowledge-testing centers. PSI's published FAA Airman Knowledge Test voucher price is US$175 plus applicable tax. That is the voucher price for the test, nothing more. It is not a preparation-course price, and it is not the total cost of any separately required FOI test.
A Practical Checklist
- Obtain your FAA Tracking Number through IACRA.
- Confirm you meet the age and eligibility conditions for your goals.
- Decide whether you are FOI-exempt or need that test as well.
- Schedule through PSI at an authorized center; see the notes on IGI exam dates and scheduling.
- Bring acceptable identification and any approved calculator or navigation aid, understanding that memory clearing and proctor approval apply.
- Leave outside study materials out of the testing room.
If You Do Not Pass
A retest requires the failed Airman Knowledge Test Report and the required instructor training and proficiency endorsement. That is the key difference from the initial attempt, which requires no endorsement. Plan for that step so a failed attempt does not stall you, and use the report to target the weak areas.
After You Pass: Certificate, Currency and Privileges
Passing the knowledge test is one step toward the certificate. Once issued, ground instructor certificates carry no expiration date under 14 CFR 61.19(e). That sounds like the end of the story, but it is not. Certificate permanence is different from instructional currency.
Recent-Experience Requirements
To exercise your privileges, 61.217 requires one of these alternatives within the preceding 12 calendar months:
- Qualifying ground-instructor activity
- Qualifying flight-instructor activity
- An approved flight instructor refresher course
- An authorized-instructor proficiency endorsement
Notice what is absent: there is no fixed continuing-education-unit requirement. Do not apply a CEU model from another profession to this rating. Our page on IGI certification covers the credential from the holder's perspective.
What the Rating Lets You Do
IGI privileges concern instrument ground instruction and applicable endorsements. They do not extend to flight instruction. If your goal includes teaching in the aircraft, that is a different certificate with a different path. For where the rating leads professionally, see IGI jobs, and for money questions, the IGI salary guide and whether the certification is worth it. Keep in mind that broader ground-instructor job pay is not the same as a verified premium for this specific rating.
IGI vs IRA vs FII vs AGI: Training Focus Compared
Several FAA tests sound alike but serve different goals. They do not share an identical exam, so do not assume preparation for one transfers fully to another.
| Test | What It Is For | Training Emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| IGI (Ground Instructor Instrument) | Ground instructor rating for instrument subject matter | Instrument aeronautical knowledge across the ten 61.65(b) areas |
| IRA (Instrument Rating Airplane) | Knowledge test for a pilot seeking an instrument rating | Pilot-applicant knowledge, governed by its own standards |
| FII (Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane) | Flight instructor instrument knowledge | Instructor knowledge tied to flight instruction privileges |
| AGI (Advanced Ground Instructor) | A different ground instructor rating | Broader ground-instruction scope than instrument alone |
| FOI (Fundamentals of Instructing) | Teaching-principles knowledge | Instructional theory, separate from instrument content |
The practical takeaway is to prepare for the test you are actually taking. Do not transplant the IRA's weighting, the FOI's teaching subjects or another instructor test's outline into your IGI plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FAA testing matrix lists 50 questions, excluding any unscored validation items, and a 150-minute limit. The passing score is 70%. The exact number of additional unscored items is not stated in the matrix.
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 plus the required instructor training and proficiency endorsement.
Under 14 CFR 61.213, the ground instructor rating does not impose a pilot certificate, a flight-time minimum or a practical flight test. Eligibility centers on age 18, English proficiency, the applicable knowledge test and FOI knowledge unless exempt.
Holders of a ground or flight instructor certificate, holders of qualifying teaching certificates permitting teaching at grade 7 or higher, and teachers employed at accredited colleges or universities may be exempt under 61.213.
The certificate itself has no expiration date under 61.19(e). To exercise privileges, though, you must meet one of the 61.217 recent-experience alternatives within the preceding 12 calendar months.
Ready to measure where you stand against the ten areas? Work through timed questions on the main practice test site and use your results to guide the final weeks of preparation.