What Is A IGI?

What "IGI" Means Here

"IGI" is a crowded acronym, and a quick search will surface unrelated organizations, products and credentials that share the letters. On this site, IGI means Instrument Ground Instructor, the FAA ground instructor rating issued under 14 CFR Part 61. It is not a recruitment brand, not a gemology credential and not a different instructor certificate with a similar name.

The FAA uses "IGI" as the test code for the knowledge test titled Ground Instructor Instrument. Passing that test, together with meeting the other certificate requirements, is how a person earns the instrument ground instructor rating. If you want the shortest possible definition, this is it: the IGI is the FAA's credential that authorizes you to teach the ground-based knowledge side of instrument flight. For other phrasings of the same question, see our explainers on what IGI is and what IGI stands for.

What the Instrument Ground Instructor Rating Allows

An instrument ground instructor teaches the knowledge that supports instrument flying: regulations that govern IFR operations, how the air traffic control system works, how to read en route and approach charts, how to interpret aviation weather, and how to make sound decisions when conditions deteriorate. The rating covers instrument ground instruction and the applicable endorsements that flow from it.

In practice, that means an IGI holder can run an instrument rating ground school, tutor students preparing for the instrument rating knowledge test, and provide the ground instruction that precedes a student's flight training. For a deeper look at the credential itself, our overview of IGI certification covers how the rating fits into the wider ground instructor family.

Who Pursues This Rating and Who Hires for It

The rating tends to attract several kinds of candidates:

• Flight school staff and aspiring instructors who want to deliver instrument ground school in-house.
• Pilots who enjoy teaching but aren't pursuing, or haven't yet completed, a flight instructor certificate.
• Aviation educators at colleges, universities and training providers who build or teach instrument curricula.
• Retired or part-time aviators looking for a flexible way to stay involved in the field.

Employers that typically value the rating include flight schools, collegiate aviation programs and independent training operations that offer instrument ground courses. Pay depends heavily on the employer, the region and whether the work is hourly tutoring or a salaried teaching role, so there is no single reliable figure to quote. We separate those factors in the IGI salary guide and look at the broader value question in whether the IGI certification is worth it. For a look at actual role types, see IGI jobs.

Eligibility Under 14 CFR 61.213

The certificate eligibility rules live in 14 CFR 61.213. To be eligible for a ground instructor certificate with the instrument rating, an applicant must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Meet the specified English proficiency standard.
• Pass the applicable aeronautical knowledge test, which for this rating is the IGI test.
• Show Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) knowledge, unless exempt.

Notice what is absent. Section 61.213 does not require a pilot certificate, a minimum number of flight hours or a practical (flight) test for this ground instructor rating. That makes it one of the more accessible instructor credentials in aviation: it is a knowledge-based path. Note the distinction between the age to sit the knowledge test (the FAA matrix lists a minimum testing age of 16) and the age to be issued the certificate (18). For the full breakdown, read our IGI requirements guide.

The FOI Knowledge Requirement and Its Exemptions

Fundamentals of Instructing is a separate knowledge area covering how to teach. It is its own FAA knowledge test and is not part of the IGI test. Many candidates assume the IGI test covers teaching theory; it does not. The IGI test focuses on instrument-flight subject matter.

Some applicants do not need to take the FOI test. The recognized exemptions include:

• Holders of a ground instructor 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.

How the IGI Knowledge Test Works

The IGI is a computer-delivered, multiple-choice knowledge test given at PSI's authorized knowledge-testing centers. The FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix lists these parameters:

Scored questions vs. validation items

You may see the number of questions described inconsistently across the internet, and some sources even misstate the time limit as two hours. The FAA's figure is 150 minutes. The matrix specifies 50 questions excluding unscored validation items. Validation items are questions the FAA is evaluating for future use; they don't count toward your score, and you cannot tell which ones they are. The exact number of additional unscored items is not stated in the matrix, so treat any specific number you read elsewhere with caution. The practical takeaway is to answer every question with equal care.

What you can bring and use

Test-aid rules under FAA Order 8080.6H (chapter 3) allow approved calculators and navigation aids, subject to memory clearing and proctor approval, along with the supplied testing supplement. Outside study materials are prohibited. Because the supplement is part of the exam, learning to find information in it quickly is a real skill; the FAA's testing material identifies the FAA-CT-8080-3F supplement and Learning Statement Codes for the IGI. Use the active Order 8080.6H rather than the canceled AC 60-11C when checking test-aid policy.

The matrix text is dated September 25, 2026, while the table image carries an October 22, 2025 revision footer. Both show the same IGI question count, time limit and passing score, so the core parameters are consistent. Our page on the IGI passing score goes into the 70% threshold, and IGI exam dates explains scheduling.

Initial Test vs. Retest Endorsements

This is one of the most commonly misunderstood parts of the process, so it deserves its own section.

That asymmetry matters for planning. An applicant who attempts the test unprepared and fails now needs an authorized instructor's sign-off before sitting again, which adds time and possibly cost. It is one of several reasons to be genuinely ready the first time. Our IGI study guide is built around that goal.

The Ten Aeronautical Knowledge Areas

The IGI's subject matter traces to the aeronautical knowledge areas in 14 CFR 61.65(b), incorporated through 61.213(a)(4)(iii). The ten areas below are statutory headings. The FAA does not publish a weighted domain table for the IGI, so we do not assign percentages, and the number of areas does not tell you which one dominates the test. Candidates should expect to be comfortable across all of them. For a longer walkthrough, see the IGI exam domains guide.

IGI vs. AGI, FII and IRA

Several FAA credentials sound similar and are easy to mix up. They are distinct knowledge tests with different purposes, and they should not be treated as identical exams.

A useful way to remember it: the IRA tests whether you can use instrument knowledge as a pilot, while the IGI tests whether you know the material well enough to teach it on the ground. Content overlaps, but the tests are separate, and preparation for one is not automatically sufficient for another. To gauge the difficulty of the IGI itself, read how hard the IGI exam is.

A Certificate That Doesn't Expire, and Currency That Does

Under 14 CFR 61.19(e), ground instructor certificates are issued without an expiration date. Once earned, the certificate itself does not lapse. That is a genuine advantage over credentials that require periodic renewal fees or a set number of continuing education units.

But there's a second concept that people often blur with the first: recent experience. Under 14 CFR 61.217, to exercise the privileges of the certificate you must satisfy one of the following within the preceding 12 calendar months:

• Serve as a ground instructor in a qualifying capacity.
• Serve as a flight instructor in a qualifying capacity.
• Complete an approved flight instructor refresher course.
• Receive a proficiency endorsement from an authorized instructor.

What the FAA Pass-Rate Data Shows

The FAA's CY2025 Airman Knowledge Test Volume Report records 2,751 IGI test administrations, a 99.71% passing rate and a 93.11% average score. These are strong numbers, but read them carefully. They are 2025 administration-level results. They do not describe 2026, and they are not a first-attempt-only pass rate. An "administration" counts each time the test was taken, so the figure should not be read as a statement about how many unique candidates pass on their first try.

It's also worth noting what these figures can't tell you. They reflect who sits for the test, and many candidates are experienced pilots or educators who prepare thoroughly. A high pass rate is not a reason to skip preparation, because the retest endorsement requirement makes a failed attempt more inconvenient than it first appears. We examine the numbers in more depth in our IGI pass rate analysis.

Sequencing Your Study Around the Ten Areas

You don't need an elaborate method, but you do need to prepare for the way this test is built. Because the FAA doesn't weight the ten areas publicly, aim for balanced competence, and start with the topics that unlock the rest. One sensible sequence:

Keep your IGI cheat sheet handy for last-minute review, and take timed sets on the practice test site to build comfort with the 150-minute window and the computer-delivered format. You can also work through full-length practice questions to expose any gaps before test day. For a fuller plan, return to the IGI study guide.

Frequently Asked Questions