Submitting Paperwork Once you have completed all 16 topics, including the corresponding exam questions, you are ready to complete the following course documentation steps if you want CFI Administration to issue your graduation certificate: Click Exam Summary on the menu above to display and print the Exam Score Summary. Sign the declaration certifying to your unassisted completion. Open the FAA Form 8710-1, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application and accompanying CFI Administration instructions by clicking below. You will complete the FAA Form 8710-1 online. The program will prompt you to complete the boxes appropriate to CFI Renewal. Click here to open the FAA Form 8710-1 and instructions Before you print, carefully proofread the form. If there are any errors, click in the field and make the correction. Now, click the Print button. If you discover an error after you have printed the form, you can complete the form again online. After you have printed the FAA Form 8710-1, sign it and date it. Follow the CFI Administration Instructions that print with the completed FAA Form 8710-1. You will be provided with a checklist to use to assist you in assembling the following documents: FAA Form 8710-1 — completed, signed, and dated Official Identification Document — completed, signed, and dated Expiration Date Sheet A photocopy of the personal ID used for the official identification document A photocopy of your pilot certificate (both sides) Your original flight instructor certificate (hard copy) Exam Score Summary Affidavit certifying unassisted completion A special mailing label will print so you can send your documents to CFI Administration at the following address: Attn: CFI Renewal Department 421 Aviation Way Frederick, MD 21701-4756 If you have any questions about your renewal paperwork, contact AOPA Air Safety Foundation CFI Administration. Email: cfi.renewal@aopa.org Phone: 1-800-638-3101 Direct Line: 1-301-695-2000 Fax: 1-301-695-2375 Your course completion documents must reach CFI Administration no later than the last day of the calendar month in which your CFI certificate expires. You may need to express mail your completed documents to the address above if you are getting close to your expiration date. The expiration date is always the last day of the month in which your certificate expires. However, you should strive to complete your course several weeks before the deadline, so CFI Administration has time to contact you if your course documentation is incomplete. Keep one set of copies of your course documentation materials for your own records. Renewal Process When we receive this information at CFI Administration, we will inspect your entire paperwork file and begin the graduation/certificate renewal process, if everything is in order. If your paperwork is incomplete, will we contact you immediately by e-mail or phone to request the missing documentation. The following information is provided to answer your course completion questions: If your course completion paperwork reaches CFI Administration within the 3 calendar months preceding (or during) your month of expiration, your new CFI certificate will be issued with the same expiration month as your old CFI certificate. If you complete the course and send in your course completion paperwork more than 3 calendar months prior to your expiration month, the month we receive your paperwork will be the expiration month on your new CFI certificate. It is not necessary for you to receive your new CFI graduation certificate prior to the expiration date of your old CFI certificate. If your materials arrive at CFI Administration during the last two to three weeks of the month in which your certificate expires, you may not receive your new certificate until the following month. However, your instructing privileges will not be interrupted. Your original CFI certificate or documentation acceptable to the administrator is now required by 14 CFR part 61, section 61.3(d) to be in your personal possession or available in the aircraft while instructing. According to FAA headquarters, a copy of your certificate is acceptable documentation. So, if you are actively instructing, you should make a copy of the front and back of your certificate and keep it available until your temporary certificate arrives. 14 CFR Part 141 Chief and Assistant Chief Instructors The CFI Renewal Online Course may be used for meeting the annual training requirements of Section 141.79(c) pertaining to chief and assistant chief instructors with FAA concurrence. Remember that each of the FAA’s Flight Standards District Offices may have the need to ensure that chief flight instructors within their jurisdictional area complete a specific syllabus of training material during any given 12-month period. In such a case, should specific training be deemed necessary at the discretion of the FSDO, you may be required to supplement either a portion or all of the CFI Renewal Online Course. If you are using the CFI Renewal Online Course for meeting Section 141.79(c) requirements, complete the coursework as described earlier and take the following steps to provide the indicated documentation: Complete the FAA Form 8710-1, signed and dated. Photocopy your flight instructor certificate and photo ID. Be sure to copy both sides of the documents. Print the Exam Score Summary/Affidavit. Mail the documents to CFI Administration at the same address: Attn: CFI Renewal Department 421 Aviation Way Frederick, MD 21701-4756 If you have any questions about your renewal paperwork, contact AOPA Air Safety Foundation CFI Administration. Email: cfi.renewal@aopa.org Phone: 1-800-638-3101 Direct Line: 1-301-695-2000 Fax: 1-301-695-2375 CFI Administration will review your documentation, and if everything is in order, issue a graduation certificate. The graduation certificate will be mailed to you as verification of course completion.