FAA FII
FAA Flight Instructor Instrument (FII) Airman Knowledge Test
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ExploreAbout this exam
The FAA Flight Instructor Instrument (FII) airman knowledge test is the written exam a pilot takes to add the instrument instructor privilege to an existing flight instructor certificate. It is aimed at certificated flight instructors who already hold an instrument rating and want to teach instrument students, and at instrument-rated commercial pilots building toward that role. The test is delivered by computer at PSI Services Knowledge Testing Centers, and administration is governed by Order 8080.6H, Conduct of Airman Knowledge Tests, both of which the FAA lists among its Airman Testing resources. The question pool is organized around five areas: fundamentals of instructing; flight instructor responsibilities and regulations; instrument flight rules and air traffic control procedures; instrument flight planning, navigation, and weather; and instrument aircraft performance, systems, and instrument approach procedures. Expect scenario-based items that ask you to apply instructor judgment, not just recall instrument facts, because the exam tests whether you can teach and diagnose instrument flying rather than merely fly it. Preparation should combine the FAA Airman Certification Standards and Practical Test Standards for the instrument instructor rating, the Instrument Flying and Instrument Procedures handbooks, current chart and weather interpretation practice, and the FAA's sample knowledge tests. Before scheduling, confirm your eligibility and authorization documents against the FAA Knowledge Testing Authorization Requirements Matrix, and read the Airman Testing FAQs, which cover registration, test reports, and practical test administration. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA.
What you'll study
About FAA FII preparation
What is the format of the FII knowledge test?
It is a multiple-choice knowledge test taken by computer at a PSI Services Knowledge Testing Center. The FAA publishes the authorization rules in its Knowledge Testing Authorization Requirements Matrix and the administration rules in Order 8080.6H, Conduct of Airman Knowledge Tests. Bring the identification and authorization documents those documents require.
How many questions are on the test and how long do I get?
The FAA Airman Testing pages do not state a question count, time limit, or passing score for this test, so verify current figures with the FAA or PSI before you schedule. Do not rely on numbers from older study guides, since test banks and test lengths are revised periodically.
Where can I take the test, and how do I register?
The FAA directs candidates to PSI Services Knowledge Testing Centers and provides a Schedule an Airman Knowledge Test link on its Airman Testing page. The Airman Testing FAQs document addresses how to register for an exam. Follow the FAA's registration steps rather than a third-party booking site.
What happens if I fail and want to retake it?
The FAA source pages do not publish a retake policy, waiting period, or fee, so confirm those details with the FAA or PSI before you test. In general, treat a failed attempt as diagnostic: your knowledge test report lists the areas missed, and those areas should drive your next study cycle.
What does a knowledge test report tell me?
The FAA Airman Testing FAQs identify the knowledge test report as one of the topics answered in that document. The report shows your result and identifies the subject areas you missed. Use it as a study map, and keep it, since instructors and examiners commonly ask to see it during preparation for the practical test.
In what order should I study the five subject areas?
Start with instrument regulations, IFR procedures, and approach charts, because those underpin every scenario. Then add weather, flight planning, and aircraft performance and systems. Finish with fundamentals of instructing and instructor responsibilities, since those are best practiced by teaching the material you have just learned.
Why do instrument-rated pilots still fail this test?
The common failure mode is answering as a pilot instead of as an instructor. Candidates describe what they would fly rather than how they would teach, detect, or correct a student's error. Others neglect fundamentals of instructing and instructor regulatory responsibilities because those feel unrelated to instrument flying.
How should I prepare for the instructor-specific questions?
Practice explaining each instrument task aloud as if briefing a student, including the common errors and the correction for each. Review the Airman Certification Standards and Practical Test Standards for the instrument instructor rating, and use the FAA sample knowledge tests to check whether your explanations hold up under scenario wording.