FAA FII exam-day guide
FAA FII · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring a current, unexpired government photo ID with signature. The name must match your FAA Airman Certificate application and Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) record exactly. If you have changed your name, resolve the mismatch with the provider before test day.
FAA Airman Certificate and Medical Certificate
Bring your pilot certificate and current medical certificate (or BasicMed documentation if applicable). The Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) will verify eligibility, including recent flight experience and endorsements, before the practical test begins.
Logbook with required endorsements
Your logbook must show the aeronautical experience required for the Flight Instructor-Instrument rating and the endorsements required by 14 CFR 61.39 and the applicable Airman Certification Standards. Review every endorsement for correct wording, date, and instructor signature.
Knowledge test report
Bring the Airman Knowledge Test Report for the Flight Instructor-Instrument knowledge test. If the test was taken more than 24 calendar months before the practical test, confirm with the provider whether a new test or additional training is required before scheduling.
Completed IACRA application
Submit the application in IACRA and obtain the FAA Tracking Number (FTN). Confirm with the provider how they want the application handled and whether a printed copy is needed on test day.
Instrument approach plates and charts for the test area
Bring current terminal procedure publications and en route charts covering every airport and approach the examiner may use. Confirm with the provider which chart subscription or format is acceptable and whether outdated charts invalidate the flight.
Aircraft airworthiness and registration documents
If you provide the aircraft, verify the airworthiness certificate, registration, operating limitations, weight and balance, and maintenance records are aboard and current. The examiner will inspect these before flight.
View-limiting device and safety pilot arrangements
Bring a view-limiting device acceptable to the examiner. Confirm with the provider whether a safety pilot is required for any portion of the practical test and who provides that person.
Aircraft with required equipment for instrument flight
The aircraft must be equipped and inspected for instrument flight, including pitot-static system and transponder checks within the required timeframe. Confirm with the provider the specific equipment expectations for the flight portion.
Plan for weather and alternate scheduling
Check forecasts for the test area and have a plan if conditions prevent the flight. Confirm with the provider their policy on rescheduling, cancellation notice, and examiner availability before the day arrives.
Fee and payment method
Confirm with the provider the examiner fee, accepted payment methods, and whether payment is due before, during, or after the test. Fee practices vary by examiner, so verify rather than assume.
Study materials for the oral portion
Bring the current Airman Certification Standards, relevant regulations, and your own lesson plans or notes. The oral portion tests instructional knowledge, so organized reference material supports clear explanations.
Plan the day
Re-read the Airman Certification Standards for Flight Instructor-Instrument and map each task to a specific regulation, procedure, or teaching point you can explain aloud. Identify the two or three areas where your explanations are weakest and rehearse them with a colleague or CFI.
Verify every logbook endorsement and the aeronautical experience totals against the requirements. Errors found now can still be corrected by the endorsing instructor; errors found on test day may postpone the test.
Confirm the appointment time, location, and meeting point with the provider, and confirm aircraft availability and reservation. Ask what documents the examiner wants to see first so you can organize them in advance.
Review the local area: airports, approaches, airspace, and typical weather patterns. Be ready to teach an instrument approach procedure, holding pattern, and instrument system failure scenario without notes.
Check weather forecasts and notices to air missions for the test area. Decide with the provider whether the flight portion is likely to proceed and what the backup plan is.
Assemble documents in one folder: ID, certificates, logbook, knowledge test report, IACRA confirmation, charts, and aircraft records. Confirm payment method and amount with the provider.
Get adequate rest and avoid last-minute cramming of new material. A short review of your own lesson outlines is more useful than reading unfamiliar content the night before.
Eat, arrive early, and recheck weather and notices. Confirm the aircraft is fueled, inspected, and documents are aboard before the examiner arrives.
Do a final self-check on the oral topics you will be asked to teach: instrument flight planning, departure, en route, arrival, and approach procedures, plus abnormal and emergency operations under instrument flight rules.
Present documents when asked, answer questions directly, and teach as you would to a real student. If you do not know something, say so and describe how you would find the answer in the regulations or publications.
For the flight portion, brief each maneuver and approach before executing it, verbalize your instrument interpretation and decision-making, and maintain standard callouts. Treat the examiner as a student receiving instruction.
Review the results with the examiner, note any areas of dissatisfaction or disapproval items, and confirm with the provider the process and timeline for any retest or application completion.
Rules to check
Bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID with a signature; the name must match your application and certificate records. If your ID name differs from your records, resolve it with the provider before the test.
The practical test has an oral portion and a flight portion. You must pass the oral portion before proceeding to the flight; a failure in either area may result in a notice of disapproval. Confirm with the provider how results and retest eligibility are documented.
The examiner may discontinue the test for weather, aircraft airworthiness, or other safety reasons. A discontinuance is not automatically a failure, but confirm with the provider how a discontinued test is resumed and what time limits apply.
You may be asked questions across the full Airman Certification Standards, not only the tasks you prepared. Answer from the regulations and publications, and state clearly when you would look something up rather than guessing.
Breaks during the oral portion are generally arranged with the examiner; ask before the test begins what the examiner's practice is. Confirm with the provider whether any break policy affects the conduct or timing of the test.
Do not bring or use unauthorized reference material during closed portions of the test. Ask the examiner which references are permitted for each task before you begin.
Arrive on time and notify the provider as early as possible if you must cancel or reschedule. Late arrival or a no-show may affect fees or scheduling; confirm the provider's specific policy in advance.
Scoring is based on the standards in the current Airman Certification Standards. Review the standards yourself so you understand what constitutes satisfactory performance for each task.