Which DPE and How to Reinstate Your CFI Certificate

What DPE and Reinstate CFI means

When your Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate has expired or been revoked, you cannot legally instruct until you complete a checkride with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and restore your certificate through the FAA. The DPE is a private pilot examiner authorized by the FAA to conduct practical tests; you choose which DPE to work with, and that choice affects your timeline, cost, and testing experience. Reinstatement is not automatic — it requires you to pass a new checkride that covers both the knowledge and practical flying skills the FAA expects from an instructor.

The process differs depending on how long your certificate has been expired and whether it was revoked or straightforward lapsed. If your CFI expired less than 24 months ago, you can take a single checkride to restore it. If it expired more than 24 months ago, you must first pass a knowledge test (the FOI and CFI written exams) before you can sit for the practical test with a DPE. If your certificate was revoked, you face additional FAA scrutiny and may need to demonstrate compliance with specific conditions before a DPE will test you.

Key Takeaways

A DPE is a private examiner the FAA authorizes to conduct CFI checkrides; you find and hire one directly, and their availability and fees vary widely by region.
If your CFI expired fewer than 24 months ago, you need only the practical test with a DPE; if more than 24 months have passed, you must pass the FOI and CFI written exams first.
You must bring a current medical certificate, a valid photo ID, and proof of flight time and training to the checkride; the DPE will verify these before testing begins.
DPE fees range from roughly $400 to $800 for a CFI checkride, depending on the examiner and your region; this is separate from any flight training or aircraft rental costs.
The oral and practical portions of a CFI checkride typically take 4 to 6 hours; plan for a full day and have a reliable aircraft and safety pilot ready.

Finding and selecting a DPE

The FAA maintains a searchable database of all active DPEs on its website; you can filter by location, certificate type (CFI), and whether they test for initial or renewal checkrides. Not all DPEs accept reinstatement cases, so when you contact a potential examiner, ask directly whether they test CFI reinstatements and whether they have availability in your timeframe. Some DPEs work only at specific airports or require you to bring your own aircraft; others partner with flight schools and may have aircraft available.

Cost varies significantly. A CFI checkride with one DPE might run $450, while another in the same region charges $700 or more. The fee typically covers the oral exam and one practical test flight; if you fail and need to retest, you will pay a second fee. Ask about the DPE's cancellation policy before you book — some require 48 hours' notice, others require a week, and some charge a fee if you cancel within a certain window.

Reputation matters. Ask your flight instructor, local flight school, or other pilots whether they have worked with a particular DPE and what the experience was like. Some examiners are known for being thorough but fair; others have reputations for being harsh or disorganized. Online pilot forums and local aviation communities often have candid feedback. A DPE who is strict but clear about expectations is usually preferable to one who is lenient but unpredictable.

Determining whether you need written exams first

The FAA's rule is straightforward: if your CFI certificate expired fewer than 24 months before you take the practical test, you do not need to retake the written exams. If it expired 24 months or more ago, you must pass both the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) exam and the CFI written exam before a DPE will test you orally and practically.

Check your certificate or the FAA's Airmen Certification Database to confirm your expiration date. Count forward from that date; if today is more than 24 months after expiration, you are past the window. You can take the written exams at any FAA-approved testing center (often called a Pearson VUE center) or through an online proctor. The FOI exam is 60 questions in 2 hours; the CFI exam is 100 questions in 3 hours. You must score at least 70 percent on each to pass.

If you are close to the 24-month mark, do not delay. Once you cross that threshold, the written exams become mandatory, and you cannot schedule a practical test until you have passed both. Some pilots wait too long and discover they have added weeks to their reinstatement timeline.

What to bring to your CFI checkride

The DPE will ask for specific documents before the checkride begins. Bring your current medical certificate (First, Second, or Third Class — CFI does not require a specific class, but it must be current). Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport. Bring your Social Security number or your airman certificate number if you have it.

You must also bring proof of flight time and training. This typically includes your logbook, which the DPE will review to verify that you meet the flight-time requirements for CFI reinstatement. The FAA requires a minimum of 250 hours total time, 100 hours as pilot in command, 50 hours in the category and class you are testing in, and 15 hours of flight training in preparation for the checkride. The DPE will check these numbers against your logbook entries; if the entries are unclear, illegible, or missing required information (such as the name of the safety pilot or the type of maneuver practiced), the DPE may delay or cancel the test.

Bring any training records from your CFI preparation course or from a flight school. If you took a formal CFI course, bring the completion certificate. If you trained with a private instructor, bring any written lesson plans or training agreements. The DPE does not require these, but they can help demonstrate that you have prepared seriously for the checkride.

The oral and practical test structure

A CFI checkride consists of two parts: an oral exam (usually called the "knowledge test" or "oral") and a practical flying test. The oral typically lasts 2 to 3 hours and covers the Airmen Certification Standards (ACS) for CFI. The DPE will ask you about flight instruction techniques, how to teach specific maneuvers, how to recognize and correct common student errors, and how to manage risk and safety in the training environment. You will also be asked about regulations, weather, aircraft systems, and aerodynamics as they relate to instruction.

The practical portion lasts 1 to 2 hours in the air. You will fly with the DPE and a safety pilot (usually a may have access to pilot who is not the examiner). The DPE will ask you to demonstrate specific maneuvers and will also evaluate your ability to teach those maneuvers to a hypothetical student. You might be asked to explain a stall recovery as if you were teaching it, then demonstrate it, then critique a simulated student performance. The DPE is assessing both your flying skills and your instructional ability.

If you do not pass the practical portion, the DPE will issue a Notice of Disapproval. You can retake the test with the same DPE or a different one, but you must wait at least 14 days before retesting. You do not need to retake the oral if you passed it; the DPE will issue you a temporary airman certificate valid for 120 days, which allows you to instruct while you prepare for the practical retest.

Aircraft and safety pilot requirements

You must provide an aircraft that is airworthy, properly maintained, and equipped for the checkride. The aircraft must be a single-engine or multi-engine airplane (depending on the rating you are testing for) and must have functioning dual controls. The DPE will conduct a brief preflight inspection to confirm the aircraft is safe and the instruments are working. If the DPE finds a discrepancy — a radio that does not work, an altimeter that is out of tolerance, or a seat belt that is broken — the checkride will be postponed until the aircraft is repaired.

You must also provide a safety pilot. This is a pilot with at least a private certificate who is not the DPE and who will sit in the right seat during the practical test. The safety pilot's job is to monitor the flight and take control if necessary to prevent an accident; the safety pilot is not there to help you pass, and the DPE will brief them on this role before the flight. Many flight schools provide a safety pilot as part of their checkride preparation package. If you are training independently, you will need to arrange one yourself — ask your instructor or local flying community for a recommendation.

Timeline and scheduling considerations

Once you contact a DPE and agree on a date, expect to wait anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months, depending on the examiner's availability and the season. Summer is busy; winter is often easier to schedule. If you need to reinstate quickly, start contacting DPEs when ready and be flexible about dates and locations.

Before you schedule, make sure you have completed your flight training and are genuinely ready to test. Scheduling a checkride and then canceling or failing wastes time and money. Most DPEs require you to have a current endorsement from a flight instructor stating that you are prepared for the checkride; this endorsement must be dated within 60 days of the test. If your instructor endorsement expires before your checkride date, you will need a new one.

Plan for the checkride to take a full day. The oral portion alone can run 3 hours, and the practical flight can add another 2 hours. Factor in preflight, postflight, and any delays. Bring water, snacks, and a clear head. Fatigue and stress are common reasons pilots perform poorly on checkrides.

What happens after you pass

If you pass both the oral and practical portions, the DPE will issue you a temporary airman certificate on the spot. This temporary certificate is valid for 120 days and allows you to act as a CFI when ready. The DPE will also submit your test results to the FAA, which will issue your permanent certificate within 2 to 4 weeks. You do not need to do anything else; the FAA will mail your certificate to the address on file.

Check the FAA's Airmen Certification Database a few weeks after your checkride to confirm that your certificate has been issued and is current. If there is a delay or error, contact the FAA's Airmen Certification Branch. Once your permanent certificate arrives, keep it in a safe place — you will need to present it to any employer or student who asks to verify your credentials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take the CFI checkride if my certificate was revoked instead of expired?

Yes, but you may face additional requirements. If your certificate was revoked, you must contact the FAA's Airmen Certification Branch to understand the conditions for reinstatement. Some revocations require you to demonstrate compliance with specific FAA orders or to complete additional training. A DPE will not test you until the FAA has cleared you to reapply.

What if I fail the practical test but pass the oral?

The DPE will issue you a Notice of Disapproval and a temporary airman certificate valid for 120 days. You can retake the practical test with the same DPE or a different one after 14 days. You do not need to retake the oral exam. Use the 120 days to train and prepare for the retest.

Do I need to retake the written exams if my CFI expired more than 24 months ago?

Yes. If your certificate expired 24 months or more before you take the practical test, you must pass the FOI and CFI written exams first. You can take these at any FAA-approved testing center. Once you pass both, you can schedule the practical test with a DPE.

How much does a CFI checkride with a DPE cost?

DPE fees typically range from $400 to $800, depending on the examiner and your region. This covers the oral and one practical test flight. If you need to retake the practical portion, you will pay a second fee. Ask the DPE for their exact fee before you schedule.

Can I use a DPE from a different state than where I live?

Yes. You can travel to any state and take your checkride with any FAA-authorized DPE. Some pilots do this if they cannot find an available DPE locally or if they prefer a particular examiner. Factor in travel costs and time when you make this decision.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.