If you can't find an answer to your question here, contact us
For phone support, call 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., ET. Press option 2 for general FIRC renewal questions or press option 5 and then 2 for technical support with renewal document uploads online.
You have several options available to you, each with their own advantages. They are:
Remember, to maintain your current expiration date do not sign your electronic 8710 in IACRA until you are within your 4 month renewal window. That is your expiration month and the three months proceeding it. If you sign the 8710 before the start of your renewal window you will be assign an earlier expiration date. You can fill out the renewal information within IACRA at anytime without doing the final signing, and then return within your renewal window to sign it then. All your started and completed applications are saved under your IACRA profile.
That option still exists but is not formally recognized in the regulations. An FAA inspector may renew your flight instructor certificate based on his or her personal knowledge of you as a flight instructor. You may, however, find inspectors reluctant to exercise this option.
Instead you can submit your application for CFI Renewal online;
No. The renewal window is four calendar months prior to your expiration date. For example, if your certificate expires in July, you could complete a FIRC as early as April 1 and you would retain your original expiration date of July.
Watch the introduction video to the eFIRC for a visual representation of the renewal window.
Pop-up blockers are required to be turned off during your completion of the 8710 form in the IACRA website. IACRA utilizes pop-ups throughout the completion steps for review and authorization of information. If you are getting messages that the form is incomplete, turn off your browser's pop-up blocker and review the form to make sure you did not miss a step that was located in a pop-up.
How to turn off Pop-Up Blockers:
After submitting your application to IACRA, you will need to send ASI images of your government issued ID, CFI certificate front and back (full color is preferred) and your FTN. You can do this through the "Preparing for your CFI Renewal" module within the eFIRC or by uploading the images via the online form or via email at efircprocessing@aopa.org.
It generally takes us two business days after you've submitted your completion information to us before we can verify your ID and complete our processing in IACRA. Once we've done that, you'll receive an email from ASI along with your eFIRC Graduation Certificate and Temporary Airman Certificate. Near the end of the month, priority is given to those renewing in that particular month.
You can also access your transcript and processed certificates under your profile in the eFIRC. In the eFIRC, in the upper right side in the top bar, use the menu to select "My Profile." There you will find your transcript of course progress and certificates once they are issued.
It takes the FAA about 6-8 weeks on average to process a renewal application. You can check the Airman Certification homepage, https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/, to see the approximate date of applications they are processing. It is at the top of the page under News & Highlights.
You can check the airman certification division processing status here: FAA Airmen Certification.This page will let you know what application date the Airman Certification branch is currently processing.
You can also see whether the FAA has processed your personal application or not on IACRA or through an airmen certificate information search at: FAA Airmen Information.
You can also check your application status via the Applicant Console in IACRA. Select the appropriate application under “Your Existing Applications” and look at the Status column. It will change from “Complete” (ASI finished our processing) to “Received by Airman Registry” (FAA is doing their processing) finally to “Airman Registry – Complete” (the FAA has issued the new CFI certificate.)
First, try reviewing our guides:
Still need help:
Contact the FAA’s National AVS IT Service Desk:
Hours of operations are: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone number: Toll-free at 877-287-6731 (ask for Tier 2)
E-mail address: 9-NATL-AVS-IT-ServiceDesk@FAA.GOV
The Web address for IACRA is http://iacra.faa.gov/iacra
Yes–you may fill out a paper 8710 and mail to us at:
eFIRC Processing
AOPA Air Safety Institute
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, MD 21701
When filling out the form, please use the Guide to Submit Application for Renewal document as reference. Pay particular attention to using the name on your current CFI certificate as well as citizenship, height, and gender. If you need to change your name, citizenship or gender or your height by more than two (2) inches, you have to do so at your local FSDO. You may not change those items with an 8710 for CFI renewal.
Sign and date the form with the date of your eFIRC course completion.
We'll still need to verify your ID for the 8710 just as we would if you were completing the application within IACRA. You can either scan and email an image of your CFI certificate to efircsupport@aopa.org or upload it on our "submit application for renewal" of the eFIRC.
You should contact the FAA’s Airman Certification Branch
If necessary, you can also request an extension through the FAA airman certification branch. In order to request the extension visit the FAA’s website at: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/airmen_services/ , login and request temporary authority – this will issue a 60 day extension to your temporary CFI certificate.
No, but you will need to submit a legible (preferably color) copy of your flight instructor certificate.
Send ASI Your ID, CFI Certificate and FTN for Processing
Your old certificate will no longer be valid after the date of expiration without also holding a FIRC graduation certificate which acts as your temporary certificate for 120 days.
Remember, to maintain your current expiration date do not sign your electronic 8710 in IACRA until you are within your 4 month renewal window. If you sign the 8710 before the start of your renewal window you will be assign an earlier expiration date. You can fill out the renewal information within IACRA at anytime without signing, and then return within your renewal window to sign it if you would like. Your started applications are saved under your IACRA profile.
After submitting your application to IACRA, you will need to send ASI images of your government issued ID, CFI certificate front and back (full color is preferred) and your FTN. You can do this through the "Preparing for your CFI Renewal" module within the eFIRC or by uploading the images via the online form or via email at efircprocessing@aopa.org.
It generally takes us two business days after you've submitted your completion information to us before we can verify your ID and complete our processing in IACRA. Once we've done that, you'll receive an email from ASI along with your eFIRC Graduation Certificate and Temporary Airman Certificate. Near the end of the month, priority is given to those renewing in that particular month.
You can also access your transcript and processed certificates under your profile in the eFIRC. In the eFIRC, in the upper right side in the top bar, use the menu to select "My Profile." There you will find your transcript of course progress and certificates once they are issued.
It takes the FAA about 6-8 weeks on average to process a renewal application. You can check the Airman Certification homepage, https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/, to see the approximate date of applications they are processing. It is at the top of the page under News & Highlights.
You can check the airman certification division processing status here: FAA Airmen Certification.This page will let you know what application date the Airman Certification branch is currently processing.
You can also see whether the FAA has processed your personal application or not on IACRA or through an airmen certificate information search at: FAA Airmen Information.
You can also check your application status via the Applicant Console in IACRA. Select the appropriate application under “Your Existing Applications” and look at the Status column. It will change from “Complete” (ASI finished our processing) to “Received by Airman Registry” (FAA is doing their processing) finally to “Airman Registry – Complete” (the FAA has issued the new CFI certificate.)
First, try reviewing our guides:
Still need help:
Contact the FAA’s National AVS IT Service Desk:
Hours of operations are: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Telephone number: Toll-free at 877-287-6731 (ask for Tier 2)
E-mail address: 9-NATL-AVS-IT-ServiceDesk@FAA.GOV
The Web address for IACRA is http://iacra.faa.gov/iacra
Yes–you may fill out a paper 8710 and mail to us at:
eFIRC Processing
AOPA Air Safety Institute
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, MD 21701
When filling out the form, please use the Guide to Submit Application for Renewal document as reference. Pay particular attention to using the name on your current CFI certificate as well as citizenship, height, and gender. If you need to change your name, citizenship or gender or your height by more than two (2) inches, you have to do so at your local FSDO. You may not change those items with an 8710 for CFI renewal.
Sign and date the form with the date of your eFIRC course completion.
We'll still need to verify your ID for the 8710 just as we would if you were completing the application within IACRA. You can either scan and email an image of your CFI certificate to efircsupport@aopa.org or upload it on our "submit application for renewal" of the eFIRC.
You should contact the FAA’s Airman Certification Branch
If necessary, you can also request an extension through the FAA airman certification branch. In order to request the extension visit the FAA’s website at: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/airmen_services/ , login and request temporary authority – this will issue a 60 day extension to your temporary CFI certificate.
No, but you will need to submit a legible (preferably color) copy of your flight instructor certificate.
Send ASI Your ID, CFI Certificate and FTN for Processing
Your old certificate will no longer be valid after the date of expiration without also holding a FIRC graduation certificate which acts as your temporary certificate for 120 days.
