Online FIRC FAQs

No, you do not have to be an AOPA Member. All you need to take the AOPA eFIRC is a free AOPA Web Account. You can create this account during your initial purchase of the eFIRC course or create it here: www.aopa.org/login/ before you purchase the course.

If you are an existing AOPA member or have an AOPA Web Account, like the one used for other Air Safety Institute courses and safety quizzes, simply log in to your account before purchasing and then continue to use your AOPA login to access the eFIRC.

After purchase, you have full access to the course until you have completed the course requirements. If you want to review more than the required four mandatory electives, we suggest that you leave one of the required mandatory modules incomplete until you have reviewed the additional electives. Then complete your final mandatory module to trigger your course completion.

If you complete your course within your 4-month completion window, which is your recent experience end month and the three months previous, you will still have access to the course until your original recent experience end date (REED) to explore other electives or access resources.

Remember, to maintain your current recency month, complete your last mandatory module in the eFIRC and sign your electronic 8710-1 on IACRA.faa.gov when you are within your 4-month recency window. If you complete the eFIRC outside of your current recency window, you will be assigned a new REED.

You are welcome to start reviewing the eFIRC any time before your recent experience end date, up to 24 months in advance, but to maintain your current CFI recent experience month.

• Do not complete more than eight lessons until you are less than one year from recency requirements.
• Do not complete the last of the mandatory modules until you are inside your recency window—within the three months preceding the month of recent experience, as per FAR 61.197; see illustration above.
• Do not sign your electronic 8710-1 on IACRA.faa.gov until you are within your 4-month recency window

You are welcome to start reviewing the eFIRC any time before your recent experience end date (REED), up to 24 months in advance; however, to maintain your current CFI renewal cycle (expiration month),

• Do not complete more than eight lessons until you are less than one year from recent experience requirements.
• Do not complete the last of the mandatory modules until you are inside your recency window—within the three months preceding the month of recent experience, as per FAR 61.197; see illustration below.
• Do not sign your electronic 8710-1 on IACRA.faa.gov until you are within your 4-month recency window.
• Do take the opportunity to review any additional electives that you find interesting, beyond the four required to complete the course. To do this leave one of the required mandatory modules incomplete so you do not trigger the course completion early.

Remember, to maintain your current recent experience month, complete your last mandatory module in the eFIRC and sign your electronic 8710-1 on IACRA.faa.gov when you are within your 4-month recency window. If you complete the eFIRC outside of your current recency window, you will be assigned a new recent experience end date.

Upon initial eFIRC course purchase you are sent a confirmation email that has an integration link. If not then click this; eFIRC Integration Link to verify your purchase in the eFIRC course system.

Troubleshooting Tip:

• If you get an access denied message, be sure to log in using the same login information you used during your purchase to access the eFIRC course. Be aware, if you share your computer with users that also have AOPA account logins, make sure to sign out of any other AOPA accounts on AOPA.org before attempting to access the eFIRC course. 

If you are returning to the course after taking a break, go to efirc.aopa.org. If you are not already logged in on AOPA.org, you will be prompted to login with your account associated with your eFIRC purchase.

A CFI should continue to endorse their clients' logbooks in the same detailed manner as before. Instead of using the "expiration date," you will now sign with the "Recent Experience End Date."

EXAMPLE: Joe Bluesky, CFI 1234567 RE 12/26

For further guidance, refer to Section 30, Flight Instructor Recent Experience, in Advisory Circular 61-65J, which provides useful examples.

If this is your first attempt to access the course after your purchase, make sure you have clicked the required eFIRC Integration Link either here or in the purchase confirmation email you should have received. This will pass your purchase confirmation to the eFIRC and allow you to access the course.

After clicking the integration link, sometimes it helps to log out of AOPA.org and then log back in. You should now be able to access the course at eFIRC.aopa.org

The AOPA Air Safety Institute eFIRC uses a single AOPA Web Account log on. This reduces the number of login and passwords that you need to remember. When purchasing the course, you either logged in using an existing AOPA account or created a free AOPA Web Account. You will log into this account when you visit eFIRC.AOPA.org to complete your course work.

Troubleshooting Tips:

• If you get an access denied message, be sure to log in using the same login information you used during your purchase to access the eFIRC course.
• Log out of AOPA.org and log back in. This can often help.
• Be aware, if you share your computer with users that also have AOPA account logins, make sure to sign out of any other AOPA accounts on AOPA.org before attempting to access the eFIRC course.
• Is this is your first attempt to access the course after purchase? Make sure you have clicked the required eFIRC Integration Link either here or in the purchase confirmation email you should have received. This passed your purchase confirmation to the course for access.

If you are returning to the course after taking a break, go to efirc.aopa.org. If you are not already logged in on AOPA.org, you will be prompted to login with your account associated with your eFIRC purchase.

AOPA members and users with an existing AOPA Web Account, like the one used for other Air Safety Institute online courses and quizzes, please use your existing login. Note, you do not need to be an AOPA Member to take the AOPA Air Safety Institute eFIRC, but you will need to set up a free AOPA Web Account. You can create this account during your initial purchase of the course or create it here: www.aopa.org/login/

The AOPA Air Safety Institute eFIRC uses your AOPA account login, this can be your AOPA Member or your free AOPA Web Account login. To reset your password, go to www.aopa.org/login/ and click the link for "Forgot Password?" under the login boxes.

Since the eFIRC is using your AOPA Member/Web Account login, you will need to log out on AOPA.org to change the user logged into the eFIRC. There is no direct sign out/log out feature in the eFIRC. However, you can use the "switch user" option detailed below.

How to Switch Users in the eFIRC:

1. Close the eFIRC course and go to the AOPA website, www.aopa.org.
2. Log out of the current AOPA account, this can be done at the top right of any page on the site. Click on your name and select "sign out."
3. Click "Login"  and enter your desired AOPA web account information.
4. Return to the eFIRC. It will still be logged on as the previous user. This is okay.
5. Go under your profile, the person icon in the upper right of the eFIRC in the orange bar. Select "Switch User."

The eFIRC should reload with your desired AOPA web account logged in.

Confirmed that you are logged into the correct AOPA Web Account on AOPA.org. You must use the same account that you created or were logged into when you purchased the eFIRC course to access the course.

If you are not sure, visit www.aopa.org to confirm that you have the correct account logged in. The name associated with your account in will appear in the upper right side of the page. If it is not the account associated with your eFIRC purchase, select “sign out” from the menu under the account name. Then click “login” to log back in with the correct account associated with your eFIRC purchase.

If this is the first time accessing the course since your purchase, you can click the link in the confirmation email or you can click this; eFIRC Integration Link to verify your purchase in the eFIRC course system. This should allow you access to the course.

If this does not work, try clearing your browser cookie and cache for the eFIRC. This may be necessary if the computer/tablet is shared with multiple users or AOPA Web Accounts taking the eFIRC.

How to Clear Browser Cache:

• For Google Chrome: Video / Instructions
• For Microsoft Edge: Video / Instructions
• For Safari on iPad: Video / Instructions
• For Safari on Mac: Video / Instructions
• For Firefox: Video / Instructions
• For Internet Explorer: Instructions with in page video

Tip: If you do not remember what account you used to purchase the eFIRC, check the receipt email you received after you made the purchase. Or please contact Member Services for help with your purchase, 1-800-AOPA-USA (800-872.2672) M-F 8:30AM-6:00PM ET.

Your email address, phone number and AOPA main account address on file are stored in your AOPA profile. Simply login to your account and go to “My Account” or visit www.aopa.org/account/aopaaccount. You will see options to edit your personal information on the left side of the screen.

Note your CFI specific information, like the address that will appear on your graduation certificate, can be different from your address on file with your AOPA account. It is important that the CFI information matches your certificate on file with the FAA as it will appear on your graduation certificate. This information can be edited during your purchase of the eFIRC or on the eFIRC CFI form page at www.aopa.org/account/cfiinformationupdate any time.

If you do have changes that you need to make on your current certificate, like an address change on file with the FAA, should be done with the FAA first, before updating it in the eFIRC. They must match.

WINGs credit is sent automatically on completion. To make sure that you get the credit with your existing FAA WINGs account, the email in your AOPA account should match the one on record with the FAA. To update the email address, simply login to your account and visit www.aopa.org/account/aopaaccount. You will see options to edit your personal information on the left side of the screen.

AOPA is not asking you to log in, YouTube is asking.. We understand the frustration, but It is out of our control.

YouTube has launched a new security measure to prevent robots from downloading videos, increasing view numbers, and many other reasons. Because of this new security measure, YouTube is asking for logins to view videos, especially on devices that have a hidden Internet Protocol (IP) address (the unique identifying number assigned to every device connected to the internet). For an example a computer using a VPN (virtual private network) or a browser settings hiding it from tracking sites.

It seems like YouTube is currently requesting the most logins from Safari, but Firefox has been reported too. Chrome seems to be less likely to ask, but not sure how long that will last.

To reduce the requests to sign into YouTube:

1. Try another browser, like Chrome.
2. If Safari is the only option, go into the "Settings," this is the gear icon on iPhone/iPad or under the Safari menu on a computer. Go to Settings -> Privacy -> Hide IP address from trackers and uncheck this option. Restart your browser and return to the eFIRC. YouTube will hopefully see you as a single IP address, and is less likely to think you are a robot, thus less likely to ask for a login. You can recheck the box for Hide IP address from trackers feature when not in the course.
3. If you are connected via a VPN, temporarily turned off while taking the course . The differing IP address maybe causing the issue.
4. Try another network, for example some government agencies/building block users from signing into any sites while on their network. Try another network outside the facility.
5. Check your internet connection strength and speed. A weak or often dropping connection forces your browser to make repoeated calls from the same IP and it can trigger YouTube to request login to confirm that you are not a robot.
6. Finally, make sure you are using an up-to-date browser. Out of date browsers, settings, old 3rd party plugins, or security warnings can flag your connection and making it more likely YouTube will request login, again to prove you are not a bot.

We will continue to look for a solution. 

Close the eFIRC course window, log out on AOPA.org, and then clear the cache in your browser and try logging in again. Depending upon the browser you’re using, this is accomplished differently. The following will give you instructions on how to do this in your browser.

How to Clear Browser Cache:

• For Google Chrome: Video / Instructions
• For Microsoft Edge: Video / Instructions
• For Safari on iPad: Video / Instructions
• For Safari on Mac: Video / Instructions
• For Firefox: Video / Instructions
• For Internet Explorer: Instructions with in page video

Sometimes it can just be that your browser is blocking the course from opening in a new window. Try to turn off pop up blockers while using the eFIRC.

How to turn off Pop-Up Blockers:

• Google Chrome (PC, Mac and Tablets): Instruction PDF
• Firefox Browser (PC and Mac): Instruction PDF
• Safari Browser (iPAD and Mac): Instruction PDF
• Internet Edge/Explorer (PC): Instruction PDF

If you are still not seeing the lesson content, please try to clear your browser's cache and delete cookies, also called Temporary Internet Files. Depending upon the browser you're using, this is accomplished differently. The following will give you instructions on how to do this in your browser.

How to Clear Browser Cache:

• For Google Chrome: Video / Instructions
• For Microsoft Edge: Video / Instructions
• For Safari on iPad: Video / Instructions
• For Safari on Mac: Video / Instructions
• For Firefox: Video / Instructions
• For Internet Explorer: Instructions with in page video

This is a Google Chrome specific error message.

Make sure that your Chrome is updated to the latest version. Check here for updates.After updating, if the issue still persists, please give these steps a try:

1. Try to view the same page in an incognito mode window to see if it will load. Learn how to use incognito windows here.
2. Clearing Google Chrome's cache and cookies; Video / Instructions

The quizzes are now all in HTML5 and some browser preferences, like a user selected preferred font size, font style or a page displaying in an enlarged viewing scale may affect the appearance of the quiz. Try resetting your browser to default display settings.

If the issue you are experiencing has not been covered in the above, please submit your issue here, www.efirc.com/support.

Most of the eFIRC is HTML 5 and does not require the Adobe Flash plug-in. However, if you are trying to view a handful of the Flash-based labeled electives, confirm that your browser should has the latest version of Adobe Flash. You can download the latest version directly from Adobe's website https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/.

Note that the Flash-based courses cannot be completed on the iPad. However, you can use your eFIRC login on a desktop computer to review the Flash-based course portion of the elective there. Your progress is maintained with your login.

If the issue you are experiencing has not been covered in the above, please submit your issue here.

The eFIRC is optimized for iOS 16 and 17. Sometimes older devices or iPads have a problem with completing lessons when there are too many tabs open in Safari, too many open applications running in the background or if the cookies and cache are full.

Tip: Try to no leave in the middle of a lesson until you see the final completion slide of a lesson.

To start, close any extra tabs that you may have open in Safari by clicking the browser window page, the overlapping box icon in the upper right of the screen. Close any windows that you do not need open for the eFIRC.

To clear up more iPad memory, open up the app switcher by double-pressing the Home button (note that you're actually pressing the button down here-you aren't just tapping the Touch ID sensor). You'll get a series of screens that appear, like small photos or stacked playing cards, these are all your open apps. You can swipe upward until you flick it off the screen to close it, repeat for all open apps except for your browser app with the eFIRC.

To clear Safari browser cookies and cache on the iPad, from the Home screen, tap Settings (gear icon) and select Safari.

• To Clear History: underneath the Privacy header, tap Clear History, confirm by again selecting Clear History.
• To Clear Cookies and Data: underneath the Privacy header, tap Clear Cookies and Data, confirm by again selecting Clear Cookies and Data.
• Once you're done, either tap on an open app or press the Home button.

For a how to guide with images, view this guide "How to Clear Browser Cache in Safari on the iPad."

These techniques should help clear up more memory for your iPad and browser to continue your eFIRC.

Try not to leave a lesson mid-way through, get to the final slide in the lesson before leaving may help.

Another possible solution to resolve the issue, please try to clear your browser’s cache and delete cookies.  Depending upon the browser you’re using, this is accomplished differently. The following will give you instructions on how to do this in your browser.

How to Clear Browser Cache:

• For Google Chrome: Video / Instructions
• For Microsoft Edge: Video / Instructions
• For Safari on iPad: Video / Instructions
• For Safari on Mac: Video / Instructions
• For Firefox: Video / Instructions
• For Internet Explorer: Instructions with in page video

Note: If running Internet Explorer 9, please enable the ‘web page compatibility mode’ setting in Internet Options – Security – Custom Level, learn how here

All the videos in the eFIRC are YouTube videos and should display on all browsers. Check your connection speed, slower connections like cellular may not load videos very well. If you are still having an issue, please try to clear your browser's cache and delete cookies. Depending upon the browser you're using, this is accomplished differently. The following will give you instructions on how to do this in your browser.

How to Clear Browser Cache:

• For Internet Explorer: Video / Instructions
• For Microsoft Edge: Video / Instructions
• For Google Chrome: Video / Instructions
• For Firefox: Video / Instructions
  

Military and Government Employees: Beware that some government facilities are blocking YouTube videos from being viewed on their networks. If you are included in this group, you may need to review the eFIRC on a personal network outside of the government facility.

You must complete the lessons within a module in succession, so first confirm that you have access to the the lesson by making sure that the lesson you are accessing does not have a lock icon next to it. If it does have a lock icon, the previous lesson must be completed first.

If the lesson, before the one you are trying to open, does not have a green checkbox on the right it is still in progress. Note, progress within an individual lesson is not tracked. So if you start a lesson, try to complete it. If you leave in the middle of a lesson you will need to start it over. You will need to complete the lesson, it will display a green checkbox, before you can "unlock" the lesson after it.

If the above does not resolve the issue, please try to clear your browser's cache and delete cookies. Also make sure you are using the most up-to-date version of the browser. Depending upon the browser you're using, this is accomplished differently. The following will give you instructions on how to do this in your browser.

How to Clear Browser Cache:

• For Google Chrome: Video / Instructions
• For Microsoft Edge: Video / Instructions
• For Safari on iPad: Video / Instructions
• For Safari on Mac: Video / Instructions
• For Firefox: Video / Instructions
• For Internet Explorer: Instructions with in page video