Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors
Certification guidance for pilots and flight/ground instructors — endorsements, testing, and the requirements applicants and instructors rely on.
About this document
AC 61-65, Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors, is one of the most frequently used advisory circulars in flight training. It provides FAA guidance on the certification requirements of 14 CFR Part 61 and, critically, contains the FAA's recommended language for the many instructor endorsements a student needs — for solo flight, knowledge tests, practical tests, and additional ratings.
Instructors use its endorsement templates to log a student's readiness correctly, and applicants use it to understand exactly what is required before each test. It is essential reading for anyone earning or giving a certificate or rating.
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Take a free practice test →AC-61-65 is an official FAA publication in the public domain. We host a copy so you can read it in-browser; always confirm you are reading the current edition on faa.gov. The description above is an original summary and is a study aid, not a substitute for the document or the regulations.