14 CFR § 61.403 - What are the age, language, and pilot certificate requirements for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s61.403"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 61.403 - What are the age, language, and pilot certificate requirements for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?"
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "61.403"
section_name: "What are the age, language, and pilot certificate requirements for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?"
chapter_name: "FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "D"
subchapter_name: "AIRMEN"
part_number: "61"
part_name: "CERTIFICATION: PILOTS, FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS, AND GROUND INSTRUCTORS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 44701-44703, 44707, 44709-44711, 44729, 44903, 45102-45103, 45301-45302."
regulatory_source: "Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "61"
---
# 61.403 What are the age, language, and pilot certificate requirements for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?
To be eligible for a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating you must:
(a) Be at least 18 years old.
(b) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English. If you cannot read, speak, write, and understand English because of medical reasons, the FAA may place limits on your certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of aircraft.
(c) Hold at least a sport pilot certificate with category and class ratings or privileges, as applicable, that are appropriate to the flight instructor privileges sought.
[Docket FAA-2001-11133, 69 FR 44875, July 27, 2004, as amended by Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42562, Aug. 21, 2009; Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 61-159, 90 FR 35218, July 24, 2025]