14 CFR § 61.425 - How do I establish recent experience for my flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s61.425"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 61.425 - How do I establish recent experience for my flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?"
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "61.425"
section_name: "How do I establish recent experience for my 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"
---


# 61.425 How do I establish recent experience for my flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating?

(a) If you hold a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating issued after December 1, 2024, you must establish recent experience in accordance with § 61.197.

(b) If you hold an unexpired flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating issued before December 1, 2024, you must renew your certificate by establishing recent experience in accordance with § 61.197 prior to the month of expiration on your flight instructor certificate. If you fail to establish recent experience prior to the expiration of your flight instructor certificate, you may not exercise flight instructor privileges until you reinstate those privileges in accordance with § 61.427.

[Docket FAA-2023-0825, Amdt. 61-155, 89 FR 80052, Oct. 1, 2024]