Definition
A flight instructor refresher course (FIRC) that is approved by the FAA, conducted by an outside industry provider rather than the FAA itself, and offered on a published nationwide schedule. Successful completion satisfies one of the renewal options for a flight instructor certificate under 14 CFR Part 61.
Plain English
A refresher course that flight instructors can take to renew their CFI certificate. It is run by approved companies (not the FAA directly), is offered on set dates around the country, and counts toward the renewal requirement.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA guidance about flight instructor certificate renewal and government-approved training resources.
Why Pilots Care
A CFI certificate must be renewed every 24 months. Attending one of these courses is one of the most common ways instructors keep their certificate current without having to demonstrate a recent training record or pass a checkride.
Intuition Check
Do not read “FAA-approved” as “taught by the FAA.” Here it means the FAA has accepted the course, while an industry provider conducts it.
Example Sentence 1
Her CFI certificate was due to expire next month, so she signed up for a Nationally Scheduled FAA-Approved Industry-Conducted Flight Instructor Refresher Course being held in Dallas that weekend.
Example Sentence 2
Many CFIs select the Nationally Scheduled FAA-Approved Industry-Conducted Flight Instructor Refresher Course because it is offered at multiple locations across the country on fixed dates.