Become a Certified Flight Instructor in Dallas–Fort Worth
The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate is both a professional milestone and the most efficient way to build the flight hours required for an airline career. At Parrish Aviation Flight Academy in Dallas, our CFI program prepares you to teach with confidence — covering aeronautical knowledge, instructional technique, and the practical flying skills the FAA demands at the checkride.
Whether you're pursuing the CFI (single-engine), CFII (instrument instruction), or MEI (multi-engine instruction), Parrish Aviation offers all three under our FAA Part 141 approved curriculum at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD). Our NAFI Master CFI founder Jack Parrish personally oversees the quality of every instructor we produce.
CFI, CFII & MEI — What Each Certificate Covers
Parrish Aviation offers all three flight instructor certificates:
- CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) — Authorizes you to give flight instruction in single-engine aircraft. Required before any other instructor rating. Includes Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) and the full CFI Practical Test Standards.
- CFII (Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument) — Adds instrument instruction privileges. You can train students for their Instrument Rating and log instrument instruction time. Usually earned alongside or just after the CFI.
- MEI (Multi-Engine Instructor) — Authorizes instruction in multi-engine aircraft. Combined with CFI/CFII, this completes the full suite of instructor ratings needed for the airline pathway.
Most students in our Career Pilot Program (Zero to MEI) earn all three ratings in sequence as the final stage of professional training.
Earn Your CFI at Parrish Aviation Dallas
Train with a NAFI Master CFI, get your spin endorsement in-house, and step directly into an instructing role to build hours toward your ATP minimum. Dallas's best flight instructor certification program.
CFI Training Requirements at Parrish Aviation
To earn your CFI under Part 141, you must:
- Hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument rating
- Hold a current FAA 2nd Class Medical (or 3rd Class minimum)
- Complete the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) written test
- Complete the FAA CFI Knowledge Test
- Log the required dual instruction in preparation for the practical test
- Complete spin training with an authorized instructor (included at Parrish in our Cessna 152)
- Pass the CFI Practical Test (oral and flight) with a DPE
Our stage check system ensures you're fully prepared before you ever sit in front of an examiner. Parrish Aviation CFI students have an industry-leading first-attempt checkride pass rate.
Spin Training Included — Cessna 152 at KRBD
Before a CFI certificate can be issued, the FAA requires a logbook endorsement for spin awareness and spin recovery training from an authorized instructor. Many flight schools send students elsewhere for spin training — Parrish Aviation offers it in-house.
We conduct all spin training in our Cessna 152, a certified spin-approved aircraft, at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD). Spin training is included in the CFI program — no extra scheduling, no offsite fees.
Earn Your CFI at Parrish Aviation Dallas
Train with a NAFI Master CFI, get your spin endorsement in-house, and step directly into an instructing role to build hours toward your ATP minimum. Dallas's best flight instructor certification program.
Build Hours Fast — Teach at Parrish After You Certify
Earning your CFI is only the beginning. The real value is what you do with it. Most airline-track pilots need 1,500 total flight hours to qualify for an ATP certificate and enter regional airline hiring pools. Instructing is the fastest and most rewarding way to build those hours.
Parrish Aviation actively hires qualified CFIs and CFIIs to join our instructor team. Many of our students transition directly from CFI checkride to first-day instruction — teaching the same programs they graduated from. If you're interested in joining the team, visit our CFI Career page or ask your admissions advisor during enrollment.
Financing Your CFI Training in Dallas
CFI training at Parrish Aviation can be financed through several options:
- Wurthy Financial — Structured financing for the full career pilot pipeline, including CFI stage. Deferred payment options available.
- Prepaid / Out-of-Pocket — Our 35/35/30 payment structure spreads costs across enrollment milestones.
Contact our admissions team at (469) 886-8089 or fly@parrishaviation.com for a personalized CFI training cost estimate.
Earn Your CFI at Parrish Aviation Dallas
Train with a NAFI Master CFI, get your spin endorsement in-house, and step directly into an instructing role to build hours toward your ATP minimum. Dallas's best flight instructor certification program.
Enroll in CFI Training at Parrish Aviation Dallas
If you hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate and are ready to earn your instructor ratings, Parrish Aviation Flight Academy is your next step. Our NAFI Master CFI-led program, in-house spin training, and direct hire pathway give you everything you need to certify and start building hours immediately.
Contact us at our contact page, call (469) 886-8089, or visit us at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) to enroll.
Earn Your CFI at Parrish Aviation Dallas
Train with a NAFI Master CFI, get your spin endorsement in-house, and step directly into an instructing role to build hours toward your ATP minimum. Dallas's best flight instructor certification program.
CFI Training Dallas — Frequently Asked Questions
What aspiring flight instructors ask before starting CFI training at Parrish Aviation.