Current guidance: FAA Advisory Circular 61-65K (published November 2025), superseding the earlier 61-65E through 61-65J editions. If a newer edition has since replaced 61-65K, search for it directly in the FAA’s Advisory Circular library (there’s no single evergreen link for a specific AC number).
Before Training
- Citizenship eligibility Endorsement
Solo
- Pre-Solo Aeronautical knowledge test corrected
- Student pilot certificate make/model
- Flight training proficiency in logbook for make/model
- Additional 90 day solo endorsement (if 3 above is not current)
Cross-Country
- Student pilot certificate for category
- Logbook cross-country training make/model
- Individual cross-country flight review
Possible extra endorsements
- One time for take-offs/landings less than 25 nautical miles
- Repeated solo cross-country within 50 nautical miles
- Solo at night (within previous 90 days)
- Solo in Class B
- Solo to, from, or at an airport in Class B airspace
Practical Test
- FAA written test endorsement
- Prepared for practical test including deficient FAA written
subjects
NOTES: Complete the TSA Security Awareness Training online course and print/sign/keep the certificate of completion. Flight Training as defined by:Part 61 says, “training other than ground training by an authorized instructor”
49 CFR Part 1552: “instruction received from a flight school in an aircraft or aircraft simulator. Flight training does not include recurrent training, ground training, a demonstration flight for marketing purposes, or any military training provided by the Department of Defense, the U.S. Coast Guard, or an entity under contract with the Department of Defense or U.S. Coast Guard.”
As a CFI, become familiar with TSA’s Flight Training Security Program (FTSP).
AOPA has a good guide for citizenship verification required before training.