Every year I find the reporting of how many CFIs signed off any applicants for a practical test a very interesting data point. While I don’t have the end-of-year numbers just yet regarding how many total CFI certificates were held to allow us to analyze this data on a percentage basis, we can see how many CFIs signed off at least one applicant for a practical test in 2023.

The data further breaks down the number of instructors who signed off applicants in ranges of numbers to see how many CFIs were more or less active.

With the transient employment function of many CFIs who only do the job for a limited period of time before moving on to other career jobs as professional aviators, it is not unexpected that few CFIs sign off larger numbers of applicants for certificates and ratings in any given year. We can also infer that those CFIs that sign off larger numbers of applicants typically include CFIs who are focusing on students for add-on certificates or ratings for which a smaller training footprint is needed, requiring less time of the CFI and allowing them to work with more students in a given year.

So, if you are a CFI, here are the 2023 numbers. Enjoy comparing where you might fit into them!