Find a Certified Flight Instructor Near You — All 50 States

How to find a CFI anywhere in the US

1. Pick your state from the list above to see all flight instructors registered there.
2. Or jump straight to airman search to look up by name, certificate, or city.
3. Each result links to a certificate detail page showing ratings, medical class, and issuance date.
4. Cross-reference at airmen.faa.gov for primary-source verification.

Top 10 states for Certified Flight Instructors by count

1. Florida — 7,913 flight instructors
2. Texas — 6,616 flight instructors
3. California — 5,835 flight instructors
4. Colorado — 2,784 flight instructors
5. Arizona — 2,764 flight instructors
6. Washington — 2,610 flight instructors
7. Georgia — 2,444 flight instructors
8. Illinois — 2,153 flight instructors
9. North Carolina — 2,068 flight instructors
10. Ohio — 2,009 flight instructors

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a CFI, CFII, and MEI?

A CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) can teach private and commercial pilot certificates in airplanes. A CFII (Certified Flight Instructor — Instrument) adds the instrument-rating instruction privilege. An MEI (Multi-Engine Instructor) adds multi-engine instruction. AviatorDB lists all three under the Flight Instructors category; click any instructor's name to see their specific ratings.

Can I verify a flight instructor's certificate directly with the FAA?

Yes. The FAA's official airmen inquiry tool at airmen.faa.gov is the primary source. AviatorDB pulls from the same registry monthly to give you faster searchable access; for official certificate verification (employment, insurance, schools), use the FAA tool as your final reference.

Other FAA airman categories

• Find an IA Inspector — all 50 states
• Find an A&P Mechanic — all 50 states
• Find a Ground Instructor — all 50 states
• Search all FAA-certificated airmen