Master Instructors · Partnered with FlyCurrent
111
Masters
49
States
6
Designations
About the program
The Master Instructor Continuing Education Program (MICEP) is a family of peer-reviewed accreditations for aviation educators who demonstrate sustained excellence, professional growth, and service to the aviation community.
“singles out the best that the right seat has to offer”
MICEP offers six accreditations, each renewed every two years. Candidates document substantial activity across teaching, service, professional growth, and aviation leadership, then submit that portfolio for independent review.
Every
every National Flight Instructor of the Year since the program's debut has been a Master Instructor
650+
aviation educators have earned more than 1,400 designations since 1997
72%
participate in the FAA WINGS program
61%
are FAASTeam members, compared with less than 3% of all CFIs
13%
serve as FAA or industry pilot examiners, compared with 1% of all CFIs
A complete portfolio documents at least 500 hours across five activity categories. Each application is reviewed by at least two Board of Review members; properly documented portfolios typically take two to three weeks, and the denial rate is about 3%.
View designationsThe program recognizes flight instructors, ground instructors, aviation educators, aerobatic specialists, helicopter educators, and long-term Emeritus contributors under one continuing-education standard.
Survey respondents identified at least 43 emergency outcomes where pilots credited a Master Instructor's teaching, including engine failures, inadvertent spins, jammed controls, vacuum failures, and electrical failures in IMC.
Most surveyed Masters reported a corresponding income increase, typically from 10 to 40%; several reported more than a 100% increase in sustainable hourly rates, and several flight schools provide incentive packages worth as much as $8,000 annually.
Sandy and JoAnn Hill began developing the program in Longmont, Colorado in 1995. Master Instructors LLC was established in 2009 to give the program greater autonomy while preserving impartiality in the designation process. MICEP now operates as part of SAFE.
“The FAA is pleased to see that industry is taking its own steps to raise the quality and professionalism within the flight instructor community.”Barry Valentine, former FAA Administrator
Browse the current static directory of 111 accredited Master Instructors.