100+ Free FAA BGI Practice Questions

All three are FAA ground instructor ratings under 14 CFR Part 61 Subpart I, but with different teaching privileges. The Basic Ground Instructor (BGI) can provide ground training for Sport, Recreational, and Private Pilot certificates only. The Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI) adds Commercial, ATP, and Flight Instructor (ground) training — essentially everything except the instrument rating. The Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI) is the only one authorized to provide instrument rating ground training. Each has a separate 60/100/50-question knowledge test (BGI/AGI/IGI respectively), and all three require passing the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) test first, unless exempt.

The BGI knowledge test has 60 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour-30-minute time limit. The passing score is 70%, meaning you must correctly answer at least 42 of the 60 questions. Questions draw from the Aviation Instructor's Handbook (FAA-H-8083-9) for FOI content and from the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25) and relevant FARs for private/recreational/sport pilot knowledge.

No. Unlike flight instructor certificates, the BGI requires no pilot certificate, no flight experience, and no medical certificate. You must be at least 18 to hold the certificate (the test itself can be taken at 16), read/write/speak/understand English, and pass both the BGI test and the 50-question Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) test unless you qualify for an FOI exemption as a current teacher.

Each FAA knowledge test is $175 at PSI testing centers. Most BGI candidates take two tests — the FOI ($175) and the BGI ($175) — for a total of $350. If you hold a current teacher's certificate (grade 7 or higher) or are employed as a college/university instructor, the FOI is waived under 14 CFR 61.213(b), reducing total cost to $175. Retakes also cost $175 each.

No. The BGI is limited by 14 CFR 61.215(b) to Sport, Recreational, and Private Pilot ground training only. A BGI cannot endorse instrument rating knowledge tests or instrument ground training — that requires an IGI (or a CFI with instrument rating, CFII). A BGI also cannot endorse flight instructor candidates. To unlock those privileges, BGI holders typically upgrade to AGI (all pilot certificates except instrument) and/or IGI (instrument).

The BGI certificate itself does not have an expiration date, but under 14 CFR 61.217 you may not exercise ground instructor privileges unless you can show qualifying activity within the preceding 12 calendar months. Qualifying activity includes giving ground instruction, giving flight instruction (if you are also a CFI), completing an approved Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC), or receiving an endorsement from an authorized instructor certifying your knowledge is current. Simply retaking a knowledge test does NOT satisfy this currency requirement.

The two primary FAA handbooks are the Aviation Instructor's Handbook (FAA-H-8083-9) for fundamentals of instructing, and the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25) for pilot knowledge. Supplement with 14 CFR Parts 61 and 91, the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), FAA Testing Supplement (FAA-CT-8080-5H) for figures used in the test, and the BGI Airman Certification Standards. OpenExamPrep's free 100-question question bank covers every knowledge area.

Most candidates report 30-60 hours of focused study over 3-6 weeks. Applicants who already hold a private pilot certificate need less pilot knowledge review and can focus primarily on FOI content — often completing preparation in 2-3 weeks. Complete beginners without any aviation background should plan on 60+ hours and may benefit from working through private pilot ground school material alongside the BGI-specific study.