1. Getting started with the Gleim Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) is easy.
2. To help you get acquainted with FIRC, Gleim provides Study Unit One for free. This allows you to get familiar with the course before committing to it. Returning customers and others who wish to purchase before completing Study Unit One may do so once they have logged in. However, Gleim encourages new users to complete Study Unit One for free before deciding whether to purchase it.
3. To get started with your free study unit, click here and follow the on-screen instructions.

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1. Each of the sixteen study units in the Gleim FIRC is divided into three sections referred to as Instructional Elements: a True/False Study Session, a Knowledge Transfer Outline, and a Multiple-Choice Quiz.
2. For additional information on Instructional Elements, please visit our Instructional Elements page.

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1. Purchasing FIRC is easy with the Gleim Secure Online Store. You will need a major credit card. Please click here for more information about our Secure Server technology that protects your personal information.
2. At any time that you are logged in to the course, you may purchase FIRC with the purchase form at the bottom of the page. The purchase form will send you to our Secure Online Store.
3. At the end of the FREE Study Unit One, you will be prompted to purchase the course. Gleim Publications does not sell, publish, or otherwise distribute personal information, including the personal information used to register for this course.
4. If you are not prepared to purchase FIRC at the end of your free study unit, you will still be able to purchase at any time when you log back in to FIRC.
5. If you do not wish to submit your credit card information online, you may call us at (800) 874-5346 to order. Regular Gleim business hours are 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. weekdays and 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Saturdays (all Eastern time).

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1. Choose a study unit from the Study Unit Selection screen. The 16 study units do not have to be completed in any particular order. Once you begin a study unit, however, you cannot begin another study unit until you complete the one in progress.
2. To complete a study unit you must:
   1. Answer 20 thought-provoking true/false study questions. An ongoing cumulative score based on your first answer selection for each question will be shown. Review the answer explanation for each question. Once you attempt a question, you must select the correct answer before you will be allowed to move on to the next question. Answer all of the true/false study questions to move on to the outline. Note: There is no need to print out the answer explanations for the true/false questions. These will be provided as part of the knowledge transfer outline, which immediately follows the true/false section.
   2. Study the knowledge transfer outline for the study unit. The outlines are broken down into sections called "subunits" to make studying easier. You can use the print function on your browser to print the entire outline: from the File Menu, click File, and then click Print. Use this printout for quick reference. When you have finished studying the outlines, you will be ready to take the multiple-choice final quiz.
   3. Pass the multiple-choice final quiz with a score of 70% or better. You will be given a quiz of 10 multiple-choice questions based on the material you covered in the true/false and outline sections of the study unit. You may move back and forth between questions and change your answers until you are ready to grade the quiz. When you have answered each of the 10 multiple-choice questions to your satisfaction, click the Grade button at the bottom of the screen below the last question.

      It may take a few minutes for your grade to be delivered. Do not click the Grade button more than once. Also, do not hit the BACK button on your browser to try to return to the quiz after it has been graded. Please e-mail us through our Online Support E-mail Form if you have problems.

   4. Study Unit 16, "TSA Flight School Security Awareness", begins with a 20 minute audio-visual presentation.

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How to complete the course

1. Complete all 16 study units of the Gleim FIRC.
2. Choose the type of certificate you wish to receive. Available types are:
   1. Completion Certificate - You should choose this only if you do not have or do not wish to renew a CFI certificate. This certificate cannot be used to renew a CFI certificate.
   2. Graduation Certificate - You should use this certificate if you wish to renew your CFI certificate at an FAA FSDO.
   3. ACR Affidavit - You should select this certificate if you wish to use the Gleim ACR processing service to renew your CFI certificate. Note that Gleim ACR processing has an additional $25 charge. If you have purchased ACR processing already at the time you graduate, ACR Affidavit will be selected automatically for you. If you need to change to another certificate type after purchasing ACR processing, please contact Gleim technical support at (888) 874-5346 (8 am to 9 pm weekdays, Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm, Eastern), or via email at support@gleim.com.
3. Follow all instructions accompanying your FIRC Certificate.
4. Recipients of Graduation Certificates or ACR Affidavits may also request a Ground Instructor Endorsement from Gleim Publications. See the Ground Instructor Endorsement page for further details and requirements.

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1. Processing your CFI renewal is easy and convenient using our inexpensive ACR Processing service. ACR Processing allows Gleim to process your renewal request and issue a temporary certificate for you to use until the FAA sends your permanent certificate. With ACR Processing, you will not need to make an appointment and travel to the nearest FAA FSDO to process your renewal.
2. Go to the ACR Processing information page to get more detailed instructions on how to process your CFI renewal through the Gleim ACR Processing service.

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How to process your CFI renewal with an FSDO

1. If you do not wish to purchase the Gleim ACR Processing service, you will need to make an appointment to visit an FAA FSDO and process your renewal there.
2. Go to the FSDO renewal information page for more detailed instructions on how to process your CFI renewal through an FSDO.

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Additional instructions for overseas applicants

1. An overseas applicant who is unable to appear in person before a representative of the Administrator must present the applicant's valid and un-expired flight instructor certificate (hard copy), a properly completed FAA Form 8710-1, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application, and a picture ID before a notary public, a consular official of the U.S. State Department, or, if an airman, his/her U.S Armed Forces Commanding Officer for completion of an Official Identification Document.
1. The same picture ID must be used on both the Official Identification Document and on the bottom of the reverse side of the Form 8710-1.
2. These documents must be received by either a Flight Standards District Office of the applicant's choice or by the Gleim Internet FIRC ACR if the Gleim ACR processing service is to be used before either the flight instructor certificate or the Graduation Certificate expires for a renewal of the applicant's flight instructor certificate to be issued.
2. A foreign passport presented as a means of identification must be accompanied by another form of identification containing at least a matching physical description and signature of the applicant. If the form of identification presented contains an expiration date, the identification must be current.
3. Please review the rest of the instructions for more detailed information on completing the course and processing the renewal.

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How to get Wings credit for this course

Gleim uploads Wings course completion credit every week for current course users. If you have completed this course but have not received Wings credit, follow the instructions below to ensure you are credited for your work.

1. Go to http://www.faasafety.gov.
2. Log in with your FAASafety email address and password.
   • If you have not created an account with FAASafety, you will need to do that first.
3. Under the "Courses, Seminars & Activities" tab at the top of the page, click "Find Activities."
4. Type "Gleim" into the "Keywords" box and click "Search."
5. Find the appropriate course title in the resulting list.
6. Click the "Request Credit" link for the appropriate course.
7. Enter the date on your completion/graduation certificate into the "Date Completed" box.
8. In the "Select Validator" section, click the "Email" tab.
9. Type "wings@gleim.com" into the field and click the "Select" button.
10. Click "Submit for Validation."

An email notification will be sent to Gleim. We will review your course records and either validate your credit or reply explaining why we are unable to do so (for example, the course completion date is incorrect). Either way, you will receive an email reply from FAASafety once our action has been submitted.

If you have any questions or difficulties with this process, please email wings@gleim.com.

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View Frequently Asked Questions about the Gleim FIRC.