Follow these 7 easy steps to renew your CFI certificate directly through Gleim. Click on any step for details.

Please read the instructions below then check the box at the bottom to verify you understand the steps for Mail-in ACR Service.

1. Purchase the Gleim ACR Processing Service
2. Complete and Submit your 8710-1 online.
3. Print the PDF files.
4. Sign and notarize your documents
5. Mail the required ACR documents to Gleim Publications, Inc.
6. Complete and pass FIRC, and mail the signed Affidavit and Graduation Certificate.
7. Gleim will issue your temporary certificate.

1. Purchase the Gleim ACR processing service for $25.00. If you have not yet purchased this additional service, you may do so from your FIRC lesson selection screen at any time. You will also be prompted to purchase ACR processing if you select the ACR Affidavit certificate after completing FIRC, if you have not yet purchased ACR at that time.

   To keep the same expiration month on your CFI certificate, you must complete the course and send in your paperwork NO EARLIER than 3 calendar months before the expiration month of your CFI certificate. See the FIRC Instructions page for more information.

2. Complete and submit the FAA Form 8710-1: After you have purchased the ACR service, you will be required to fill out an FAA Form 8710-1 online, which is accessible from the "ACR Processing" button that will appear at the bottom of each FIRC course screen.
   • First, review the FAA's specific instructions for filling out your FAA Form 8710-1. These instructions will appear at the top of the FAA Form 8710-1 online.
   • The Gleim user-friendly Form 8710-1 interface lets you fill out all the information required with ease. Please note that:
     1. We encourage you to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) because it facilitates the maintenance of your records by the FAA.
     2. You must be sure to select all the ratings that appear on your CFI certificate.
     3. In section IV of the FAA Form 8710-1, failure and/or problems with the FIRC course do not constitute a "yes" response.
   • When you have finished answering each of the questions, you will be prompted to review your information as it appears on the FAA Form 8710-1. If you would like to change anything, click the BACK button on your browser and change the appropriate field. You will then need to review your information as it appears on the FAA Form 8710-1 one last time before submitting it.
   • Once your form is submitted, you will receive a confirmation that your information was received and stored. If there were warnings about any of the values you entered, these will appear after the confirmation. You must address all warnings by entering correct information before you will be allowed to print the filled-out PDF file of your Form 8710-1. You may complete your Form 8710 at any time during the course; however, Gleim Publications recommends that you get your Form 8710-1 filled out and sent in as soon as possible to allow the maximum amount of time to process your request and to contact you about any problems that may arise.
   
   
3. Print the PDF files: After Gleim has received your Form 8710-1 information you will be able to print out your filled-out Form 8710-1 and Official Identification document. This will require Adobe Reader ™, version 9 or higher, which can be downloaded from Adobe's website. Due to the FAA's policy of microfilming all applications, you must print these files on white paper using only black ink. The forms must be legible. Any applications that do not meet these standards will be returned.
   
   
4. Sign and notarize your documents. Sign and date your FAA Form 8710-1 in Section V, on the first page. This must be an original signature, signed in ink. The FAA will NOT accept digital signatures. Take the Official Identification Document to a notary, and have your signature witnessed and notarized.
   
   
5. Mail the required ACR documents and your CFI card to Gleim Publications, Inc.: Before you mail these documents, please make a copy of your notarized Official Identification Document and both the front and the back of your current CFI certificate. These copies will serve as proof of your qualifications until you receive your temporary CFI certificate from Gleim.
   
   Collect the following materials and mail them to Gleim to complete the ACR renewal process:
   
   
   1. An original signed, dated, and notarized Official Identification Document (1 page).
   2. An original, filled out, signed, and dated FAA Form 8710-1 (2 pages).
   3. Your valid and current flight instructor certificate (1 page).
   
   
   Allow enough time before your expiration date for these documents to arrive at Gleim. Our mailing address and street address (for overnight carriers) are printed below.

   Gleim Publications is not responsible if the above items (FAA Form 8710-1, Official Identification Document, and CFI certificate) are delayed or lost in the U.S. mail or by an overnight carrier, e.g., UPS, FedEx, etc. All of these items must be received by Gleim prior to or on the last day of your expiration month, and you must successfully complete the FIRC course prior to or on the last day of your expiration month or your CFI certificate CANNOT be renewed. Any FIRC user whose application for renewal is late or is not approved is entitled only to a refund of the cost of the Gleim ACR service. Please note that we have experienced reliability problems with the U.S. Postal overnight service in the past.

   Mailing address:
   Gleim Publications
   ATTN: CFI Renewal
   P.O. Box 12848
   Gainesville, FL 32604
   USA

   Physical Address: (for overnight mailing)
   Gleim Publications
   ATTN: CFI Renewal
   4201 NW 95th Blvd.
   Gainesville, FL 32606
   USA

6. Complete and Pass the Gleim FIRC Course and fax or mail the signed Affidavit and Graduation Certificate: Upon successful completion of the FIRC course, the Affidavit and Graduation Certificate appears for you to print out. You must sign certifying that you had no assistance in completing the course before it becomes valid. The Affidavit and Graduation Certificate must then be faxed or mailed and received by Gleim, with sufficient time to allow your renewal to be processed prior to the end of your expiration month.
   
   
7. Gleim will issue your temporary certificate: Upon receipt of all of your documents (FAA Form 8710-1, Official Identification Document, flight instructor certificate, and Affidavit and Graduation Certificate), Gleim will review and verify that the documents are in order and that you successfully completed the FIRC course. You can check the status of your renewal by logging into the course. The ACR Processing Status screens are updated when documents are received, when a problem is found or solved, and when your temporary certificate has been mailed. If your documents are in order, your renewal is usually processed within 2-3 business days unless it is within the last 10 days of the month as this is the busiest time for Gleim for processing renewals. You will receive an email notification when your temporary certificate has been mailed. Please call or email us through our Online Support Email Form if within reasonable time for mailing, your documents have not been received by Gleim or you have not received your temporary certificate.