- The AGI test has 100 scored multiple-choice questions, a 70% passing score, and a 2-hour-30-minute limit.
- The PSI test fee is $175 plus tax, and no instructor endorsement is required for your first attempt.
- All 16 domains mirror the commercial pilot knowledge areas in 14 CFR 61.125(b), plus references to 61.97, 61.105, 61.155, and 61.309.
- You can test at 16, but certificate issuance requires age 18 and a passing Fundamentals of Instructing score.
Exam Mechanics at a Glance
Before diving into content, lock in the numbers that define the test itself. The FAA administers the Advanced Ground Instructor knowledge test through PSI, and the format is fixed: 100 scored multiple-choice questions, occasionally paired with additional unscored validation questions you won't be able to identify as such. You get 2 hours and 30 minutes, and you need 70% correct to pass. FAA data for 2025 shows a 97.29% pass rate across 2,694 AGI tests - a strong number, but one that assumes real domain-by-domain preparation, not last-minute cramming.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Administered by | PSI, on behalf of the FAA |
| Test fee | $175 plus applicable tax |
| Question count | 100 scored questions (plus possible unscored items) |
| Time allowed | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| 2025 pass rate | 97.29% across 2,694 tests |
| Minimum age to test | 16 |
If you want the full breakdown of how these numbers compare to other ground instructor pathways, see AGI Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and How Hard Is the AGI Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Registration, Fees, and Eligibility
The AGI knowledge test is one of the more accessible FAA certifications on paper. There's no requirement to hold a pilot certificate, medical certificate, flight experience, or complete a practical test. That's what separates it from flight instructor certificates - AGI is purely a knowledge credential.
- Test fee: $175 plus tax, paid directly through PSI at scheduling.
- Minimum testing age: 16 years old.
- Certificate issuance age: 18 years old (you can test younger, but the certificate itself isn't issued until 18).
- English proficiency: required, per FAA standards.
- Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) test: must be passed unless an exemption applies (such as holding a teaching credential in some cases).
- Endorsement: no instructor sign-off is required for your initial attempt.
For a line-by-line breakdown of who qualifies and what documentation you'll need, check AGI Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify. If you're budgeting for the whole process - test fee, study materials, and FOI test - AGI Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown lays out the full cost picture.
The 16 AGI Domains, Condensed
Every AGI test question traces back to one of 16 domains. These domains reproduce the commercial pilot knowledge areas found in 14 CFR 61.125(b), with additional material drawn from the knowledge areas referenced in 61.97, 61.105, 61.155, and 61.309. Memorize this list - it's your entire syllabus.
Domain 1: Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations
Regulations tied to commercial pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations.
- Know the difference between commercial and private pilot operating limits
Domain 2: NTSB Accident Reporting Requirements
What must be reported, to whom, and within what timeframe.
- Distinguish reportable "accidents" from "incidents"
Domain 3: Basic Aerodynamics and Principles of Flight
Lift, drag, stability, and control fundamentals that instructors must explain clearly, not just recite.
- Be ready to teach load factor and stall speed relationships
Domain 4: Meteorology
Critical weather recognition, windshear avoidance, and interpreting aeronautical weather products.
- Practice reading METARs, TAFs, and winds aloft forecasts quickly
Domain 5: Safe and Efficient Aircraft Operation
Procedures and habits that reduce risk across phases of flight.
Domain 6: Weight and Balance Computations
Loading calculations and their effect on performance and controllability.
- Work multiple CG-shift problems, not just one aircraft type
Domain 7: Use of Performance Charts
Reading takeoff, landing, and cruise performance data accurately under varying conditions.
Domain 8: Effects of Exceeding Performance Limitations
Consequences of ignoring weight, balance, or performance limits.
Domain 9: Aeronautical Charts and Magnetic Compass
Pilotage and dead reckoning skills, including compass errors.
- Know compass turning and acceleration errors cold
Domain 10: Air Navigation Facilities
VOR, GPS, and other navigation aid usage and limitations.
Domain 11: Aeronautical Decision Making and Judgment
Risk management frameworks and scenario-based judgment questions.
Domain 12: Principles and Functions of Aircraft Systems
Powerplant, electrical, fuel, and airframe systems knowledge.
Domain 13: Maneuvers, Procedures, and Emergency Operations
Aircraft-appropriate maneuvers and emergency response logic.
Domain 14: Night and High-Altitude Operations
Physiological and procedural differences unique to these environments.
Domain 15: Operating Within the National Airspace System
Airspace classes, clearances, and procedural requirements.
Domain 16: Lighter-Than-Air Flight and Ground Training Procedures
Balloon and airship-specific training and procedural knowledge.
For deeper explanations, examples, and sample question styles for each of these, the companion resource AGI Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 16 Content Areas expands on every bullet above.
High-Yield Topics Inside Each Domain
Not every domain carries equal weight on test day in terms of how many concepts get tested repeatedly. Based on the structure of the commercial pilot knowledge areas the AGI test draws from, a few clusters deserve extra attention:
- Weather interpretation (Domain 4): Expect multiple questions requiring you to read raw METAR/TAF text and identify hazardous conditions like windshear or icing potential.
- Weight and balance math (Domain 6): These questions are computational, not conceptual - practice the arithmetic until it's automatic.
- Airspace and navigation (Domains 9, 10, 15): Chart-reading questions often combine compass, VOR, and airspace classification in a single scenario.
- Regulatory recall (Domains 1 and 2): These are memorization-heavy - flashcards work better here than conceptual study.
- Aerodynamics and systems (Domains 3 and 12): Questions test whether you can explain "why," since AGI certificate holders will eventually teach this material to others.
Final-Week Review Plan
A structured final stretch works better than open-ended review. This isn't a generic study calendar - it's sequenced around which AGI domains are computation-heavy versus recall-heavy, so you tackle the harder math-based domains while your energy is highest.
Regulatory and Reporting Domains
- Drill Domain 1 (FAR review) and Domain 2 (NTSB reporting) with flashcards
- Read through 61.125(b) directly to see the source language
Computation-Heavy Domains
- Work weight and balance problems (Domain 6) daily
- Practice performance chart reading (Domain 7 and 8) with varied aircraft examples
Navigation and Airspace
- Combine chart-reading, compass errors, and navigation facility questions (Domains 9, 10, 15)
- Time yourself on full practice sets to simulate the 2:30 limit
Full-Length Simulation
- Take complete 100-question practice runs on the main practice test platform
- Review missed questions by domain, not just overall score
For a more detailed week-by-week breakdown with study hour recommendations, see the AGI Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt.
What AGI Privileges Actually Cover
Passing the test is only useful if you understand what the certificate actually lets you do. AGI privileges authorize Part 61 ground training and endorsements for knowledge-test recommendations - with one notable exception: instrument-rating subjects fall outside AGI scope. That's the line that separates an AGI from an Instrument Ground Instructor (IGI).
In practical terms, this means an AGI-certificated instructor can conduct ground training and sign off students for private, commercial, and other non-instrument knowledge tests, but cannot provide the instrument-rating ground instruction covered under a separate certificate.
Key Takeaway
If your teaching goals include instrument ground instruction, you'll need an additional certificate beyond AGI - plan your training path accordingly before you invest in a single exam.
Curious how AGI compares to other instructor pathways in terms of career use? AGI Jobs and AGI Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis cover who actually hires AGI-certificated instructors and how the credential gets used in flight schools, aviation programs, and part-time ground school roles.
Currency and Certificate Facts
The AGI certificate itself does not expire - but that doesn't mean it's maintenance-free. To exercise AGI privileges, you must show one of the following within the preceding 12 calendar months:
- Qualifying instructional activity
- Completion of an approved refresher course
- A proficiency endorsement from an authorized instructor
This distinction trips up a lot of new certificate holders - the paper certificate is permanent, but your ability to legally use it lapses without ongoing activity. Build this into your planning early, especially if you're pursuing AGI as a side credential rather than a full-time teaching role.
If you're still deciding whether this credential fits your goals, Is the AGI Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 weighs the certificate against the ongoing currency requirement. And if you're new to the acronym entirely, start with What Is AGI? or What Is AGI Certification? for the foundational overview.
FAQ
The test includes 100 scored multiple-choice questions, and it may also include additional unscored validation questions that you won't be able to distinguish from scored ones.
You need 70% correct to pass. See AGI Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass for a full explanation of how scoring works.
No. AGI does not require a pilot certificate, medical certificate, flight experience, or a practical test - it is strictly a knowledge-based certification.
Yes, you can test at age 16, but the certificate itself isn't issued until you turn 18 and pass the Fundamentals of Instructing test, unless exempt.
No, the certificate itself does not expire. However, exercising its privileges requires qualifying instructional activity, an approved refresher course, or a proficiency endorsement within the preceding 12 calendar months.
Keep this page bookmarked as your quick-reference sheet, and pair it with focused practice sessions on the AGI practice test platform to convert these facts into exam-day recall.
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