Pilot reference
Endorsements: the AC 61-65K list
AC 61-65K, issued 14 November 2025, renumbered every sample endorsement as A.1 to A.96. If your references number the flight review anything other than A.69, they are from an older edition.
Find an endorsement
The ones most instructors use
| For | AC 61-65K number |
|---|---|
| Student solo: pre-solo knowledge, pre-solo flight, solo (90 days) | A.3, A.4, A.6 |
| Solo cross-country | A.9, A.10 |
| TSA citizenship verification | A.14 |
| Private pilot knowledge test / practical test | A.36 / A.37 |
| Practical test prerequisites, knowledge test deficiencies | A.1, A.2 |
| Instrument knowledge test / practical test | A.42 / A.43, A.44 |
| Commercial knowledge test / practical test | A.38 / A.39 |
| Flight review / WINGS phase / IPC | A.69 / A.70 / A.71 |
| Complex / high-performance / high-altitude / tailwheel | A.72 / A.73 / A.74 / A.75 |
| Retest after a failed test | A.77 |
| Home-study curriculum review (knowledge test) | A.86 |
The full list
Prerequisites for the practical test
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.1 | Prerequisites for practical test 14 CFR 61.39(a)(6)(i) and (ii) |
| A.2 | Review of deficiencies identified on airman knowledge test 14 CFR 61.39(a)(6)(iii), as required |
Student pilot
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.3 | Pre-solo aeronautical knowledge 14 CFR 61.87(b) |
| A.4 | Pre-solo flight training 14 CFR 61.87(c)(1) and (2) |
| A.5 | Pre-solo flight training at night 14 CFR 61.87(o) |
| A.6 | Solo flight (first 90-calendar-day period) 14 CFR 61.87(n) |
| A.7 | Solo flight (each additional 90-calendar-day period) 14 CFR 61.87(p) |
| A.8 | Solo takeoffs and landings at another airport within 25 NM 14 CFR 61.93(b)(1) |
| A.9 | Solo cross-country flight 14 CFR 61.93(c)(1) and (2) |
| A.10 | Solo cross-country flight (each flight) 14 CFR 61.93(c)(3) |
| A.11 | Repeated solo cross-country flights not more than 50 NM from the point of departure 14 CFR 61.93(b)(2) |
| A.12 | Solo flight in Class B airspace 14 CFR 61.95(a) |
| A.13 | Solo flight to, from, or at an airport located in Class B airspace 14 CFR 61.95(b) and 91.131(b)(1) |
| A.14 | Endorsement of U.S. citizenship recommended by the TSA 49 CFR 1552.15(c) |
Sport and recreational students
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.15 | Solo flight in Class B, C, and D airspace 14 CFR 61.94(a) |
| A.16 | Solo flight to, from, or at an airport in Class B, C, or D airspace or with an operating control tower 14 CFR 61.94(a) and 91.131(b)(1) |
Sport pilot
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.17 | Aeronautical knowledge test 14 CFR 61.35(a)(1) and 61.309 |
| A.18 | Taking flight proficiency check for different category or class of aircraft 14 CFR 61.309 and 61.311 |
| A.19 | Passing flight proficiency check for different category or class of aircraft 14 CFR 61.309 and 61.311 |
| A.20 | Taking sport pilot practical test 14 CFR 61.309, 61.311 and 61.313 |
| A.21 | Passing a sport pilot practical test 14 CFR 61.309, 61.311 and 61.313 |
| A.22 | Passing a sport pilot practical test with a simplified flight controls limitation 14 CFR 61.45(g)(4)(ii) |
| A.23 | Class B, C, or D airspace, or an airport with an operational control tower 14 CFR 61.325 |
| A.24 | Aircraft with VH less than or equal to 87 KCAS 14 CFR 61.327 |
| A.25 | Aircraft with VH greater than 87 KCAS 14 CFR 61.327 |
| A.26 | Flight training at night 14 CFR 61.329 |
| A.27 | To act as PIC in an aircraft with retractable landing gear 14 CFR 61.331(a) |
| A.28 | To act as PIC in an airplane with a manual controllable pitch propeller 14 CFR 61.331(b) |
Recreational pilot
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.29 | Aeronautical knowledge test 14 CFR 61.35(a)(1), 61.96(b)(3) and 61.97(b) |
| A.30 | Flight proficiency/practical test 14 CFR 61.96(b)(5), 61.98(a) and (b), and 61.99 |
| A.31 | Operate within 50 NM of the airport where training was received 14 CFR 61.101(b) |
| A.32 | Act as PIC on a flight that exceeds 50 NM of the departure airport 14 CFR 61.101(c) |
| A.33 | Less than 400 flight hours and no logged PIC time within the preceding 180 days 14 CFR 61.101(g) |
| A.34 | Solo flights toward an additional certificate or rating under instructor supervision 14 CFR 61.101(j) |
| A.35 | Class B, C, or D airspace, or an airport with an operational control tower 14 CFR 61.101(d) |
Private pilot
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.36 | Aeronautical knowledge test 14 CFR 61.35(a)(1), 61.103(d) and 61.105 |
| A.37 | Flight proficiency/practical test 14 CFR 61.103(f), 61.107(b) and 61.109 |
Commercial pilot
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.38 | Aeronautical knowledge test 14 CFR 61.35(a)(1), 61.123(c) and 61.125 |
| A.39 | Flight proficiency/practical test 14 CFR 61.123(e), 61.127 and 61.129 |
Airline transport pilot
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.40 | Restricted privileges ATP certificate, AMEL rating 14 CFR 61.160 |
| A.41 | ATP Certification Training Program (CTP) 14 CFR 61.153(e) |
Instrument rating
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.42 | Aeronautical knowledge test 14 CFR 61.35(a)(1) and 61.65(a) and (b) |
| A.43 | Flight proficiency/practical test 14 CFR 61.65(a)(6) |
| A.44 | Prerequisites for instrument practical tests 14 CFR 61.39(a) |
Flight instructor
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.45 | Fundamentals of instructing knowledge test 14 CFR 61.183(d) |
| A.46 | Flight instructor aeronautical knowledge test 14 CFR 61.183(f) |
| A.47 | Flight instructor ground and flight proficiency/practical test 14 CFR 61.183(g) |
| A.48 | Flight instructor certificate with instrument (category/class) rating/practical test 14 CFR 61.183(g) and 61.187(a) and (b)(7) |
| A.49 | Spin training 14 CFR 61.183(i)(1) |
| A.50 | Helicopter touchdown autorotation FAA-S-8081-7 |
Flight instructor with a sport pilot rating
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.51 | Fundamentals of instructing knowledge test 14 CFR 61.405(a)(1) |
| A.52 | Sport pilot flight instructor aeronautical knowledge test 14 CFR 61.35(a)(1) and 61.405(a) |
| A.53 | Flight proficiency check for additional category/class 14 CFR 61.409 and 61.419 |
| A.54 | Proficiency check completion for additional category or class privilege 14 CFR 61.409 and 61.419 |
| A.55 | Practical test endorsement 14 CFR 61.409 and 61.411 |
| A.56 | Practical test completion endorsement 14 CFR 61.409 and 61.411 |
| A.57 | Train sport pilots on flight by reference to instruments 14 CFR 61.412 |
| A.58 | Spin training 14 CFR 61.405(b)(1)(ii) |
Ground instructor
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.59 | Ground instructor who does not meet the recent experience requirements 14 CFR 61.217(d) |
SFAR 73, Robinson R-22 and R-44
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.60 | R-22/R-44 ground training SFAR 73, 2(a)(1) or (2) |
| A.61 | R-22 solo endorsement SFAR 73, 2(b)(3) |
| A.62 | R-22 PIC endorsement SFAR 73, 2(b)(1)(ii) |
| A.63 | R-22 flight instructor endorsement SFAR 73, 2(b)(5)(iv) |
| A.64 | Flight review in an R-22 helicopter SFAR 73, 2(c)(1) and (3) |
| A.65 | R-44 solo endorsement SFAR 73, 2(b)(4) |
| A.66 | R-44 PIC endorsement SFAR 73, 2(b)(2)(ii) |
| A.67 | R-44 flight instructor endorsement SFAR 73, 2(b)(5)(iv) |
| A.68 | Flight review in an R-44 helicopter SFAR 73, 2(c)(2) and (3) |
Additional endorsements
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.69 | Completion of a flight review 14 CFR 61.56(a) and (c) |
| A.70 | Completion of any phase of an FAA-sponsored Pilot Proficiency Program (WINGS) 14 CFR 61.56(e) |
| A.71 | Completion of an instrument proficiency check (IPC) 14 CFR 61.57(d) |
| A.72 | To act as PIC in a complex airplane 14 CFR 61.31(e) |
| A.73 | To act as PIC in a high-performance airplane 14 CFR 61.31(f) |
| A.74 | To act as PIC in a pressurized aircraft capable of high-altitude operations 14 CFR 61.31(g) |
| A.75 | To act as PIC in a tailwheel airplane 14 CFR 61.31(i) |
| A.76 | Solo operations without an appropriate category/class rating 14 CFR 61.31(d)(2) |
| A.77 | Retesting after failure of a knowledge or practical test 14 CFR 61.49 |
| A.78 | Additional aircraft category or class rating (other than ATP) 14 CFR 61.63(b) or (c) |
| A.79 | Type rating only, already holds the category or class rating (other than ATP) 14 CFR 61.63(d)(2) |
| A.80 | Type rating concurrently with an additional category or class rating (other than ATP) 14 CFR 61.63(d)(2) |
| A.81 | Type rating only, already holds the category or class rating (ATP level) 14 CFR 61.157(b)(2) |
| A.82 | Type rating concurrently with an additional category or class rating (ATP level) 14 CFR 61.157(b)(2) |
| A.83 | Launch procedures for operating a glider 14 CFR 61.31(j) |
| A.84 | Glider and unpowered ultralight vehicle towing experience 14 CFR 61.69(a)(5) |
| A.85 | Glider and unpowered ultralight vehicle towing ground and flight 14 CFR 61.69(a)(3) |
| A.86 | Review of a home-study curriculum 14 CFR 61.35(a)(1) |
| A.87 | Aeronautical experience credit, ultralight vehicles 14 CFR 61.52 |
Night vision goggle operations
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.88 | Ground training to act as PIC using night vision goggles 14 CFR 61.31(k)(1) |
| A.89 | Flight training and statement of proficiency to act as PIC using NVG 14 CFR 61.31(k)(2) |
| A.90 | To provide training for NVG operations 14 CFR 61.195(k)(7) |
Enhanced flight vision systems
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.91 | EFVS ground training 14 CFR 61.66(a) |
| A.92 | EFVS flight training 14 CFR 61.66(b) |
| A.93 | EFVS ground and flight training 14 CFR 61.66(a) and (b) |
| A.94 | EFVS supplementary training 14 CFR 61.66(c) |
Simplified flight controls
| No. | Endorsement and regulation |
|---|---|
| A.95 | To act as PIC in an aircraft with a simplified flight controls designation 14 CFR 61.31(l) and 61.45(h)(1) |
| A.96 | Initial cadre training in an aircraft with simplified flight controls 14 CFR 61.195(n) |
How to sign one now
Each endorsement must be legible and include the instructor’s signature, the date, the instructor’s certificate number, and the flight instructor recent experience (RE) end date or certificate expiration date, as applicable. AC 61-65K’s example: /s/ [date] J. J. Jones 987654321CFI RE 12-31-2026. From 1 March 2027, 61.51(h)(2)(ii) requires the RE end date on training entries. Why that changed.
Two notes on the TSA endorsement, A.14: the AC’s heading cites 49 CFR 1552.15(c), but the security rule was rewritten in 2024 and the requirement to verify citizenship is now in 49 CFR 1552.7(a); the regulation also allows a records-based method instead of the logbook endorsement. Check the current rule before relying on the sample wording.
What is the current edition of AC 61-65?
AC 61-65K, Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors, dated 14 November 2025. It cancelled AC 61-65J.
What is the flight review endorsement number?
A.69 in AC 61-65K. A WINGS phase is A.70 and an instrument proficiency check is A.71.
Which endorsements does a student pilot need to solo?
Typically A.3 (pre-solo aeronautical knowledge, 61.87(b)), A.4 (pre-solo flight training, 61.87(c)) and A.6 (solo flight for the first 90 calendar days, 61.87(n)), plus A.5 for night solo and the cross-country endorsements A.9 and A.10 when those apply. A.14 records U.S. citizenship verification for TSA.
Are the AC 61-65K endorsements mandatory wording?
They are sample endorsements. The regulation requires the endorsement; the AC offers wording the FAA considers acceptable, and most instructors use it as written.
Sources
- AC 61-65K, Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors, dated 14 November 2025, Appendix A (Sample Endorsements), A.1 to A.96, and its introductory signature-block guidance. Titles shortened slightly in places; the AC governs.
- 14 CFR 61.51; 49 CFR 1552.7 and 1552.15.
- Checked on 11 November 2026. If a rule has changed since, the regulation governs; tell us and we will correct the page.
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Last updated 11 November 2026.