The Master Instructor Continuing Education Program (MICEP) is a family of accreditations available to qualified aviation educators. The program is based on a system of advanced professional standards and rigorous peer review.
MICEP designations serve two purposes:
- They identify and recognize educators who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to excellence and professional growth in, as well as service to, the aviation community; and,
- They establish professional standards to which all aviation educators should aspire.
MICEP designations are renewed every two years. The biennial renewal cycle promotes the continued involvement by designees in a variety of aviation activities and challenges them to remain sufficiently active as teachers as well as learners. Provided designees meet the requirements, they can apply for the one-time, honorary Master Instructor Emeritus designation as a reward for a decade or more of involvement in this program.
Applicants may apply for multiple designations by submitting separate, stand-alone applications for each designation (e.g., MCFI and MGI). The Hours claimed, however, must be unique to the particular designation being sought (e.g., the Hours claimed for an MCFI designation become ineligible for use toward an MGI designation).
All Applicants
- Must have Internet and e-mail access
- Must be able to provide all required documentation in common electronic formats such as .doc, .pdf, and .jpg. In some case, this may require scanning or taking digital photos of some required elements
- Must subscribe to and abide by an aviation educator’s code of conduct, for example:
- Must be of good moral character
- Must have demonstrated involvement and leadership in the aviation community
- Must be able to read and understand English, and must be able to complete all application forms and provide supporting documentation for all Activities in English
Additionally, applicants must satisfy the following requirements for the specific designation being sought.
Master Aviation Educator (MAE)
This accreditation recognizes individuals who work as aviation educators in academia, industry, government, and the private sector. It is not necessary to hold or be working under FAA instructor certifications to qualify for the MAE designation. Our program recognizes that many aviation educators hold teaching credentials issued by government agencies, the military, and industry, and that many of these teachers provide aviation-related education to students in high school, technical school, and college, as well as to CAP cadets, simulator clients, mechanics, IAs, avionics technicians, and others. The MAE designation is ideally suited to these dedicated educators.
- For a minimum of 48 calendar months, must have held some form of teaching credential issued by a state agency, the federal government, the military, an industry company, or an aviation organization
- During the previous 48 calendar months, must have accumulated teaching experience
- Must satisfy the Category, Activity, and Hour requirements
Master Certificated Flight Instructor (MCFI)
This accreditation is for individuals who primarily provide flight and ground instruction under FAA Certificated Flight Instructor certifications. This includes CFIs, CFIIs, and DPEs, as well as glider, helicopter, and aerobatic instructors. However, we offer two specialized accreditations for individuals who are able to document enough aerobatic or helicopter activity to qualify: Master Certificated Flight Instructor-Aerobatic and Master Certificated Flight Instructor-Helicopter.
- Must satisfy the Category, Activity, and Hour requirements
- AND EITHER:
- For a minimum of 48 calendar months, must have held a valid FAA/ICAO-issued Flight Instructor Certificate
- OR:
- For a minimum of 24 calendar months, must have a Gold Seal plus held a valid FAA-issued Flight Instructor Certificate
Master Certificated Flight Instructor-Aerobatic (MCFI-A)
This accreditation is for individuals who provide flight and ground instruction under an FAA Certificated Flight Instructor certification. To earn this specialized accreditation, however, at least half of the minimum Hours required must be related to spin, emergency maneuver, upset prevention & recovery, and/or aerobatic education. Unlike other instructor certifications, FAA regulations currently do not provide for the certification of aerobatic instructors per se; thus we offer this particular accreditation in part to foster increased trust by consumers of aerobatic-related training services and of the important role of aerobatic-related training activities.
- Must satisfy the Category, Activity, and Hour requirements
- Must have at least half of the minimum number of Hours required be related to spins, upset recoveries, and/or aerobatics
- AND EITHER:
- For a minimum of 48 calendar months, must have held a valid FAA/ICAO-issued Flight Instructor Certificate
- OR:
- For a minimum of 24 calendar months, must have a Gold Seal plus held a valid FAA-issued Flight Instructor Certificate
Master Certificated Flight Instructor-Helicopter (MCFI-H)
This accreditation is for individuals who provide flight and ground instruction under an FAA Certificated Flight Instructor certification. To earn this specialized accreditation, however, at least half of the minimum Hours required must be related to helicopter education. Improved safety during rotary wing training and EMS operations is a special emphasis area; consequently, we sought and received input from the FAA, the International Helicopter Safety Team, and the Helicopter Association International during the development of this accreditation.
- Must satisfy the Category, Activity, and Hour requirements
- Must have at least half of the minimum number of Hours required be related to helicopters
- AND EITHER:
- For a minimum of 48 calendar months, must have held at least one of the following: a valid FAA/ICAO-issued Flight Instructor Certificate; CFI-rotorcraft helicopter, CFI-instrument helicopter, or CFI-rotorcraft gyroplane
- OR:
- For a minimum of 24 calendar months, must have held a Gold Seal plus at least one of the following: a valid FAA/ICAO-issued Flight Instructor Certificate; CFI-rotorcraft helicopter, CFI-instrument helicopter, or CFI-rotorcraft gyroplane
Master Ground Instructor (MGI)
This accreditation is for individuals who primarily provide ground instruction under FAA Ground Instructor certifications. This includes Basic, Advanced, and Instrument Ground Instructors.
- For a minimum of 48 calendar months, must have held a valid FAA/ICAO-issued Ground Instructor Certificate
- Must satisfy the Category, Activity, and Hour requirements
Master Instructor Emeritus (MIE)
This is an honorary accreditation for individuals whose dedication and commitment to excellence, professional growth, service to the aviation community, and quality aviation education has been demonstrated by long-term participation as a Master Instructor Continuing Education Program™ designee. Provided the minimum requirements are met, this one-time accreditation is offered without expiration to those who are retiring from aviation education, or who are scaling back such that they may no longer be able to renew a previous accreditation.
- For a minimum of ten years and at least five designation cycles, must have held any combination of MICEP accreditations
- Must be at least fifty-five years of age
- Must be retiring from aviation education, or scaling back such that the level of activity would be insufficient for continued renewal of one of the other MICEP accreditations
- Will be encouraged to continue to actively participate in MICEP in some capacity (e.g., as a mentor to other Masters, as a member of a MICEP committee or the Board of Review, etc.)
- In the event of unusual circumstances and at its discretion, the Board of Review may grant Emeritus status to any Master Instructor
For sustained dedication to their craft, Ten-Time Masters receive:
MA-1 Flight Jacket – Provided by Sporty’s Pilot Shop, here worn by Twelve-Time Master David McVinnie. These classic aviation jackets are embroidered with their names and Master Instructor logo.
“I’d like to thank JoAnn Hill, Head Master of Master Instructors LLC (and Sportys for the 20 year Jacket) for putting together the Master’s Program. It’s been an honor to participate in it for the past 20 years. While not easy to qualify, I think it is a worthy goal for Flight Instructors interested in pursuing Excellence in their profession.” Don Kaye Ten- Time Master, September 2020
The MICEP lapel pin is reserved exclusively for Ten-Time and Emeritus Masters and was inspired by one of the more popular pins issued to instructors as part of the Civilian Pilot Training Program of 1938–1944.
As U.S. involvement in World War II loomed, civilian flight schools were enlisted to train USAAF and USN aviation cadets in the basics of flight. Since the instructors were civilians, they didn’t have specific uniforms or insignia. Many of the flight schools, however, adopted wings, patches, and cap badges for their instructors to wear. The eagle-headed wings pin inscribed with the word “Instructor” was adopted by many of the contract schools and served as the model for the MICEP pin.
MICEP Benefits
MICEP accreditation signifies that a designee has earned industry recognition for his/her commitment to excellence as a provider of aviation education, a volunteer, a creator of media, a receiver of continuing education, and an active participant in the aviation community. The benefits of MICEP accreditation are substantial. Some tangible benefits include:
- Recognition of achievement beyond government/industry minimums
- Laser engraved plaque* for first-time designees; a new date plate for renewing designees to add to their existing plaques
- Master logo lapel pin
- Use of the Master logo on the designee’s website / promotional materials
- Use of the accreditation as a reference for future employment
- For Flight Instructors:
- The option to renew Part 141 chief / assistant chief flight instructor credentials
- An additional discount available through SAFE’s Flight Instructor Liability Insurance program (must also be a SAFE member)
According to a survey of Master Instructors published in October 2010:
- MICEP challenged the vast majority of designees to become better educators
- As a result of their Master designations, most reported a corresponding increase in income typically from 10 to 40 percent
- Several flight schools provide incentive packages worth as much as $8,000 to their Masters
* Special plaques are available for schools / businesses with more than one MICEP designee on staff.
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