Hi everyone I hope you are well, I need some urgent clarification on upgrading from class 3 to class 2nd flight instructor rating

CAR421.71(1) states : An applicant for an initial class 2 Flight Instructor Rating - Aeroplane shall have held a Class 3 Flight Instructor Rating - Aeroplane during the previous 12 month period

The way I interpret this, is that you must have just “held” a class 3 rating in the previous 12 months, not “held” a class 3 rating during the entire previous 12 month period correct?

Some help would be much appreciated, thank you. I have heard of people upgrading to class 2, a few months after getting class 3 so I believe there is no 12 month length requirement to hold a class 3, in order to upgrade to class 2 right?

Thank you very much.

Yes that is correct, there is no requirement for how long you have held a class 3 rating to upgrade to a class 2. Lots of people do it in less than 12 months.

In my opinion this reg is saying you must have held the Class 3 for the entire past 12 months.

The very next requirement at CARs 421.71 (2) says "The applicant shall have, within the previous 24 months, obtained a minimum of 70% in a written examination Flight Instructor Rating - Aeroplane (AIRAT)".

So reading both of these requirements together, you must have held a Class 3 "during the previous 12 month period" and passed the written "within the previous 24 months". Thus, when the word "period" is used, it means more than just having held a Class 3 at any point within the 12 months, it means the whole 12 month period, otherwise, they would have stated "within the previous 12 months" as in the wording for the written exam requirement.

By the way, I am assuming that you already meet all of the other requirements i.e. experience: 500 hours flight instructor experience, 10 recommendations for the RPP, PPL, CPL etc.?

But I am no expert in this area - perhaps somebody with greater expertise will provide a definitive answer.

Pilot2219 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 04, 2025 8:54 am Hi everyone I hope you are well, I need some urgent clarification on upgrading from class 3 to class 2nd flight instructor rating

CAR421.71(1) states : An applicant for an initial class 2 Flight Instructor Rating - Aeroplane shall have held a Class 3 Flight Instructor Rating - Aeroplane during the previous 12 month period

The way I interpret this, is that you must have just “held” a class 3 rating in the previous 12 months, not “held” a class 3 rating during the entire previous 12 month period correct?

Some help would be much appreciated, thank you. I have heard of people upgrading to class 2, a few months after getting class 3 so I believe there is no 12 month length requirement to hold a class 3, in order to upgrade to class 2 right?

Thank you very much.

Your interpretation is correct.

This might be a situation where the minutiae of the language might not equate to reality- or the opinion of individual TC employees.

I'm of the opinion that "during" in that paragraph should differ greatly from the use of "within", such as in the knowledge section (AIRAT within the previous 24 months.)
In lexicology, During is related to Duration. I believe it should imply you should have it for the duration of the 12 month period.

So, that esoteric BS aside, our reality comes down to TC's interpretation, and I know of class 3's that went to a class 2 almost immediately. Same with class 2 to 1. Same wording, and it can happen quickly regardless.

Anyways, you won't get anything here except opinions. Since TC is the one assigning your ratings, I'd be trying to foster a working relationship with someone in your region and having a discussion with them, but from what I've seen with others, you can do it.

Pilot2219 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 04, 2025 8:54 am Hi everyone I hope you are well, I need some urgent clarification on upgrading from class 3 to class 2nd flight instructor rating

CAR421.71(1) states : An applicant for an initial class 2 Flight Instructor Rating - Aeroplane shall have held a Class 3 Flight Instructor Rating - Aeroplane during the previous 12 month period

The way I interpret this, is that you must have just “held” a class 3 rating in the previous 12 months, not “held” a class 3 rating during the entire previous 12 month period correct?

Some help would be much appreciated, thank you. I have heard of people upgrading to class 2, a few months after getting class 3 so I believe there is no 12 month length requirement to hold a class 3, in order to upgrade to class 2 right?

Thank you very much.

Yep, that wording is unfortunate. However, you're interpretation is the one applied by TC.

DanWEC wrote: ↑Fri Sep 05, 2025 8:03 pm Anyways, you won't get anything here except opinions.

Not true! I have a relevant fact to support those opinions ! My Class 1 ride was not quite 3 months after my Class 2 ride (same wording issue in the standard). Granted, that was back in the late 20th century, but I'm pretty sure that particular piece of the CARs hasn't changed.

Yes in the previous 12 months you need to have held a class 3 IR. Meaning you could've held it for a week or the full 12 months, as long as you have it. Going from 3 to 2 is the same scenario and same from 2 to 1.

Just have to be a valid Class 3 holder sometime within the last year and you can attempt the Class 2 ride. (Basically allows for Class 3 renewals to directly upgrade instead of having to renew Class 3 first if it expired in the last 12 months)

Source - did my Class 2 ride 9 weeks after my Class 3 upgrade.