Instrument Rating Study Courses

Instrument Ratings

As you know, the IRA and IRH tests have historically been VERY difficult tests. The national pass rates on them have historically been significantly lower than other exams. For example, in 2010, the FAA's data shows the pass rate on the IRA exam was only 80.24% which is more than 13% lower than other difficult tests in the same year, like ATP (96.26% pass rate), Commercial Pilot (96.59% pass rate), and Flight Instructor Airplane (93.83%). In 2011 and subsequent years, the FAA has increased the size of the test engine for the Instrument Rating exams, and made the exam more difficult. As a result, the pass rate and the average test scores have fallen further (in 2010 the average score was only 80.24% anyway, which was only 10 points above failing).

We are happy to assist everyone in continuing to pass these exams in difficult times, but please realize that you MUST take this test seriously! Merely having a Sheppard Air study course available for these tests won't by itself guarantee you excellent results; you have to take your studying seriously. But you'll be able to relax knowing that our FAA certificated instructors are here to help you, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Don't worry... unlike other study programs, you won't be disappointed by finding 25 questions on your FAA test you've never seen before... we won't let you down... we guarantee it.

Yes, our Instrument Rating study courses are backed by the same No-Surprises money-back guarantee as all of our other FAA study courses.

Learning Platform Software Overview:

  • You won't study more questions than those that can show up on your test.
  • The learning platform downloads and installs on your device.
  • You don't need an internet connection to study with our courses.
  • Receive Automatic courseware updates (when you do have an Internet connection) 24-hours a day to keep up with the fluid pace of FAA changes.
  • Study at your convenience, at your computer, at your pace, on your schedule.
  • Have personal telephone support available to you 24 hours a day!
  • Take your exam at the testing center of your choice, anywhere.
  • Learning platform software is available for PC's with Windows Vista/7/8/10/11 or later, for 64-bit iPads with IOS 10 or later, and for Macs with OS 10.10.5 or later.

Sheppard Air Study Course Enrollment Fees:

On April 1, 2024, enrollment fees for the courses listed below will increase by $5.

ATP/ADX exams: Fee
ATP Airplane Multiengine (ATM) and (ACM) $85
ATP Airplane Single Engine (ATS) $85
ATP Helicopter (ATH) $85
Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX) $85
** Airline Interview Test Prep (AIP) $45 ($20 discount if previously enrolled in any Sheppard Air ATP course)
(** Airline Interview Test Prep study course is tailored to Interview Tests at U.S. Regional Carriers including PSA, Mesa, Republic, Go, Commutair, Spirit, Frontier, ExpressJet, & Air Wisconsin.)
Flight Engineer exam: Fee
FEX (Flight Engineer Turbojet) $85

Commercial Pilot exams: Fee
CAX (Commercial Pilot Airplane) $45
CRH (Commercial Pilot Helicopter) $45
Military Competency exams: Fee
MCN (Military Competency Non-Category Commercial / Instrument) $40
MCI (Military Competency Instructor) $55

*Fundamentals of Instruction exam: Fee
FOI (Fundamentals of Instruction) $35

*Instrument & Instrument Instructor exams: Fee
IRA (Instrument Rating Airplane) & IFP $45 (see note 1)
IRH (Instrument Rating Helicopter) $45 (see note 1)
FII (Flight Instructor Instrument Airplane) $45 (see note 1)
FIH (Flight Instructor Instrument Helicopter) $45 (see note 1)
IGI (Instrument Ground Instructor) $45 (see note 1)
Note 1: Enroll in any one of the 5 Instrument courses above for $45, then any additonal course you need from that group is just $10 each. For example, if you enroll in the IRA course for $45, and then subsequently need to study for the FII test, when you enroll in our FII course, it will only be $10. This 'a la carte' design saves you money and ensures you will not ever study more questions than necessary for any test you are studying for.

*Aircraft Instructor exams: Fee
FIA (Flight Instructor Airplane) $45 (see note 2)
FRH (Flight Instructor Helicopter) $45 (see note 2)
AGI (Advanced Ground Instructor) $45 (see note 2)
Note 2: Enroll in any one of the 3 Aircraft Instructor courses above for $45, then any additonal course you need from that group is just $10 each. For example, if you enroll in the FIA course for $45, and then subsequently need to study for the AGI test, when you enroll in our AGI course, it will only be $10. This 'a la carte' design saves you money and ensures you will not ever study more questions than necessary for any test you are studying for.

*Instructor exams discount:
When you call to enroll in your third full-price instructor course from those above, you'll receive a $10 discount. So, for example, after taking our FOI and FIA courses at full price, you would receive a $10 discount off of the $45 regular price of the FII course.

Don't worry... unlike other study programs, you won't be disappointed by finding 25 questions on your FAA test you've never seen before... we won't let you down... we guarantee it.

Our learning platform has been specially designed with features to help you be ready for your test fast, including a Study Strategy that helps you avoid typical studying pitfalls and learning errors. Try our learning platform with the Free Trial below if you'd like to see how it works.

Tell Me More... choose an option:

Note: When you enroll in a course, your enrollment is limited to only one person and only one study device (the learning science in our system is predicated on studying from one device). There is no way to print the study course content, so you must study at a computer/iPad (with the rapid pace of FAA changes, paper gets old too quickly). Your study enrollment is valid until the day you take the FAA exam, but you can not exceed one year. It is best if the computer/iPad you study from has Internet access (in order to receive automated courseware updates), though Internet access is not required to study.

Call us 0800-2000
Central Time daily to sign up for a
test prep course. (940) 642-4945
You can download right away.
Technical Support is available 24/7.