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Transferring from Part 61 school to another Part 61 school *after* TSA clearance / Student Pilot Certificate

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Private Pilot, Student Pilot

I have TSA/FTSP clearance and a student pilot certificate, with basically just one lesson at a school -- the discovery flight (although I have some more experience in light aircraft which is not recorded in the log book because those were all exploratory flights).

Due to bureaucratic issues and some confusion at the school, it seems it is difficult to simply continue here even to get started with the first official lesson (as a Part 61 student). There have been several cancellations and I am getting pushed to migrate to the school's Part 141 program, which I am ill suited for because I am only interested in pursuing a PPL and possibly an IR down the road if time/money permit and because I have another career.

If I now switch to another flight school, do I have to go through the TSA/FTSP clearance and fingerprinting all over again? Also, do I have to request another student pilot certificate from the FAA through IACRA with the help of my new flight instructor, or can my existing certificate still be used? What are the pros and cons here?

Edit: It seems the TSA clearance is linked to the particular flight school -- I do recall mentioning the name of my flight school on the FTSP application. Does that not mean that the clearance has to be sought afresh after one switches schools?

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3 Answers



  1. Bryan on Feb 01, 2023

    Your TSA endorsement and student certificates are valid independent of the school you attend. There is nothing stopping you from having each of your flight lessons at a different part 61 school or with a different independent instructor so long as your last 3 hours of checkride prep are with the same instructor. That would not be a smart way to do it because you wouldn’t benefit from a relationship with a good instructor who knows your strengths and weaknesses–but it would be legal.

    So pick the school that is going to work with your personal life (schedule, cost, work/life balance, etc.) and go to it. Switching schools (between part 61 schools) does not invalidate any aeronautical experience or endorsements you have.

    Happy flying!

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  2. Mark Kolber on Feb 03, 2023

    Each flight school must obtain its own TSA clearance and make its own endorsement (interesting – this was a topic in my FIRC this year). It doesn’t affect your student certificate. It mostly affects you in the delay while the school receives authorization,

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  3. awair on Feb 03, 2023

    Just to clarify:
    Student Certificate – valid
    Fingerprints – valid
    TSA approval – only for previous school or instructor*

    It is possible for an individual instructor to register as a provider. It would then be their responsibility to make sure they had the appropriate relationship with every school that they use aircraft from. This is not the usual case.

    Otherwise, every time you change school you will need a new TSA request/approval.

    You will also need new TSA request, at the same school before you start Instrument training.

    Good luck.

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