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Professional Development Program

Advance Your Instruction. Deepen Your Impact.

Master the skills that set exceptional instructors apart from the rest – only in NAFI’s member exclusive Professional Development Program.

Professionalism Starts with the PDP

The Professional Development Program (PDP) is NAFI’s exclusive, members-only online course built to help flight instructors reach new heights of professionalism, instructional effectiveness, and leadership in aviation education.

Whether you’re early in your teaching career or a seasoned CFI looking to sharpen your edge, PDP provides the tools, techniques, and insights to help you grow—both in the cockpit and beyond.

What You’ll Get

28 interactive video lessons, in five themed modules, led by expert instructors including NAFI board-members, DPEs, and medical experts.

A flexible, self-paced platform that can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.

Engaging quizzes and a final assessment to reinforce key concepts.

Certificate of completion for you to showcase your professional accomplishment.

Course Overview

Develop your knowledge and skills in the following five topic areas:

  • Advanced Instructional Concepts: Explore the core principles of effective instructional design and the full teaching process, from planning to post-flight feedback.
  • Business and Communications: Learn how to grow your business with practical strategies in marketing, planning, and risk management.
  • Leadership Development: Define yourself as an aviation professional and leader—both in the cockpit and the community. Master the skills to represent general aviation through effective outreach, mentorship, and confident media engagement.
  • Risk Management and Human Factors: Equip yourself to teach safely by focusing on decision-making, human limitations, and structured procedures. This module covers ADM, threat and error management, checklist use, aeromedical awareness, and strategies for supporting diverse student needs.
  • Practical Teaching Skills and Technical Subjects: Bridge the gap between technical knowledge and effective instruction with practical tools for everyday teaching. Strengthen your ability to deliver engaging training, prepare for practical tests, weather strategies, modern technologies, and voluntary reporting systems.
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