What’s the Difference Between Currency and Proficiency?

It’s important to know the difference between the FAA’s standards and your own.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 02:38 PM ET

Verified

It can take time to regain proficiency even if you are legally current. [Photo: Bertl123/Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Pilot proficiency standards are outlined in the Airman Certification Standards (ACS), which detail the tasks and knowledge required for certification.
Unlike currency, which can be regained by simply meeting minimal flight requirements, proficiency means consistently performing to established standards, such as maintaining altitude and airspeed within specific tolerances.
The FAA does not specify how much time a pilot needs to regain proficiency; this responsibility is left to the individual pilot.

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Question: I have just returned to flying after a several-year gap. I know the FAA has rules about what pilots need to do to establish VFR and IFR currency but haven’t been able to find any information on how proficiency is established. Does the FAA have rules on what a pilot needs to work on?

Answer: In a manner of speaking, the metrics for proficiency are found in the airman certification standards. The ACS lists the tasks and knowledge required for airman certification.