Does a CFII need to be current to conduct an IPC?

A Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII) must indeed be current to conduct an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC). The reason for this requirement is tied to maintaining the instructor's proficiency and familiarity with current regulations, procedures, and practices in instrument flight.

Being current means that the CFII has completed their required flight reviews and meets the recency of experience requirements, ensuring that they are fully capable of imparting accurate and relevant training to the pilot being checked. This standard helps maintain the safety and effectiveness of instrument flying, ensuring that the instructor is not only qualified on paper but actively engaged in flight instruction and up-to-date with any changes in relevant aviation standards or technology.

Other options imply that an expired CFII could conduct an IPC under certain conditions, which undermines the importance of current training and proficiency. A lapse in currency could lead to outdated knowledge and potentially unsafe flight training practices, hence the requirement for a current status. Similarly, suggesting that it suffices to have merely held the certificate does not account for the ongoing nature of flight instruction, which demands current knowledge and skills to effectively guide and evaluate a pilot's performance.