As someone who taught one of the first CRI courses, it has posed something of a quandry, what on earth are we trying to acheive in 3 hours? In the main, the CRI course is based upon ensuring that the candidate is shown how to demonstrate and assess the items found in a Class Rating Skill Test. When it comes to the Assessment of Competence, one expects a FI to conduct any of the basic exercises and especially know what they are doing and why. The ability to teach should be evident but it will only develop with practice. The CRI however starts from an unknown datum and is required to demonstrate more than teach and to analyse errors and correct them. If the same standard were applied there would be very few CRIs because you cannot train an instructor in 3 hours. I have seen the full spectrum of CRIs from those who are very competent after 3 hours to those who still can't fly their own aircraft after 10 hours. As there is no filter or worthwhile pre course experience requirement, the end product is largely determined by pre course experience.