I wonder if whoever told you that is getting confused with the 6-month limit on starting the course once you've passed the pre-entry test? From LASORS:
Before commencing a Flight Instructors Course (FIC) an applicant must satisfy the course pre-entry requirements as per JAR-FCL 1.335:-
d) PPL/CPL/ATPL(A) holder shall have completed:
iv) Pass a specific pre-entry flight test with a FI qualified as per JAR-FCL 1.330(f) based upon the proficiency check as per JAR-FCL 1.240(b), within the six months preceding the start of the course. *
* The pre-entry flight test will assess the ability of the applicant to undertake the course
(The emphasis is actually in LASORS, it wasn't added by me.)
The limit is 6 months, not 12, and its the time between the pre-course test and the start of the course (and not the time between the start of the course and the test and the end of the course, as you were told), but that's the only thing I can think of, or find any reference to.
FFF
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