Chock Ice
I did my FAA ratings last year and this is what you will need:
A)You will get a Class 1 or 2 FAA Medical (if you have a CAA/JAA Class One you should be alright to pass the FAA medical)
B)Make absolutely sure all of the pre-qualifying CPL requirements have been signed off by your UK Instructor/s in your log book. Otherwise you will have to make an attestation that the entries are true and have it signed by a Notary Public in the US (this is like an affidavit) However, some Part 141 Schools will make you re-do some of your PPL flying over again, despite this (this can become expensive)
C) You will need an IR to get a CFI rating and unless you have one with the above signatures you could end up doing a 40 hours IR course. Again watch out for the signatures by Instructors on all the training you received
D) You will need to pass the following writtens: Commercial Pilot, Instrument Pilot, Fundamentals of Instructing, Flight Instructor Airplane and Flight Instructor Instrument. (relax they are easy - I did all mine in 8 days)
E) Get the books on the Orals for each of the 4 flight tests. Know these intimately as well as quite a lot on all the license priveledges and validities, airspace etc. Get a copy of the FAR AIMS and know the applicable parts intimately.
F) Try and get an examiner that other students recommend, some can be absolute B's, but most are fair and very relaxed.
Most of the rest of the comments on the other postings are pretty accurate and Gloucester may be a good place to start.
Be careful about where you go to do it, some schools are good, go where the locals train and as a guide treat with circumspection schools who cater almost exclusively for the foreign client.
Some schools like PAN AM (Vero Beach & Phoenix ) and West Michigan Univ (Battle Creek)do JAA Modular courses and could be intersted in you if you have a CAA Instructors ticket.
A word of caution - do not under any circumstances try to Instruct here with a PPL validation doing training for a JAA license, remember with a FAA PPL you are not allowed to work for reward!! Don't listen to what anyone may tell you to the contrary, if you get busted by the FEDS you have a good chance of ending up in the Pen!!
Good luck
[This message has been edited by inyoni (edited 07 May 2000).]