Ditto to BobC
I had to do everthing - writtens tests etc, but compared to CAA pretty straight forward and easy. The whole lot can be done in three weeks in the right environment - 3 plus months in the wrong one!!!
BTW be very, very wary about trying to instruct on a validation and what is ostensibly a CAA course - if you get paid you must have a FAA CPL!!
See numerous other previous postings on this Forum