There seem to be fewer requirements to start the course.
I have just compared the Prerequisites for an AFI Qualification 1993 with the EASA requirements 2016; there are no significant differences. Except that it is now possible to do an FI Course without CPL TK but the privileges are restricted to instruction for the LAPL Only!
Has the syllabus and air exercises changed significantly?
Having compared the AOPA AFI Syllabus 1988 with the EASA Syllabus 2016 the major difference is the increase from 55 hours Theoretical Knowledge Training to 125 hours which occured in 1999. This introduced a 25 hour Teaching and Learning module. The Air Exercise syllabus is largely identical apart from some exercise number changes.
There are two distinct methods of FIC Instruction. Those who follow RAF methods from the 1950s and those who use the revised RAF methods of the 1990s.