ROSWELL41 said:
C'mon Mark. I know you're an FAR expert. What do you think about this?
I don't know about the expert part, but I think the answer to your question is "Yes."
The person giving the SIC-specific familiarization training does not have to be a CFI to begin with.
Notice that throughout 61.55(b) and (d) there is not one mention of "authorized instructor." It keeps referring to the "trainer" or the "person who provided the training." This is intentional.
As a regular part of the rulemaking process, a Federal agency publishes the "Final Rule" in a publication called the "Federal Register." It usually includes a bunch of extra text that describes some of the history, the reasons for the rule, and (sometimes) a bit of clarification in English.
In this case, the Final Rule explanatory material says:
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Final § 61.55(d)(1)--The SIC pilot type rating applicant must receive the familiarization training under § 61.55(b) from a qualified pilot in command [See § 61.31(a)] or an authorized flight instructor who holds the aircraft type rating on his/her pilot certificate [See § 61.31(a) and § 61.195(b)]. The ground training under § 61.55(b)(1) may be given by an authorized advanced ground instructor [See § 61.215(b)], authorized flight instructor, or qualified pilot in command.
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BTW, the now-defunct Part 61 FAQ says the same thing - no "authorized instructor" required for the training.