Aircraft Mechanic Certification Checklist

The FAA age, experience, training and exam steps to earn an airframe and powerplant certificate.

A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.

  • Aircraft Mechanic Certification Checklist
  • Confirm you are 18 or older
  • Read, write and speak English
  • Decide on airframe, powerplant or both
  • Pick a training route
  • Log 18 months of practical experience
  • Or log 30 months for both
  • Or graduate from an FAA-approved school
  • Compare school and degree length
  • Ask a recruiter about military credit
  • Keep proof of training
  • Study FAA regulations and documents
  • Pass three written FAA exams
  • Pass the FAA oral exam
  • Pass the FAA practical exam
  • Check physical job demands
  • Look up starting pay
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Certification takes more than written exams. The FAA route to an aircraft mechanic certificate requires three written exams passed at 70% or better, plus an FAA oral exam and practical exams. You also need 18 months of practical experience in airframe or powerplant, 30 months for both, or graduation from an FAA-approved school. Candidates must be at least 18. This list follows the A&P certificate path in order of what to settle first. It leaves out avionics licenses, military conversion details and employer hiring steps.

Why these items are on the list

  1. Confirm you are 18 or older. The FAA sets 18 as the minimum age for the certificate.
  2. Read, write and speak English. The FAA requires you to read, speak, write and understand English.
  3. Decide on airframe, powerplant or both. Employers prefer mechanics licensed for both, so technicians typically earn the combined A&P.
  4. Pick a training route. Indeed lists four routes: apprenticeship, FAA-approved school, a degree, or military training.
  5. Log 18 months of practical experience. In airframe or powerplant work, under the supervision of a certified FAA mechanic.
  6. Or log 30 months for both. Thirty months covering airframe and powerplant together meets the combined requirement.
  7. Or graduate from an FAA-approved school. US Aviation Academy lists 1,900 hours of training for a joint A&P program.
  8. Compare school and degree length. Indeed estimates two to four years for schools and degrees; US Aviation Academy claims 12 months accelerated.
  9. Ask a recruiter about military credit. Active-duty personnel should ask a recruiter or contact the FAA about applying their experience.
  10. Keep proof of training. You provide it when you apply to take the FAA exams.
  11. Study FAA regulations and documents. Training covers reading, understanding and applying FAA regulations and documentation correctly.
  12. Pass three written FAA exams. The passing score is 70% or better on the written exams.
  13. Pass the FAA oral exam. It is required on top of the written tests, not instead of them.
  14. Pass the FAA practical exam. In some programs an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner administers it at the program's end.
  15. Check physical job demands. Aims lists lifting up to 75 pounds, ladders and lifts, noise, and long stretches standing or bending.
  16. Look up starting pay. Aims cites BLS: $75,400 average starting salary, approximately $125,000 average salary after five years.

Check steps off on your phone as you finish them. The long ones stay open until they are done, so you always see what is next.

When to use it

Use it when you are deciding between school, apprenticeship and a degree, before you commit to a route.

Sources

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