FAA Aircraft Mechanic Requirements for A&P Certification

To qualify for an FAA Aviation Mechanic Certificate, you must generally be at least 18 years old, meet the FAA English-language requirement, qualify through an FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School or acceptable practical experience, and pass the required knowledge, oral, and practical tests.

The FAA issues a mechanic certificate with an Airframe rating, a Powerplant rating, or both. Holding both ratings is commonly called having an A&P certificate or A&P license.

This guide explains the current requirements under 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart D, including age, education, experience, Part 147 school training, FAA testing, certificate validity, and the recent-experience rule in 14 CFR §65.83.

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FAA Aircraft Mechanic Requirements at a Glance

The federal requirements for an Aviation Mechanic Certificate are primarily found in 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart D. A student should distinguish these FAA certification requirements from the separate admission requirements a particular aircraft mechanic school or employer may establish.

Requirement FAA Standard What It Means
Minimum age 18 years old You must be at least 18 to be eligible for the FAA mechanic certificate.
English proficiency Required You generally must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
Education No general FAA diploma or degree requirement The FAA does not require a high school diploma, GED, or college degree for the mechanic certificate itself.
Training or experience FAA-certificated AMTS or qualifying practical experience You may qualify through an FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School or through acceptable documented experience.
Single-rating experience route At least 18 months Required practical experience when qualifying for Airframe or Powerplant through the experience pathway.
Both ratings through experience At least 30 months concurrently Required practical experience when qualifying for both Airframe and Powerplant through the experience pathway.
Knowledge tests Required Applicants seeking both ratings complete General, Airframe, and Powerplant knowledge testing.
Oral and practical testing Required A Designated Mechanic Examiner evaluates the knowledge and skills required for the rating sought.
FAA medical certificate Not required A pilot-style FAA medical certificate is not required for Aviation Mechanic certification.

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What Is an A&P Certificate?

The FAA issues a single Aviation Mechanic Certificate with an Airframe rating, a Powerplant rating, or both ratings. When a mechanic holds both Airframe and Powerplant ratings, the credential is commonly called an A&P certificate or A&P license.

Rating What It Covers Common Term
Airframe Airframe structures and systems within the privileges and limitations of the rating. Airframe rating
Powerplant Aircraft engines, powerplants, propellers, and related components within the privileges and limitations of the rating. Powerplant rating
Airframe + Powerplant Both mechanic ratings on the same FAA mechanic certificate. A&P certificate or A&P license

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The FAA does not require every mechanic to hold both ratings. Which rating you pursue depends on your training, experience, and intended maintenance work.

What Are the Basic FAA Eligibility Requirements?

Under 14 CFR §65.71, an applicant for a mechanic certificate and associated rating must generally meet several basic eligibility requirements.

Be at Least 18

You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for issuance of an FAA mechanic certificate.

Meet the English Requirement

Applicants generally must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English. The regulation includes a limited provision for certain applicants employed outside the United States by a U.S. air carrier.

Complete the Required Tests

Applicants must satisfy the applicable knowledge and skill requirements and complete the prescribed certification tests.

Do You Need a High School Diploma or GED for an A&P License?

The FAA does not prescribe a general high school diploma, GED, or college-degree requirement for an Aviation Mechanic Certificate.

That does not mean every aircraft mechanic school has the same admission policy. FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools establish their own enrollment requirements, and employers can establish education requirements for employment.

Students should therefore separate two questions:

  • FAA certification requirement: No general diploma or degree requirement is imposed by the FAA for the mechanic certificate itself.
  • School admission requirement: Check the current admission requirements of the specific Aviation Maintenance Technician School you plan to attend.

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US Aviation Academy offers FAA-certificated aviation maintenance training with full-time and semi-full-time schedule options. An advisor can explain current admission requirements, campus availability, and program structure.

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What Training or Experience Is Required for A&P Certification?

Under 14 CFR §65.77, an applicant generally qualifies through one of two paths: graduation from an FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School or acceptable documented practical experience.

Qualification Path Requirement Best Fit
FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School Graduate from the applicable FAA-certificated AMTS curriculum and receive the required authenticated documentation. Students who want a structured school-based path to mechanic certification eligibility.
Practical experience — one rating At least 18 months of practical experience appropriate to the Airframe or Powerplant rating sought. Applicants with documented maintenance experience in one rating area.
Practical experience — both ratings At least 30 months of practical experience concurrently performing duties appropriate to both Airframe and Powerplant. Applicants with broad documented practical experience covering both rating areas.

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What Is an FAA Part 147 Aircraft Mechanic School?

An Aviation Maintenance Technician School, commonly called an AMTS or Part 147 school, is a school certificated by the FAA under 14 CFR Part 147.

Graduating from the appropriate curriculum at an FAA-certificated AMTS provides a school-based path for satisfying the experience requirement used to qualify for mechanic testing, provided the applicant also meets the other applicable eligibility requirements.

Part 147 governs the certification and operation of Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools, while the individual mechanic certificate requirements are primarily found in Part 65, Subpart D.

Does FAA Part 147 Still Require 1,900 Training Hours?

No. Current Part 147 does not prescribe a federal minimum number of curriculum hours.

Older aviation-maintenance training information frequently references a 1,900-hour A&P curriculum. That figure came from the older Part 147 training framework and may still be used by some schools as the basis for an hours-based curriculum.

Under the modernized Part 147 framework, however, the FAA allows schools flexibility in how they structure their curriculum. FAA guidance recognizes hours-based, credit-hour-based, competency-based, and other acceptable curriculum models and specifically states that Part 147 does not prescribe minimum curriculum hours.

That means a school’s individual program schedule or number of classroom and lab hours should not be presented as a universal current FAA minimum.

How Long Is A&P Mechanic Training at US Aviation Academy?

US Aviation Academy currently offers an 8-month full-time A&P Mechanic Program and a 16-month semi-full-time option. Program schedules and availability can vary by campus, so students should confirm the current schedule before enrolling.

These are US Aviation Academy program timelines, not federal Part 147 minimum-hour requirements.

For a deeper comparison of training schedules, see how long aircraft mechanic school takes .

What Tests Are Required for FAA A&P Certification?

Mechanic applicants must complete the FAA knowledge, oral, and practical testing required for the rating or ratings they are pursuing.

For applicants pursuing both Airframe and Powerplant ratings, the FAA currently identifies three knowledge tests:

  • General
  • Airframe
  • Powerplant

The General knowledge test is taken first, followed by the Airframe and/or Powerplant knowledge test appropriate to the rating sought.

Test Stage What It Evaluates Important Note
General knowledge test Foundational aviation-maintenance knowledge contained in the applicable Aviation Mechanic ACS. The General knowledge test is taken before the Airframe and/or Powerplant knowledge test.
Airframe knowledge test Knowledge applicable to the Airframe rating. Required when applying for the Airframe rating.
Powerplant knowledge test Knowledge applicable to the Powerplant rating. Required when applying for the Powerplant rating.
Oral test Understanding of the knowledge and risk-management elements applicable to the rating sought. Administered as part of the oral and practical certification process.
Practical test Ability to demonstrate the skills required by the applicable Aviation Mechanic ACS. Typically administered by an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner.

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The FAA states that a passing knowledge-test score is 70% or higher. Test-center and examiner fees can change, so students should confirm current testing costs rather than relying on an older fixed fee estimate.

Can Part 147 Students Take the General Knowledge Test Before Graduation?

Yes, in a limited circumstance. Under 14 CFR §65.75, an applicant may take the mechanic General knowledge test before meeting the full experience requirement if the applicant presents authenticated documentation from a certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School showing satisfactory completion of the General portion of the school’s curriculum.

Applicants must still satisfy the remaining certification requirements before receiving the applicable mechanic rating.

Do Aircraft Mechanics Need an FAA Medical Certificate?

No. The FAA does not require an airman medical certificate to obtain an Aviation Mechanic Certificate.

That is different from many pilot certifications. An employer may still establish job-specific physical, medical, drug-testing, safety, or fitness-for-duty requirements, but those are separate from the FAA mechanic certificate eligibility rules.

Are There Physical Requirements to Become an Aircraft Mechanic?

The FAA does not establish a pilot-style medical examination for Aviation Mechanic certification. The FAA also states that a physical or medical disability does not automatically disqualify an applicant unless it affects the applicable eligibility requirements.

Individual aircraft-maintenance jobs can involve climbing, lifting, working around machinery, using hand tools, inspecting components, working in confined areas, or standing for extended periods. Specific physical expectations should therefore be evaluated against the employer’s actual job description rather than presented as universal FAA certification requirements.

Applicants with questions about how a disability may affect FAA eligibility can contact the appropriate Flight Standards District Office.

Does an A&P License Expire?

An FAA Aviation Mechanic Certificate is valid until it is surrendered, suspended, or revoked. There is no recurring certificate-renewal cycle comparable to renewing a driver’s license.

However, certificate validity and the ability to exercise certificate privileges are not exactly the same thing. A certificated mechanic must also comply with the FAA’s recent-experience requirement in 14 CFR §65.83.

What Is 14 CFR 65.83?

14 CFR §65.83 is the FAA’s recent-experience requirement for certificated mechanics.

A certificated mechanic may not exercise the privileges of the certificate and rating unless, within the preceding 24 months, either:

  • the FAA Administrator has found the mechanic able to do the work; or
  • for at least six months, the mechanic has served as a mechanic under the certificate and rating, technically supervised other mechanics, supervised maintenance or alteration in an executive capacity, or engaged in a qualifying combination of those activities.

Section 65.83 is therefore a recent-experience rule, not a recurring certificate-expiration or renewal rule.

Question Answer
Does the A&P certificate expire every few years? No. It remains valid unless surrendered, suspended, or revoked.
Is recent experience still required? Yes, §65.83 limits when a certificated mechanic may exercise certificate privileges.
Is §65.83 the same as certificate renewal? No. It is a recent-experience requirement.

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How Do You Become an FAA-Certificated Aircraft Mechanic?

Step Requirement Planning Note
1. Confirm basic eligibility Review age and English-language requirements. You must generally be at least 18 before certificate issuance.
2. Choose a qualification path FAA-certificated AMTS or qualifying practical experience. The best route depends on your previous aviation-maintenance experience and training goals.
3. Complete training or experience Graduate from the applicable AMTS curriculum or document the experience required by §65.77. The experience pathway requires 18 months for one rating or 30 months concurrently for both.
4. Complete knowledge testing Pass the applicable FAA General, Airframe, and/or Powerplant knowledge tests. Applicants for both ratings complete all three knowledge areas.
5. Complete oral and practical testing Demonstrate the applicable knowledge, risk management, and skills. A Designated Mechanic Examiner commonly administers this stage.
6. Receive the applicable rating Airframe, Powerplant, or both. Holding both ratings is commonly called an A&P certificate.
7. Maintain recent experience Comply with §65.83 when exercising certificate privileges. The certificate itself does not require periodic renewal.

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What About Military Aircraft Maintenance Experience?

Military aviation-maintenance experience may help an applicant qualify for FAA mechanic certification, but military service by itself does not automatically guarantee eligibility.

The FAA evaluates whether the applicant’s documented experience satisfies the applicable requirements. Some military personnel may also qualify through the Joint Service Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council program.

Applicants using prior experience should maintain thorough documentation and follow current FAA instructions for obtaining authorization to test.

Want a Structured A&P Training Path?

US Aviation Academy offers FAA-certificated A&P mechanic training designed to build the maintenance knowledge and hands-on skills used in Airframe and Powerplant certification.

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FAA Aircraft Mechanic Requirements FAQs

What are the FAA requirements to become an aircraft mechanic?

Applicants generally must be at least 18, meet the FAA English-language requirement, qualify through an FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School or acceptable practical experience, and pass the applicable knowledge, oral, and practical tests.

What is an A&P license?

The FAA formally issues an Aviation Mechanic Certificate with Airframe, Powerplant, or both ratings. A mechanic who holds both ratings is commonly said to have an A&P certificate or A&P license.

Do you need a high school diploma or GED for an A&P license?

The FAA does not prescribe a general high school diploma, GED, or college-degree requirement for the Aviation Mechanic Certificate itself. Individual schools and employers can establish their own education requirements.

How old do you have to be to become an aircraft mechanic?

You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for issuance of an FAA Aviation Mechanic Certificate.

Do you need prior aircraft maintenance experience?

Not if you qualify through graduation from an FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School. Applicants using the practical-experience pathway must document the experience required by 14 CFR §65.77.

How much experience do you need without A&P school?

The practical-experience route generally requires at least 18 months for an Airframe or Powerplant rating, or at least 30 months of concurrent experience for both ratings.

Does FAA Part 147 require 1,900 training hours?

No. Current Part 147 does not prescribe a federal minimum number of curriculum hours. An individual Aviation Maintenance Technician School may still choose an hours-based curriculum.

What tests do you take for an A&P certificate?

Applicants pursuing both ratings complete General, Airframe, and Powerplant knowledge testing and must also pass the applicable oral and practical tests.

What is the passing score on the FAA A&P knowledge tests?

The FAA states that applicants must score 70% or higher on the applicable Aviation Mechanic knowledge tests.

Do aircraft mechanics need an FAA medical certificate?

No. An FAA airman medical certificate is not required for Aviation Mechanic certification.

Does an A&P license expire?

The FAA Aviation Mechanic Certificate remains valid until surrendered, suspended, or revoked. Mechanics must still comply with the recent-experience requirement in 14 CFR §65.83 when exercising certificate privileges.

What does 14 CFR 65.83 require?

Section 65.83 requires qualifying recent experience before a certificated mechanic may exercise certificate privileges. Within the preceding 24 months, the mechanic must either have been found able by the FAA or have completed at least six months of qualifying mechanic, technical-supervision, executive-supervision, or combined maintenance activity.

Can you get only an Airframe or only a Powerplant rating?

Yes. The FAA issues the mechanic certificate with an Airframe rating, a Powerplant rating, or both. There is no FAA requirement that every mechanic obtain both ratings.

Is an A&P certificate required for every aircraft maintenance job?

Not every person performing aircraft maintenance must personally hold both A&P ratings. The authority to perform, supervise, inspect, or approve maintenance depends on the specific work, applicable regulations, supervision, employer, and certificate privileges involved.

Next Steps for Aircraft Mechanic Training

If you do not already have qualifying aircraft-maintenance experience, attending an FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School provides a structured route toward meeting the experience requirement for mechanic certification.

US Aviation Academy currently offers an 8-month full-time A&P training option and a 16-month semi-full-time option. Students should compare schedule availability, campus location, program requirements, and certification preparation before choosing a path.

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