A&P Mechanic Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements to become a certificated U.S. Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic?
To be eligible for a mechanic certificate and associated ratings, a person must:
1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Read, write, speak and understand the English language.
Note: An applicant employed outside the United States by a U.S. carrier may not have to meet the English language requirement, however, the certificate will be endorsed: "Valid only outside the United States."
3. Pass all required tests within a period of 24 months.
Each applicant for a mechanic certificate must appear in person and present either an appropriate graduation certificate or certificate of completion from an FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School, or documentary evidence, satisfactory to the Administrator, of:
1. At least 18 months of practical experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering airframes, or powerplants appropriate to the rating sought.
2. Or at least 30 months of practical experience concurrently performing the duties appropriate to both airframe and powerplant ratings.
Note: Documentary evidence, satisfactory to the FAA means original documents, not copies, demonstrating experience in all required areas. (No training of any kind applies towards practical experience.)
Foreign nationals located outside the United States may only be certificated if they show, to the satisfaction of an FAA Inspector, that the certificate is required for the maintenance of U.S. registered aircraft. To show this need, the applicant must provide:
1. A signed and detailed statement from their employer substantiating the specific types of maintenance performed and the duration of each.
2. A detailed statement obtained from the foreign airworthiness authority of the country in which the experience was gained or from an advisor of the International Civil Aviation Organization that will validate that experience. All information must be signed, dated originals and traceable to the initiators.
3. An original signed and detailed statement from the owner or operator of a US registered aircraft substantiating the need for the A&P certificate. The employer must also list the specific type of maintenance performed and the duration of employment.
Please click here if you would like to get further information. http://www.faa.gov/mechanics/records/
Note: Foreign national applicants who apply to an FAA Flight Standards District Office in the United States are exempt from the requirements of paragraph C (3) above.
An FAA Inspector at any International Field Office (IFO) may interview foreign national applicants who wish to establish eligibility for taking the mechanic written tests. The inspector will require the applicant to:
1. Provide positive identification. (Passport or another form of photo ID)
2. Provide completed FAA Form 8610-2, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application in duplicate.
3. Provide all required documentation as listed in Section C above.
4. Pay the necessary fees by check, money order or bank draft is drawn on a bank located in the U.S.
FEES FOR A&P TESTS AUTHORIZATION:
There are 3 tests - General, Airframe, and Powerplant. Fees for each test is US$77.00.
For a new A&P applicant (that is, no existing A or P license), you need to take the following tests:
1. General test + Airframe + Powerplant (Fees = US$231.00)
2. If you want only Airframe or Powerplant then General + A or + P (Fees = US$15 4.00)
For an existing A or P license holder, if you want to add a rating, then you only need to pay for that rating @ US$77.00.
When all requirements have been verified, the FAA Inspector will endorse the appropriate FAA Form 8610-2. The written tests may then, be administered by an authorized Designated Written Test Examiner (DWTE).
When the official results of the examination are received, the applicant may go to any Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME) to take an oral and practical test. All tests must be completed within 24 months from the time the first written test is taken. Since fees charged by examiners vary, examiners should be contacted directly for prices.
Presently there is one DTWE located in Singapore. There are no DME's located in Singapore at this time. No written tests are conducted at the FAA Singapore IFO. No training is ever conducted at any FAA District or Field Office. You may contact a DWTE or a DME by referencing FAA Advisory Circular 183-32, Designated Technical Personnel Examiners Directory. If you wish to be tested in Hawaii or on the West Coast of the United States, you may contact the following FAA Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO) offices for a list of examiners in these areas.
1. Honolulu, Hi. FSDO (808) 837-8300 2. San Francisco, Ca. FSDO (650) 876-2771 3. Los Angeles, Ca. FSDO (310) 215-2150
You may also get information on a testing center near you by clicking here.
The following publications may be of interest to you in the pursuit of the Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificate:
1. Advisory Circular AC 65-2D Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Certification Guide. SN 050-007-00331-5. Available from the superintendent of documents
2. Advisory Circular AC 65-9A Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics - General Handbook. SN 050-007-00379-0. Available from the superintendent of documents
3. Advisory Circular AC 65-11B Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Certification Information SN 050-007-00750-7. Available from the superintendent of documents
4. Advisory Circular AC 65-12A Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Powerplant Handbook SN 050-007-00373-1. Available from the superintendent of documents
5. Advisory Circular AC 65-15A Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Airframe Handbook SN 050-007-00391-9. Available from the superintendent of documents
6. Advisory Circular AC 147-2Y Directory of FAA Certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools 050-00700754-0. Available from the superintendent of documents. There are no approved schools outside the United States.
7. FAA-T-8080-10C Aviation Mechanic, General, Question Book, SN 050-007-00838-4. Available from the superintendent of documents.
8. FAA-T-8080-11C Aviation Mechanic, Powerplant, Question Book SN 050-007-00841-4. Available from the superintendent of documents.
9. FAA-T-8080-12C Aviation Mechanic, Airframe, Question Book SN 050-007-00854-6. Available from the superintendent of documents.