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A&P License

How to get your license, training requirements, eligibility, and links to more info.

To earn your A&P License, you must attend a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified AMT school OR have at least 30 months of relevant civilian or military work experience (supervised by a certified aviation mechanic).

The FAA issues the A&P certificates (airframe and powerplant), and mechanics can get either an airframe rating or a power plant rating or both--most mechanics get both.

Those who want a certificate with just a single rating and who base their application on practical experience must demonstrate 18 months of work experience applicable to the chosen rating. Learn more about the training and experience requirements to become an aircraft mechanic

After your education or training qualifications are met, you'll be eligible to take the required oral, practical, and written tests.

You must pass all these tests within 24 months. The tests cover 43 technical subjects. Typically, tests for one certificate--airframe or power plant--take about 8 hours. (Get more details about the Aircraft Mechanics Tests.)

When you pass, you will have earned your FAA mechanic license with airframe and/or powerplant certificates (A&P license), and you'll be on your way to a successful career in aviation maintenance! Learn more about aviation maintenance technician training now.

A&P License Currency

Although your A&P certificates don't expire, you must remain "current" by meeting several criteria, including completing a minimum of 1,000 hours of hands-on work experience during the previous 24 months (or completing a refresher course) and completing at least 16 hours of additional training every 24 months.

The additional training requirement is usually satisfied by attending manufacturer events or training with outside contractors hired to conduct the training.

Avionics Technician Specialty Training

As an A&P mechanic, if you have the training, qualifications, and tools, the FAA will allow you to work on avionics as well. Avionics technicians are not specifically required to have FAA certification if they received their avionics training in the military or from working for an avionics manufacturer.

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