The A&P exam is not one test but three, taken for each rating a candidate pursues. To earn the airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate, a candidate passes a written test, an oral test, and a practical test administered under Federal Aviation Administration rules. Passing all three across both ratings is what makes a person a certificated mechanic, cleared to sign off on aircraft maintenance.
What the A&P Exam Covers
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) splits the exam into three subject areas: general, airframe, and powerplant. The general section covers fundamentals shared across both ratings, while airframe and powerplant each carry their own tests. A candidate who wants the full A&P certificate completes the written, oral, and practical portions for both the airframe and powerplant ratings, which means the general knowledge, plus two rating-specific tracks.
The three test types measure different things. The written checks knowledge, the oral confirms a candidate can explain it, and the practical proves they can do the work. All three must be passed to earn a rating.
The layered structure exists because a mechanic signs off on work that keeps aircraft airworthy. Knowing a rule is not the same as applying it under a cowling, so the FAA tests recall, reasoning, and hands-on skill separately. A candidate cannot pass on test-taking alone; the practical demands real ability.
Who Is Eligible to Take the A&P Exam
Eligibility comes before testing, and there are two main routes to it:
- Graduate an FAA Part 147 school. Completing an approved aviation maintenance program qualifies a candidate to test right away.
- Document 30 months of practical experience. Working on airframes and powerplants for at least 30 months, verified and signed off, is the alternative to school.
Either path requires documentation the FAA accepts before a candidate can sit for the tests. The aviation maintenance training program route is the more structured of the two, because the curriculum is built to make graduates test-ready rather than leaving them to accumulate hours on their own.
The two routes suit different situations. Someone already working under a certificated mechanic may log the 30 months on the job, while someone starting fresh usually finds school faster and more direct. The experience route also requires an FAA inspector to verify the work before testing, which adds a step the school route handles through program documentation.
A&P Certification and the Written Knowledge Tests
A&P certification starts with the written knowledge tests. There are three, taken by computer at an FAA-approved testing center, one for each subject area:
- General: basic electricity, physics, mathematics, weight and balance, and regulations
- Airframe: structures, systems, sheet metal, and airframe electrical
- Powerplant: reciprocating and turbine engines, fuel systems, and propellers
Each written test is multiple choice, and a candidate must reach the FAA minimum passing score to move on. The written results stay valid for a set period, so candidates usually schedule the oral and practical portions soon after passing the written tests rather than letting time run out.
The written tests reward steady study over cramming. Because the questions draw from published FAA material, a candidate who works through the general, airframe, and powerplant handbooks and practices with question banks can walk in knowing the format and the content. Passing the written is the gateway to the oral and practical, so a strong result here sets up the rest of the sequence.
The A&P Oral and Practical Tests
The a&p oral and practical tests are administered together by a designated mechanic examiner (DME), not by computer. The oral portion is a face-to-face question session where the examiner probes whether a candidate understands procedures and reasoning. The practical portion requires the candidate to perform real maintenance tasks. Typical practical projects include:
- Inspecting a component and documenting the result
- Fabricating or repairing a sheet-metal or structural piece
- Troubleshooting an electrical or engine system
- Performing a maintenance task to an airworthy standard
The examiner covers each subject area during the oral and practical, so a candidate demonstrates both knowledge and skill for the general, airframe, and powerplant sections tied to the ratings they pursue.
How to Prepare and Pass
Preparation is what separates a first-attempt pass from a retest. A practical study plan follows a clear order:
- Study by subject area. Work through general, airframe, and powerplant material in sequence rather than all at once.
- Take practice written tests. Use FAA-style question banks to find weak spots before the real exam.
- Review hands-on skills. Practice the practical tasks on real components, because the practical rewards experience, not memorization.
- Schedule with a DME. Book the oral and practical while the written results are still valid.
Practical experience matters most on the oral and practical, which is why hands-on training carries so much weight. If a candidate fails a section, the FAA allows a retest after additional preparation, and a signed statement is generally required before retesting. Passing depends on preparation, not on how many attempts it takes.
After You Pass: Earning the A&P Certificate
Passing all three tests for a rating earns that rating; passing both airframe and powerplant earns the full A&P certificate. A candidate can hold a single rating, airframe or powerplant alone, but most pursue both because the combined certificate qualifies them for the range of work and lets them sign off on more maintenance. Adding the second rating later is possible, though most candidates find it more efficient to test for both together.
The certificate is issued by the FAA and recognized nationwide, so it travels with the mechanic across employers and states. Training that prepares a candidate for all three tests is the path to it. The aviation maintenance program at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance is built around the general, airframe, and powerplant subjects the exam measures.
Ready to train for the exam? Explore the aviation maintenance program at AIM to see how the curriculum maps to the written, oral, and practical tests, then request program information to plan your path to the A&P certificate.
