Most people searching for an A&P license timeline want one thing: a straight answer. The honest one is that it depends on which path you take into the field. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognizes two routes to certification: completing an approved training program or logging documented hands-on work experience. Each comes with its own clock.
What stays the same across both paths is the finish line: written exams, an oral test, and a practical evaluation before you walk away with your certificate. Understanding the full sequence upfront helps you plan a realistic schedule and avoid surprises along the way.
What the A&P License Actually Covers
The Aviation Mechanic certificate, more commonly called the A&P license, has two ratings: Airframe (A) and Powerplant (P). The FAA issues a single certificate that can carry one rating, the other, or both. There is no requirement to obtain both.
Most people who pursue the certificate go for both ratings at the same time, and that decision shapes the A&P license timeline from day one. Pursuing a single rating means a narrower scope of work; pursuing both opens up a wider range of roles. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employers may prefer to hire mechanics who hold both ratings. Which ratings to pursue is ultimately a personal decision based on your career goals, and training programs at FAA-approved schools prepare students for both.
With an A&P license, you are authorized to inspect, repair, and maintain aircraft systems and approve aircraft for return to service after maintenance. That scope of authority is what makes the certificate worth the timeline investment.
Path 1: FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School
The school route is the most common path to A&P certification. An FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS), also called a Part 147 school, provides structured training that satisfies FAA experience requirements upon graduation. A graduation certificate from an AMTS makes you eligible to test for the mechanic certificate, provided you also meet the other eligibility requirements for age and English language proficiency.
The FAA estimates AMTS completion at 18 to 24 months depending on which ratings you pursue. At Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM), the Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) program is can be completed in 21 months for full-time students.
AMTS programs have historically been structured around the subject-area hours outlined in FAA Advisory Circular AC 147-3B, totaling approximately 1,900 hours for the combined A&P curriculum:
| Subject Area | Required Hours |
| General | 400 |
| Airframe | 750 |
| Powerplant | 750 |
| Total (combined A&P) | 1,900 |
Training combines classroom instruction with hands-on time in the hangar. At AIM, students work on actual aircraft using FAA-standard equipment, covering systems from jet engines and turboprops to hydraulics, electrical components, and flight controls.
Full-Time vs. Flexible Scheduling
AIM offers day and evening class options, which means the timeline is adjustable based on your schedule. A few things worth knowing before you commit to a start date:
- Full-time enrollment moves you through the program in approximately 21 months
- Flexible scheduling extends that window but keeps the program accessible if you are working or managing other obligations
- Some students work part-time during training, so factor that into your personal timeline
Full-time enrollment reaches certification eligibility sooner than part-time or OJT paths.
Path 2: On-the-Job Training
The second route to eligibility is on-the-job training (OJT). Instead of completing a school program, you accumulate documented practical experience working on actual aircraft under the supervision of a certificated mechanic.
The FAA’s minimum experience requirements under 14 CFR Part 65 are:
| Rating Sought | Minimum Experience Required |
| Single rating (Airframe or Powerplant) | 18 months |
| Both ratings (A&P), performed concurrently | 30 months |
A few important things to understand about this path:
- Every hour must be documented with evidence acceptable to the FAA Administrator
- You must work under a mechanic who holds the appropriate Airframe or Powerplant certificate
- Military aviation maintenance experience may count. The Joint Service Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council (JSAMTCC) evaluates military specialty codes to determine what the FAA will credit toward your experience requirement
- Meeting the experience requirement does not skip the written, oral, and practical exams. Those are required regardless of how you qualified
OJT works well for people already working in the field or transitioning from military service. For anyone starting from scratch, the school path is can be faster and provides structured exam preparation built into the curriculum.
The FAA Testing Process
Completing your training or logging your experience hours is not the finish line. Before you receive your A&P certificate, you must pass three separate FAA knowledge tests and then complete an oral and practical evaluation.
The Three Knowledge Tests
The FAA requires three written knowledge tests:
- General (must be completed first)
- Airframe
- Powerplant
Each exam requires a minimum passing score of 70%. All three must be passed within a 24-month window. AMTS programs build exam preparation into their curricula. At AIM, the final block of the AMT program is a dedicated capstone course reviewing General, Airframe, and Powerplant content in preparation for testing.
The Oral and Practical Exam
After passing the written tests, you sit for an oral and practical examination administered by a Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME). This portion typically runs 8 to 12 hours and requires you to demonstrate hands-on proficiency, use proper tools and procedures, and explain your work to the examiner.
Scheduling with a DME can add days to a few weeks to your overall timeline depending on local availability. Budget for this when planning your certification date.
A&P License Timeline: Side-by-Side Comparison
Here is how the two paths stack up from start to test-eligible:
| Path | Time to Test-Eligible | Notes |
| FAA-Approved School (both ratings) | 18 to 24 months | AIM full-time students can finish in 21 months |
| OJT (both ratings, A&P) | 30 months | Must be performed concurrently on airframe and powerplant |
| OJT (single rating) | 18 months | Qualifies for one rating only |
Add several weeks for written test scheduling, prep, and DME availability after completing either path. For full-time students at AIM, a realistic A&P license timeline from first day of enrollment to certificate in hand runs approximately 21 to 27 months.
Where the Career Goes After You Certify
With an A&P certificate, you are qualified to work across the aviation industry. Certified mechanics work in:
- Commercial airlines
- Maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities
- Corporate and private flight departments
- Cargo carriers
- General aviation shops
- Government and military maintenance operations
Entry-level roles that graduates commonly step into include Aircraft Mechanic, Aircraft Inspector, Avionics Technician, Parts Manager, and Service Technician.
AIM’s employer partnerships connect graduates with industry professionals in the field. For example, the school maintains a relationship with American Airlines, which may consider students from AIM’s Chicago campus for openings on American Airlines’ aviation maintenance team. AIM has established similar relationships with regional carriers and corporate operators nationwide.
From there, the certificate creates room to grow. Turbine endorsements, avionics credentials, and an Inspection Authorization (IA) all build on the A&P foundation and expand what you can do in the field.
Ready to start mapping out your path? Request information from AIM to learn more about program start dates, scheduling options, and financial aid for those who qualify.
