How Long Does It Take to Become an Aircraft Mechanic?

Most people become a certified aircraft mechanic in about 18 to 24 months through an FAA-approved school. The exact time depends on the route you take, whether you attend full time, and how quickly you pass the FAA exams. The credential at the end is the FAA Aviation Mechanic certificate with Airframe and Powerplant ratings, known as the A&P.

The Two Routes and How Long Each Takes

The FAA recognizes two paths to the certificate, and they run on different clocks:

• FAA-approved Part 147 school: about 18 to 24 months of structured training, the most common and usually fastest route
• Documented work experience: 18 months for a single rating, or 30 months to qualify for both Airframe and Powerplant

The school route is popular because it is structured, supervised, and ends with clear eligibility to test. The experience route can work for someone already employed in a shop, but it takes longer and requires careful documentation for the FAA to accept it. A new applicant with no aviation background almost always finishes sooner through a school, because the program packages the required subjects and hands-on hours into one schedule instead of leaving the student to accumulate them on the job. AIM breaks down the full path in its guide to how to become an aircraft mechanic.

How Long Does It Take to Get an A&P License After Training?

Finishing a program is not the finish line. To earn the A&P license, you still pass three FAA tests, and scheduling them adds time. The testing sequence is:

1. Three written exams (General, Airframe, and Powerplant), each requiring a score of 70 percent or higher
2. An oral exam with a Designated Mechanic Examiner
3. A practical, hands-on exam demonstrating real maintenance tasks

Well-prepared graduates often complete testing within a few weeks of finishing school, though booking the oral and practical with an examiner can add a short wait. Once earned, the certificate does not expire, so the time invested pays off for the length of a career. For the credential itself, AIM explains what an A&P license is and the full A&P license requirements.

The Fastest Realistic Timeline

For a full-time student starting with no experience, the quickest realistic path to a working A&P runs about 18 to 20 months: roughly 18 months of school, then a few weeks to prepare for and pass the three FAA exams. Accelerated programs can trim the school portion, but the FAA testing standards do not change, so no legitimate route skips the written, oral, and practical exams. Be cautious of any claim that promises the full certificate in a matter of weeks with no prior experience, because it does not match how FAA certification actually works.

What Affects the Timeline

Two students starting the same week can finish months apart. The factors that move the timeline most:

• Enrollment status: full-time students finish faster than part-time or evening students
• Program format: accelerated schedules compress the calendar; slower tracks stretch it
• Test preparation: passing the written, oral, and practical exams on the first attempt avoids retest delays
• Route chosen: the school path is generally quicker than logging 18 to 30 months of documented experience

AIM’s overview of how long aviation maintenance training takes walks through how these pieces fit together, and its first-year training breakdown shows what the early months look like.

Is the Time Worth It?

In under two years, a graduate can move into a field where aircraft mechanics earn a median of $78,680 a year, with projected growth of 5 percent through 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. Compared with a four-year degree, the aircraft mechanic path reaches a skilled, licensed career in a fraction of the time and cost. The license also holds its value, since it does not expire and is recognized nationwide, so the months spent training convert into career growth. 

Start the Clock at AIM

The aviation maintenance training program at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) prepares students for the Airframe and Powerplant exams and the hands-on work employers expect. Request program information to compare campuses and start dates.