If you’ve been searching to figure out what disqualifies you from being an aircraft mechanic, the list is shorter than you’re probably expecting. A past arrest, a health condition, and bad eyesight don’t automatically close the door at the FAA certification level. What actually matters depends on which layer of the process you’re asking about: earning the license follows a different set of rules than getting hired at a commercial airport.
What Are the Requirements to Become an Aircraft Mechanic?
Per 14 CFR Part 65, earning an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate requires four things:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Read, write, speak, and understand English
- Pass three FAA knowledge tests — General, Airframe, and Powerplant — plus oral and practical exams, all within 24 months
- Complete 18 to 30 months of hands-on maintenance experience, or graduate from an FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS)
The FAA sets no education requirement at the federal level, though some employers may seek a high school diploma.
The FAA also does not run a background check as part of A&P certification. The A&P mechanic criminal background check people commonly run into is an airport and employer requirement layered on top of licensure. Mechanics who need access to secure areas of commercial airports must obtain a Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) badge, which requires passing a fingerprint-based CHRC administered by the TSA. That aviation maintenance technician background check is governed by federal transportation security law, not the FAA’s licensing regulations.
Do You Need a Security Clearance to Be an Aircraft Mechanic?
A security clearance is not among the requirements for A&P certification. That requirement only applies to mechanics working on classified government or military contracts.
Can a Felon Become an Aircraft Mechanic?
A felony conviction doesn’t prevent someone from earning an A&P certificate. Whether it affects employment depends on the type of offense and when it occurred.
The TSA divides disqualifying criminal offenses into two categories:
| Category | Examples | Timeframe |
| Permanently disqualifying | Espionage, treason, terrorism, transportation security incidents, explosives crimes | No path forward |
| Interim disqualifying | Weapons offenses, fraud, drug distribution, armed robbery, arson, kidnapping | Disqualifying if convicted within 7 years or released from incarceration within 5 years of application |
Many felonies fall into the interim column, which means timing matters more than the conviction itself. Mechanics employed outside TSA-governed airport environments — general aviation shops, repair stations, charter operators — may also face fewer restrictions than commercial airline employers.
Do Aircraft Mechanics Get Drug Tested?
Yes. 14 CFR Part 120 classifies aircraft maintenance as a safety-sensitive function under federal law, which makes drug testing mandatory for any employer operating under that authority. Testing types include:
- Pre-employment
- Random (a minimum of 50% of covered employees annually)
- Post-accident
- Reasonable cause
- Return-to-duty and follow-up
Cannabis remains on the prohibited list regardless of state law. Refusing to test carries the same consequences as a positive result: immediate removal from safety-sensitive duties.
Can You Be an Aircraft Mechanic With a Disability?
A disability does not disqualify an applicant unless it specifically prevents them from meeting the certification requirements. No vision standard applies to A&P certification. The vision thresholds people often associate with aviation belong to pilot medical certificates, not mechanic credentials.
Testing accommodations are available for candidates who need them. For questions about a specific condition, the local FAA FSDO can clarify whether it affects any certification requirement.
What Comes After the Checklist
If none of the above ruled you out, what disqualifies you from being an aircraft mechanic at this point is simply not having the training. Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) is an FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician School. Completing AIM’s Aviation Maintenance Technician program meets the eligibility requirements to pursue A&P certification exams. Request information to see what the program covers and what enrollment looks like.
