Aircraft mechanics and service technicians earned a median wage of $78,680 in May 2024, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 13,100 openings a year across the occupation through 2034. The aircraft mechanic requirements that lead to that wage are shorter than most people expect. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets four eligibility rules, offers three routes to meet them, and issues one certificate.
What the FAA Actually Requires
The eligibility rules for an Aviation Mechanic certificate appear in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 65, subpart D. An applicant must be:
- At least 18 years old
- Able to read, write, speak, and understand English
- Able to pass all required tests within a 24-month period
- Able to meet the experience, knowledge, and skill standards for at least one rating
Two common misconceptions belong here. U.S. citizenship is not required. Foreign applicants located in the United States meet the same standards as citizens when they apply to test. The FAA also prescribes no general education requirement, though many employers ask for a high school diploma or GED, and every FAA-approved school sets its own admission standards.
Three Routes to Eligibility
Aircraft mechanic education requirements depend on which route an applicant takes. All three end at the same tests.
| Route | What it takes | Who it fits |
| FAA-approved school | Graduate from an Aviation Maintenance Technician School (AMTS) under part 147 | Career starters and career changers who want a structured, documented path |
| Documented experience | 18 months of practical experience for one rating, or 30 months performing both concurrently | Workers already employed at a repair station, MRO, or manufacturer |
| Military service | Complete the Joint Service Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council (JSAMTCC) course | Active-duty, guard, reserve, and separating service members |
The experience route carries a documentation burden. The FAA wants pay receipts or signed logs showing hours, task type, and the registration number of each aircraft worked on, all based on a 40-hour week. Compressed schedules do not shorten the clock. Working 60 hours a week for a year does not substitute for 18 months.
The school route removes that burden. Graduates present a graduation certificate directly to the testing center instead of visiting a Flight Standards District Office for approval. The aviation maintenance program at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance covers the general, airframe, and powerplant subjects the FAA tests, and the admission standards are published in full.
Airframe, Powerplant, or Both
The FAA issues a single certificate carrying an Airframe (A) rating, a Powerplant (P) rating, or both. Holding both is what the industry calls an A&P certificate.
Airframe covers the fuselage, skin, wings, landing gear, and control surfaces. Powerplant covers engines, propellers, and fuel systems. Nothing requires an applicant to earn both, but employers routinely prefer candidates who hold the A&P because those mechanics can sign off across the whole aircraft. Deeper detail on scope and privileges appears in this guide to A&P license requirements.
Avionics work follows a separate track. No additional FAA certification is required to work on avionics equipment, but technicians who service communications gear may need a license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and most employers set their own qualification standards. Many avionics employers recommend holding an Aviation Mechanic certificate with an Airframe rating alongside it.
Passing the Tests
Certification comes down to three knowledge tests plus an oral and practical examination.
The knowledge tests cover General, Airframe, and Powerplant subject areas and draw from the Aviation Mechanic Airman Certification Standards. Each allows two hours. A passing score is 70 percent. Candidates register for an FAA Tracking Number through the Integrated Airman Certificate and Rating Application system, then schedule through an Airman Knowledge Testing Center.
Once all applicable knowledge tests are passed, a Designated Mechanic Examiner administers the oral and practical portions. Failing any section triggers a 30-day wait before retesting, which shortens if an appropriately certificated airman signs a statement confirming additional instruction. The certificate itself carries no issuance fee and stays valid until surrendered, suspended, or revoked.
Timeline and Cost
The 24-month test window is the constraint most applicants overlook. Every required test has to be passed inside it.
Around that window, the routes diverge sharply. School programs run on a published calendar. The experience route runs a minimum of 18 or 30 months depending on ratings sought, with no way to compress it. A closer breakdown lives in this look at program length.
Training costs vary by school and program. Federal aid, scholarships, and military benefits all apply at accredited institutions for those who qualify, and service members and dependents can take the AMT knowledge tests at no cost under the FAA agreement with JSAMTCC.
What the Certificate Pays
Aircraft maintenance technician requirements translate into measurable earnings. BLS reported these May 2024 figures:
| Measure | Amount |
| Median annual wage, aircraft mechanics and service technicians | $78,680 |
| Lowest 10 percent | Under $47,790 |
| Highest 10 percent | Over $120,080 |
| Median annual wage, avionics technicians | $81,390 |
Industry drives much of the spread. Mechanics in air transportation posted a median of $95,320, followed by couriers and express delivery at $89,220 and aerospace product and parts manufacturing at $82,560. Support activities for air transportation, the largest single employer at 32 percent of the occupation, came in at $66,960.
Employment across aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the 3 percent average for all occupations. Avionics technicians lead at 8 percent. The occupation held 160,800 jobs in 2024, and much of the projected hiring replaces workers who retire or move to other fields.
Credentials That Extend the Certificate
The A&P is a floor rather than a ceiling. Two credentials widen what a mechanic can sign off on.
Inspection Authorization (IA). Available to A&P-certificated mechanics who meet experience and other standards, the IA allows a mechanic to review and approve major repairs and alterations and return aircraft to service after annual inspections. IA holders carry the widest range of maintenance and alteration privileges of any maintenance personnel, and BLS notes that advancement opportunities are best for mechanics who hold one.
Repairman certificate. Issued by an employing repair station for specific duties, it requires 18 months of practical experience in the job or completion of an FAA-approved training course, plus an employer recommendation. It does not transfer between employers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a college degree to become an aircraft mechanic?
No. The FAA prescribes no general education requirement for the Aviation Mechanic certificate. Entry-level education for the occupation is a postsecondary nondegree award, which an FAA-approved school program provides.
Can you work on aircraft before earning the certificate?
Yes, under supervision. Uncertificated personnel may perform maintenance while supervised by a certificated A&P mechanic or repairman, or under the authority of a part 145 repair station or a part 121 or 135 air carrier certificate. Only a certificated individual can approve an aircraft for return to service.
Is an A&P certificate required for an airline job?
Not by regulation. Air carriers frequently list it as a hiring requirement anyway, and the FAA notes that holding one leads to broader opportunities and higher wages over a career.
Does the certificate expire?
No. It stays valid until surrendered, suspended, or revoked. No medical certificate is required at any point.
Meeting the aircraft mechanic requirements takes one certificate, one set of tests, and a documented path to eligibility. Review the curriculum, campus locations, and start dates for the aviation maintenance program at AIM, then request program information to start the process. AIM’s career services team connects graduates with airlines and repair stations hiring certificated mechanics.
