You may have seen an aircraft mechanic job posting that says “A&P required” and wondered whether that means a degree, a short training course, or a professional license. In practice, an A&P is an FAA-issued Aviation Mechanic certificate with both Airframe and Powerplant ratings. It shows that a mechanic has met federal experience, knowledge, and skill requirements for working on major aircraft systems.
Although people commonly call it an A and P license, the Federal Aviation Administration uses the term “mechanic certificate.” It is not a pilot certificate, and you do not need to learn to fly an aircraft to qualify. You also do not need an FAA pilot medical certificate, although individual employers may establish physical or medical requirements for particular jobs.
What Does an A and P License Cover?
The certificate has two separate ratings. You may earn either rating by itself, but many employers prefer applicants who hold both because they can work across a broader range of aircraft systems.
Airframe rating
The Airframe, or “A,” rating covers the aircraft’s structure and systems other than its engine or engines. Depending on the aircraft and the mechanic’s training, airframe work may include:
- Metal, composite, wood, and fabric structures
- Fuselages, wings, flight controls, and control surfaces
- Landing gear, wheels, tires, and brakes
- Hydraulic and pneumatic systems
- Aircraft electrical and lighting systems
- Cabin, environmental, warning, and instrument systems
- Structural inspections, repairs, and alterations
Powerplant rating
The Powerplant, or “P,” rating concerns engines and associated systems. It can apply to reciprocating and turbine engines, depending on the mechanic’s knowledge and workplace. Typical areas include:
- Engine inspection, troubleshooting, repair, and overhaul
- Fuel metering and induction systems
- Ignition and engine-starting systems
- Lubrication and cooling systems
- Exhaust and fire-protection systems
- Propellers and propeller-control systems
- Engine instruments and electrical components
Holding both ratings gives a mechanic broad authority, but it does not mean the person may automatically perform every task on every aircraft. A mechanic must understand the applicable instructions and have previously performed the work satisfactorily or complete it under the supervision of someone qualified to do it.
What Can an A&P Mechanic Legally Do?
Within the privileges of the ratings held, an A&P mechanic may perform or supervise maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations. The mechanic may also approve covered work for return to service when federal regulations allow it.
However, an A&P certificate alone does not authorize every inspection or approval. A mechanic may generally perform and approve a 100-hour inspection when properly rated, but approving an annual inspection requires an additional Inspection Authorization, commonly called an IA. Certain major repairs and major alterations also require approval by an IA or another appropriately authorized person or organization.
This distinction matters in everyday work. An A&P mechanic might diagnose an engine problem, replace a damaged component, inspect the completed installation, and make the required maintenance-record entry. More heavily regulated work may require additional oversight, approved technical data, or specialized organizational authority.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for an FAA Aviation Mechanic certificate, an applicant must generally:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be able to read, write, speak, and understand English, subject to limited regulatory exceptions
- Meet the required education or practical-experience standard
- Pass the applicable knowledge, oral, and practical tests
- Complete all prescribed tests within the required 24-month period
A college degree is not an FAA requirement. A high school diploma or GED may be required for admission to many aviation maintenance schools, but school enrollment standards are separate from the FAA’s certificate eligibility rules.
Three Common Ways to Qualify
Attend an FAA-certificated maintenance school
An Aviation Maintenance Technician School, often called an AMTS or Part 147 school, provides an approved curriculum covering the subjects needed for one or both ratings. Programs commonly combine classroom instruction with extensive shop work. Many programs take approximately 18 to 24 months, although schedules and admission requirements differ by school.
Graduation from an approved program establishes eligibility to take the applicable FAA tests, provided the applicant meets the other requirements.
Gain civilian on-the-job experience
You may qualify without attending an AMTS by documenting practical maintenance experience. The FAA requires at least 18 months of appropriate experience for one rating or 30 months of concurrent experience involving both airframe and powerplant work.
The experience must involve actual maintenance duties, not simply observing, attending training, or working around aircraft. Applicants should keep detailed records showing dates, hours, aircraft information, tasks completed, and the name and certificate details of the supervising mechanic. Employment letters, pay records, training documents, and signed mechanic logs may also help establish eligibility.
Use qualifying military experience
Military aviation maintenance can count, but military service by itself does not guarantee eligibility. The FAA evaluates whether the applicant’s occupational specialty and hands-on duties covered the subjects associated with the requested rating. Time spent only in initial training generally does not replace the required practical experience.
How the Testing Process Works
Applicants seeking both ratings normally take three knowledge tests: General, Airframe, and Powerplant. The General test is taken first. After passing the applicable knowledge exams, the applicant completes oral questioning and hands-on practical projects administered by a Designated Mechanic Examiner.
The evaluation is intended to confirm more than memorized facts. Applicants may need to interpret maintenance information, use tools correctly, inspect components, troubleshoot faults, make calculations, complete maintenance records, and demonstrate safe working practices. The FAA’s aviation mechanic certification guidance provides current information about experience routes, testing, and application procedures.
Does the Certificate Expire?
The mechanic certificate itself does not require routine renewal, but certificated mechanics must satisfy recent-experience rules before exercising its privileges. In general, a mechanic must have used the certificate in an authorized maintenance or supervisory capacity for at least six months during the preceding 24 months. A mechanic who does not meet that standard may need to work under appropriate supervision until recent experience is reestablished.
Employers may also require recurrent training, aircraft-specific instruction, drug and alcohol testing, security screening, or additional qualifications. The A&P certificate establishes federal mechanic privileges; it does not replace every workplace requirement.
Is an A&P Career a Good Fit?
This career may suit people who enjoy mechanical problem-solving, careful documentation, technical manuals, and hands-on work where small details matter. Maintenance can take place in hangars, repair stations, manufacturing facilities, or outdoors on airport ramps. Evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday shifts are common in operations that keep aircraft flying around the clock.
Before enrolling in a program, compare tuition, completion rates, shop facilities, testing preparation, and employer relationships. If you are exploring other regulated occupations as well, this guide to building a career with a security license illustrates how training and licensing requirements can shape a professional path.
The most direct route to an a and p license is usually an FAA-certificated school, while on-the-job and qualifying military experience can offer valuable alternatives. Whichever path you choose, accurate documentation, broad technical preparation, and practical competence are essential. The certificate represents permission to accept significant responsibility for aircraft safety, not simply proof that you passed a set of exams.
