The Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license is the certification issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that permits a person to perform maintenance, preventative maintenance, and alterations on registered aircraft. This license is the professional standard for aviation mechanics, granting the authority to sign off on work that directly affects airworthiness. While most mechanics graduate from an FAA-approved Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School, skilled professionals with significant on-the-job experience can bypass formal schooling. This experience-based route requires demonstrating practical expertise and is administratively demanding.
Understanding the Required Experience
The experience-based path requires demonstrating a specific amount of hands-on work, as outlined in FAA regulation 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart D, specifically §65.77. This time must be verifiable as actual practical experience, not merely time spent in the aviation industry. To qualify for a single rating (Airframe or Powerplant), an applicant must document a minimum of 18 months of practical experience appropriate to that rating.
If an applicant seeks the combined A&P certificate, the requirement increases to 30 months of practical experience. This work must involve both airframes and powerplants performed concurrently. The FAA defines this as practical experience using the materials, tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering aircraft or their engines. Time spent in training or in supervisory roles that lacked actual hands-on maintenance does not count toward this total.
Documenting Your Qualified Experience
Satisfying the time requirements demands meticulous documentation, which serves as the primary evidence for the FAA. The most important document is a detailed, notarized letter from a current or former employer, supervisor, or an FAA-certificated mechanic who oversaw the work. This letter must specifically detail the exact dates the work was performed and clearly categorize the tasks as either Airframe or Powerplant maintenance hours.
The letter must substantiate the type of work performed, not just the job title or employment period. Supplementary evidence, such as personal maintenance logbooks, can strengthen the application. Logbooks provide a contemporaneous record of specific tasks, dates, and the registration number of the aircraft worked on. Proactive record-keeping throughout the experience period is essential to ensure the paperwork correlates with the required practical skills.
The Role of the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)
The next mandatory step involves interacting with the local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), which acts as the gatekeeper for testing authorization. An applicant must schedule an appointment with an Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) to formally review the compiled experience documentation. This meeting is an administrative interview designed only to confirm the applicant’s eligibility to test, not to assess technical knowledge.
During the appointment, the ASI examines the notarized employer letters and supporting documentation to verify the applicant has met the 18 or 30-month practical experience requirements. If the ASI is satisfied, they will endorse FAA Form 8610-2, the Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application. This endorsement in Block V of the form is the official authorization needed to sit for the three required FAA knowledge exams.
Special Considerations for Military Veterans
Military veterans pursuing the A&P certificate have a unique path where their service experience can be credited toward the practical experience requirement. The FAA evaluates Military Occupational Specialties (MOS), Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC), or Navy Ratings to determine if the work aligns with required civil maintenance tasks. This process simplifies documentation, often substituting for extensive civilian employer letters.
Required documentation typically includes a letter from the veteran’s Executive Officer or Maintenance Officer. This letter must certify the length of service, the time spent in each relevant specialty code, and the make and model of the aircraft or engine worked on. Veterans may also present their Joint Services Transcript (JST), Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript, or DD-214. To be eligible, the military experience must cover at least 50 percent of the required subject areas for the rating sought, which an ASI verifies during the FSDO interview.
Preparing for the FAA Examinations
Once FAA Form 8610-2 is endorsed, the applicant is authorized to take the three required examinations: General, Airframe, and Powerplant. These include a Written Knowledge Test, an Oral Examination, and a Practical Examination. All three must be completed within 24 months from the date the first test is passed. The Written Knowledge Tests are administered at authorized computer testing centers and cover foundational theory and regulatory knowledge.
The Oral and Practical Examinations assess the applicant’s ability to apply knowledge and physically perform maintenance tasks. Since experience-based applicants often lack the structured academic background of a Part 147 school, specialized preparation is beneficial. Candidates often utilize test banks, FAA handbooks like the Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbooks, and dedicated A&P test preparation courses to reinforce academic theory and practical skills.
Selecting and Working with a Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME)
The final step is the successful completion of the Oral and Practical examinations, administered by a Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME). A DME is an FAA-certificated mechanic authorized to act as the FAA’s representative in conducting these final assessments. Applicants must coordinate directly with a DME, who can be located through a list provided by the local FSDO or an online FAA designee search tool.
The DME conducts a pre-test interview to review the applicant’s signed FAA Form 8610-2 and the passing results of the written exams. The Oral exam involves a detailed question-and-answer session, and the Practical exam requires the applicant to demonstrate hands-on proficiency in various maintenance projects. DME services involve a fee that varies, so applicants should confirm all costs, testing locations, and necessary equipment with the examiner before finalizing the appointment.