FAA A&P Mechanic Eligibility Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 Years Old

The FAA requires you to be at least 18 years old at the time of certification under 14 CFR §65.71(a)(1). There is no minimum age to begin accumulating experience or attending an AMTS program, and there is no upper age limit. You can work as a mechanic's helper or student apprentice before turning 18, but you may not be certificated until you meet the age requirement.

English Language Proficiency

You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language under 14 CFR §65.71(a)(2). This requirement exists because aviation technical publications, maintenance manuals, FAA regulations, and Airworthiness Directives are all written in English, and safety-critical communication with the FAA, DMEs, and other certificate holders depends on English literacy. If you have a language or speech impediment, the FAA may authorize alternative means of demonstrating compliance. There is no formal language test — the DME assesses your English proficiency during the oral examination.

Experience Path: 18 or 30 Months of Documented Practical Experience

If you are not a Part-147 graduate, you must accumulate practical experience directly on aircraft (or aircraft components related to the rating sought) under the supervision of a certificated mechanic. Under 14 CFR §65.77, you need 18 months of experience for a single rating (Airframe only or Powerplant only). For both ratings simultaneously, you need 30 months of experience concurrently covering both Airframe and Powerplant work. The experience must be practical — hands-on maintenance tasks — not administrative or ramp duties. It must be documented and certified by your supervising mechanic on FAA Form 8610-2.

Part-147 Path: Graduation from an FAA-Approved AMTS

Graduates of FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools (AMTS) operating under 14 CFR Part 147 satisfy the practical experience requirement through their school's FAA-approved curriculum. The school's training record, signed by the school's director of training, serves as the experience documentation on Form 8610-2 in lieu of a supervising mechanic's sign-off. Part-147 programs must meet minimum curriculum hour requirements set by the FAA, covering general, airframe, and powerplant subject areas. Confirm that your school holds current FAA Part-147 certification before enrolling.

What Counts as Practical Experience?

The FAA defines practical experience as hands-on work on aircraft or aircraft engines. This includes tasks such as performing scheduled inspections, removing and installing components, performing repairs (sheet metal, composites, hydraulics, electrical), conducting engine runs, and using technical publications and tools correctly. Experience gained in military aviation maintenance, on aircraft components in a FAA-repair station (14 CFR Part 145), or in certain industrial settings may qualify — the DME and the FSDO (Flight Standards District Office) make the final determination. General ramp-agent or parts-counter work does not qualify.

Check Your Eligibility Before the Exam

Use AMTprep's free eligibility checker at /eligibility to walk through the age, English, and experience questions and get an immediate readiness assessment. The checker maps your inputs to the 14 CFR §65.71/65.77 criteria and shows you exactly how much experience you still need to accumulate. Because the DME will verify your experience documentation on exam day, it is important to start maintaining accurate records from your first day of work.

Frequently asked questions

Does military aircraft maintenance experience count toward the 18/30-month requirement?

Yes. Documented military aviation maintenance experience is generally accepted by the FAA toward the practical experience requirement. You will need official military records (such as a DD-214 or training records) documenting the nature and duration of your experience, which your DME and the FSDO will evaluate.

Can I count experience on homebuilt or experimental aircraft?

Work on experimental aircraft may count in some circumstances, but the FAA scrutinizes it more carefully because experimental aircraft are not required to be maintained to FAR Part 43 standards. Experience on type-certificated aircraft or in a Part-145 repair station carries more weight. Discuss your specific situation with your local FSDO or a DME before relying solely on experimental-aircraft experience.

What if my experience spans multiple employers?

You can accumulate the required experience across multiple employers. Each supervising mechanic who can personally attest to your work signs Form 8610-2 for the period they supervised you. Keep contemporaneous records (logbook entries, time cards, or letters from each employer) to support the sign-offs.

Is there a maximum age for earning an A&P certificate?

No. There is no upper age limit for the A&P certificate. The FAA only requires you to be at least 18 years old. Many mechanics enter the field as a second career well into their 40s or 50s.

Primary sources

• 14 CFR §65.71 — Eligibility Requirements: General (eCFR)
• 14 CFR §65.77 — Experience Requirements (eCFR)
• 14 CFR Part 147 — Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools (eCFR)
• FAA Form 8610-2 — Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application (PDF)

Related guides

• How to Become an FAA Aircraft Mechanic (A&P Certificate Guide)
• FAA A&P Written Tests Explained — General, Airframe & Powerplant
• FAA Form 8610-2 and IACRA — Applying for Your A&P Certificate