Lesson 1: A&P OJT Requirements

Experience Requirements — 14 CFR 65.77

The foundational regulation for getting your A&P license through on-the-job training is 14 CFR 65.77. This regulation defines the experience required:

• 18 months of practical experience for either Airframe (A) or Powerplant (P) individually
• 30 months of practical experience concurrently performing duties for both Airframe and Powerplant ratings

This experience must include procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering airframes or powerplants appropriate to the rating sought.

General Eligibility — 14 CFR 65.71A

To be eligible for an aircraft mechanic certificate (A&P rating), you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be able to read, write, speak, and understand English (in the United States)
• Pass all prescribed tests within a 24-month period

The Nine Tests

To earn your A&P certificate, you must pass all nine tests within 24 months of your first test:

1. General Written
2. General Oral
3. General Practical
4. Airframe Written
5. Airframe Oral
6. Airframe Practical
7. Powerplant Written
8. Powerplant Oral
9. Powerplant Practical

Important: Once you start your first test (General Written), the 24-month clock begins. You must complete all remaining tests within that window.

Written Tests — 14 CFR 65.75

Each applicant must pass a written test covering the aeronautical knowledge subject areas in the Aviation Mechanics General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards (ACS). You must pass the written test for each section before you can take the oral and practical portions.

Oral & Practical Tests — 14 CFR 65.79

Each applicant must pass an oral and practical test demonstrating satisfactory understanding of knowledge, risk management, and skill elements for each subject in the ACS. The testing standards are now called the ACS (Airman Certification Standards) — this should be a core part of your study material.

FAA Evaluation of Experience — FAA Order 8900.1

FAA Order 8900.1, Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 2, Paragraph 5-1134 outlines how the FAA evaluates your experience:

• You must have documented experience in at least 50% of the ACS subject areas applicable to the rating sought
• If pursuing the experience route, you must go through your local FSDO (Flight Standards District Office) to get authorization to test
• Part-time experience is evaluated against a 40-hour work week standard (8 hours/day, 5 days/week, ~160 hours/month)
• Time is cumulative but does not need to be consecutive

FAA Form 8610-2

The FAA Form 8610-2 is the application for a Mechanic Certificate or Rating. This is the form you fill out and take to the FSDO along with all your documented experience.

• Must be filled out and signed by an ASI (Airworthiness Safety Inspector) at the FSDO before you take any tests
• You must meet the experience requirements of 65.77 before submitting this form
• Pages 4 and 5 of the form contain instructions for each section — read them carefully
• Once the ASI signs Block V of the form, you are authorized to begin testing

The relevant ACS code for this topic is AM.I.I.K5 — Purpose and use of FAA Form 8610-2.

Frequently Asked Questions

• 14 CFR 65.77 — Experience Requirements
• 14 CFR 65.71 — Eligibility Requirements
• 14 CFR 65.75 — Knowledge Requirements
• 14 CFR 65.79 — Skill Requirements
• Find Your Local FSDO Office
• FAA Form 8610-2 — Mechanic Certificate Application

• 14 CFR 65.77: 18 months experience for A or P individually, or 30 months for both A&P concurrently
• FAA Form 8610-2 is the application you fill out and take to your local FSDO once your experience requirements are met
• Experience (part-time or full-time) must add up to full-time hours (40 hrs/week) — does not have to be consecutive
• You must document experience in at least 50% of the ACS subjects for the area you are testing for (General, Airframe, or Powerplant)
• Once you begin testing, you have 24 months to pass all nine tests