Aviation mechanic eligibility, ratings, knowledge, experience and skill study guide
14 CFR 65.71, 65.73, 65.75, 65.77, 65.79 and 65.80 set who is eligible for an FAA mechanic certificate, which ratings are issued, and the knowledge, experience and skill requirements, including the rules for students of certificated aviation maintenance technician schools. These six sections are short, so this guide has 28 points: everything their text states, without padding. Privileges, recent experience and inspection authorization are covered in other guides. goraedu does not train, test or certificate mechanics, and this is not an FAA test. Every point links to the regulation and quotes its exact words.
General eligibility
To be eligible for a mechanic certificate and associated ratings, a person must be at least 18 years of age.
“To be eligible for a mechanic certificate and associated ratings, a person must— (1) Be at least 18 years of age;”
The person must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language, unless the alternative in the next point (for certain applicants employed outside the United States) applies.
“Be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language, or in the case of an applicant who does not meet this requirement and who is employed outside of the United States by a U.S. air carrier,”
Alternatively, an applicant who does not meet the English language requirement and who is employed outside of the United States by a U.S. air carrier must have the certificate endorsed "Valid only outside the United States".
“or in the case of an applicant who does not meet this requirement and who is employed outside of the United States by a U.S. air carrier, have his certificate endorsed “Valid only outside the United States”;”
The person must have passed all of the prescribed tests within a period of 24 months.
“Have passed all of the prescribed tests within a period of 24 months; and”
The person must also comply with the sections of Subpart D that apply to the rating the applicant seeks.
“Comply with the sections of this subpart that apply to the rating the applicant seeks.”
Not covered here
The privileges and limitations of a mechanic certificate (§ 65.81 onward) are covered in other study guides, not here. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Ratings and additional ratings
Two ratings are issued under Subpart D: airframe and powerplant.
“The following ratings are issued under this subpart: (1) Airframe. (2) Powerplant.”
A mechanic certificate with an aircraft or aircraft engine rating, or both, that was issued before, and was valid on, June 15, 1952, is equal to a mechanic certificate with an airframe or powerplant rating, or both, as the case may be.
“A mechanic certificate with an aircraft or aircraft engine rating, or both, that was issued before, and was valid on, June 15, 1952, is equal to a mechanic certificate with an airframe or powerplant rating, or both, as the case may be”
Such a pre-June 15, 1952 certificate may be exchanged for the corresponding certificate and rating or ratings.
“and may be exchanged for such a corresponding certificate and rating or ratings.”
A certificated mechanic who applies for an additional rating must meet the requirements of § 65.77 (experience requirements).
“A certificated mechanic who applies for an additional rating must meet the requirements of § 65.77”
Within a period of 24 calendar months, that mechanic must pass the tests prescribed by §§ 65.75 and 65.79 for the additional rating sought, except as provided in § 65.75(d) (practical test with an expired written test report, see "Oral and practical tests").
“within a period of 24 calendar months, pass the tests prescribed by §§ 65.75 and 65.79 for the additional rating sought, except as provided in § 65.75(d).”
Written knowledge test
Except as specified in § 65.75(c), each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must pass a written test after meeting the applicable experience requirements of § 65.77.
“Except as specified in paragraph (c) of this section, each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must, after meeting the applicable experience requirements of § 65.77, pass a written test”
The written test is appropriate to the rating sought.
“pass a written test, appropriate to the rating sought”
The written test includes the aeronautical knowledge subject areas contained in the Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards, which are incorporated by reference (see § 65.23), as appropriate to the rating sought.
“which includes the aeronautical knowledge subject areas contained in the Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airman Certification Standards (incorporated by reference, see § 65.23), as appropriate to the rating sought.”
A report of the written test is sent to the applicant.
“A report of the written test is sent to the applicant.”
Not covered here
The content of the Airman Certification Standards is incorporated by reference and is not described here. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Experience requirements
Each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must present one of the options listed in § 65.77.
“Each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must present either—”
One option is an authenticated document from a certificated aviation maintenance technician school in accordance with § 147.21.
“An authenticated document from a certificated aviation maintenance technician school in accordance with § 147.21 of this chapter; or”
The other option is documentary evidence, satisfactory to the Administrator, of the practical experience described in § 65.77(b)(1) or (b)(2).
“Documentary evidence, satisfactory to the Administrator, of—”
Under § 65.77(b)(1), the evidence may show at least 18 months of practical experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering airframes or powerplants, appropriate to the rating sought.
“At least 18 months of practical experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering airframes or powerplants, appropriate to the rating sought; or”
Under § 65.77(b)(2), the evidence may instead show at least 30 months of practical experience concurrently performing the duties appropriate to both the airframe and powerplant ratings.
“At least 30 months of practical experience concurrently performing the duties appropriate to both the airframe and powerplant ratings.”
Not covered here
The school document requirements of § 147.21 are outside the sections we hold and are only named here. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Oral and practical tests
Each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must pass an oral test and a practical test, as appropriate to the rating sought.
“Each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must pass an oral test and a practical test, as appropriate to the rating sought”
The applicant passes by demonstrating satisfactory understanding of the knowledge, risk management, and skill elements for each subject contained in the Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airmen Certification Standards (incorporated by reference, see § 65.23), as appropriate to the rating sought.
“by demonstrating satisfactory understanding of the knowledge, risk management, and skill elements for each subject contained in the Aviation Mechanic General, Airframe, and Powerplant Airmen Certification Standards (incorporated by reference, see § 65.23), as appropriate to the rating sought.”
The applicant must pass each section of the written test before applying for the oral and practical tests prescribed by § 65.79.
“The applicant must pass each section of the test before applying for the oral and practical tests prescribed by § 65.79.”
An applicant is eligible to take a practical test for a mechanic certificate or rating with an expired written test report in accordance with § 61.40.
“An applicant is eligible to take a practical test for a mechanic certificate or rating under this part with an expired written test report in accordance with § 61.40 of this chapter.”
Not covered here
The conditions of § 61.40 are outside the sections we hold and are only named here. How the oral and practical tests are conducted is not set out in these sections and is not described here. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Aviation maintenance technician school students
An applicant may take the mechanic general written test before meeting the applicable experience requirements of § 65.77, provided the applicant presents an authenticated document from a certificated aviation maintenance technician school.
“An applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating may take the mechanic general written test prior to meeting the applicable experience requirements of § 65.77, provided the applicant presents an authenticated document from a certificated aviation maintenance technician school”
That document must demonstrate satisfactory completion of the general portion of the school's curriculum and specify the completion date.
“that demonstrates satisfactory completion of the general portion of the school's curriculum and specifies the completion date.”
Section 65.80 applies whenever an aviation maintenance technician school certificated under part 147 shows to the Administrator that any of its students has made satisfactory progress at the school and is prepared to take the oral and practical tests prescribed by § 65.79.
“Whenever an aviation maintenance technician school certificated under part 147 of this chapter shows to the Administrator that any of its students has made satisfactory progress at the school and is prepared to take the oral and practical tests prescribed by § 65.79”
14 CFR 65.80, Certificated aviation maintenance technician school students
In that case the student may take those tests during the final subjects of the student's training in the curriculum required under part 147.
“that student may take those tests during the final subjects of the student's training in the curriculum required under part 147”
14 CFR 65.80, Certificated aviation maintenance technician school students
The student may take them before meeting the applicable experience requirements of § 65.77 and before passing each section of the written test prescribed by § 65.75.
“before the student meets the applicable experience requirements of § 65.77 and before the student passes each section of the written test prescribed by § 65.75.”
14 CFR 65.80, Certificated aviation maintenance technician school students
Not covered here
Part 147 school certification and curriculum requirements are outside the sections we hold and are only named here. We only write what an official source states, so study these parts with your certifying program's materials.
Sources
- eCFR: 14 CFR 65.71, Eligibility requirements: General (as of Nov 4, 2026)Checked November 6, 2026
- eCFR: 14 CFR 65.73, Ratings (as of Nov 4, 2026)Checked November 6, 2026
- eCFR: 14 CFR 65.75, Knowledge requirements (as of Nov 4, 2026)Checked November 6, 2026
- eCFR: 14 CFR 65.77, Experience requirements (as of Nov 4, 2026)Checked November 6, 2026
- eCFR: 14 CFR 65.79, Skill requirements (as of Nov 4, 2026)Checked November 6, 2026
- eCFR: 14 CFR 65.80, Certificated aviation maintenance technician school students (as of Nov 4, 2026)Checked November 6, 2026
Other FAA aviation mechanic study guides: Privileges, recent experience and display, Inspection authorization, Who may perform maintenance and approve return to service, Maintenance and inspection records, Performance and inspection rules, Major alterations, major repairs and preventive maintenance