The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a proposed rule (notice of proposed rulemaking) in the Federal Register on July 1, 2026, titled "Mechanic Certification: Inspection Rating and Recent Experience Requirements." It would amend 14 CFR parts 43, 61, 65, 91 and 147. Comments were due on or before August 31, 2026. As of November 7, 2026, our search of the Federal Register found no final rule on it, so the current inspection authorization rules still apply.
What FAA proposes
FAA's summary states that it proposes "replacing the inspection authorization with an inspection rating on a mechanic's certificate, similar to the existing airframe and powerplant ratings. The inspection rating would carry the same privileges and limitations as the inspection authorization but would not require renewal or have an expiration date, consistent with the other mechanic ratings."
The main proposed changes, as the document describes them:
- No expiration. Today, FAA writes, "an IA expires and requires renewal in March of each odd-numbered year." The proposal "would eliminate the expiration date, as the IR would be treated like the A&P ratings, which do not expire."
- Recent experience instead of renewal. The activities now used to renew an IA (listed in 14 CFR 65.93(a)(1) through (5)) would become recent experience activities. FAA writes: "All five of the activity options to renew an IA would be retained as activity options to meet recent experience requirements; no new options would be added." To use the rating, a person would need to have completed one within "the previous 12 calendar months."
- Records. FAA proposes "that inspection-rated mechanics keep records demonstrating recent experience for the previous 24 calendar months."
- Getting privileges back. A mechanic who falls behind on recent experience could reestablish inspection privileges "by either attending eight hours of acceptable training or successfully passing an oral test given by an ASI, provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements."
- Testing standards. FAA proposes "to convert the existing IA testing standards into formalized Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for the mechanic certificate IR."
- Same privileges. Proposed 14 CFR 65.88 would let a mechanic with an inspection rating inspect and approve for return to service any aircraft or related part or appliance (except any aircraft maintained under a continuous airworthiness maintenance program under parts 91, 121, 129, or 135) after a major repair or major alteration under part 43, if the work was done in accordance with technical data approved by the Administrator, and "Perform an annual inspection, or perform or supervise a progressive inspection according to §§ 43.13 and 43.15."
FAA states the IA eligibility and renewal requirements "would be largely retained and incorporated into the new IR requirements with some revision."
What would happen to current IA holders
Under the proposal, mechanics with a valid IA on the effective date of a final rule could keep using inspection privileges for up to 24 months under proposed 65.73(c), if they comply with the limitations and recent experience requirements of proposed 65.81(b) and 65.83(b) (with a 6-month grace period from the effective date for recent experience). Proposed 65.73(d) states they are "entitled to a replacement mechanic certificate with the IR." FAA writes that "Replacement of the certificates would be at no charge to the mechanic," and that a person who misses the 24-month window could not use inspection privileges after it, but could still request a replacement later without retaking the written test (proposed 65.73(e)).
What this means for exam study
This is a proposal, so the current inspection authorization rules in 14 CFR 65.91 to 65.95 remain the rules to study. If FAA publishes a final rule, we will cover it as a new post. Our inspection authorization study guide covers the current IA rules.