FAA Aviation Mechanic - General (AMG) exam-day guide
FAA Aviation Mechanic - General (AMG) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID with your signature
An unexpired driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. The name must match the name on your application exactly; if you have had a name change, bring the supporting documentation. Confirm with the testing center (for the knowledge test) or your Designated Mechanic Examiner (for the oral and practical) which forms of ID they accept.
Knowledge test authorization / FTN and appointment confirmation
Bring the registration confirmation showing your FAA Tracking Number and the test(s) you are scheduled to take. Arrive at least 30 minutes early; several testing centers will not seat you if your name is not on the day's roster. Confirm the arrival time and check-in procedure with the provider.
FAA Form 8610-2, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application
Bring the original form with the ratings you are applying for, signed by the person who certifies your experience or by your Part 147 school, as applicable. The DME will review and sign it when you pass. Confirm with your DME whether they want it in advance or on the day.
Evidence of eligibility under 14 CFR 65.77
Your experience logbook or employer statements, or your graduation certificate from an FAA-approved Part 147 school. The DME may ask to see the records that support the experience you claimed on the 8610-2, so bring originals, not photocopies, unless the provider tells you otherwise.
The current practical test standards / airman certification standards for your rating
Tab the areas of operation and tasks so you can find them fast during the oral. Confirm with your DME which edition they are testing to, since the FAA periodically replaces the mechanic practical test standards.
Reference library: FAR/AIM, AC 43.13-1B, AC 43.13-2B
These are the standard references for inspection methods, repair practices, and alterations. Bring current editions and tab them. Confirm with your DME what reference material is permitted into the test area and whether you must supply it yourself.
Manufacturer maintenance manuals, TCDS, or service data for the equipment you will be tested on
If your DME expects you to research torque values, rigging procedures, or limits, you will need the applicable manufacturer data. Ask in advance which aircraft, engine, or component the practical projects will use so you can bring the right manuals.
Tools and equipment for the practical projects
The applicant normally supplies hand tools and any specialty equipment the DME specifies. Ask for a written list of what the site provides versus what you must bring; do not assume the shop has your preferred tools.
Personal safety gear and shop-appropriate clothing
Safety glasses, hearing protection, nitrile gloves, closed-toe work shoes, and clothing with no loose sleeves, ties, or dangling jewelry. Long hair tied back. The DME can stop the test for an unsafe act, so treat PPE as part of the test.
Note-taking materials, and a calculator if permitted
A pen and a small notebook or scratch paper. Calculator policy varies between the computer testing center and the DME's site; confirm with the provider whether one is supplied, permitted, or prohibited before you rely on it.
Payment for the practical test and any rescheduling terms
Designated Mechanic Examiners charge their own fee, which is separate from the knowledge test fee. Confirm the amount, acceptable payment method, and the cancellation/rescheduling policy when you book.
Water, a snack, and any personal medication
A mechanic oral and practical can run most of a day. Confirm with your DME whether breaks are permitted and whether you can leave the test area to eat.
Plan the day
Call or email your DME to reconfirm the date, time, address, parking, fee, and the exact list of what to bring. Ask specifically which rating(s) you are testing, which aircraft/engine/component the projects use, and which reference materials are allowed.
Re-read the practical test standards for your rating and write out the areas of operation. Mark the tasks where you are least confident and build a short study list around them, including the reference you would use to answer each one.
Gather and physically pack your tools, PPE, references, and paperwork. Lay everything out and check each item off. Do not leave tool sourcing to the morning of the test.
Do a light review only: safety-wiring, torque, corrosion identification, inspections, and reference lookups. Do not start new material. Stop studying early enough to sleep a full night.
Check the weather and your route, charge your phone, and confirm your ID and 8610-2 are in your bag. Set two alarms.
Eat a real meal and arrive 30 minutes early. Bring the bag you packed the night before and nothing that is not on your approved list.
At check-in, present your ID and paperwork, confirm the fee and the schedule, and ask where the restrooms and break areas are before the test starts.
Listen to each question or task completely before answering. If a question is unclear, ask the DME to repeat or clarify it; asking for clarification is not a failure.
For oral questions, answer in a complete sentence, name the reference you would use, and say when you would look something up rather than guessing. For practical tasks, state what you are about to do, do it deliberately, and put tools and components away when you finish.
Work safely at all times: PPE on, guards in place, no shortcuts on lockout or on pressurized/hot systems. Clean up your bench and account for every tool and part before moving to the next project.
Review the results sheet with the DME, confirm the 8610-2 is signed if you passed, and ask what the next step is for receiving the certificate. If you did not pass, get the specific list of failed areas in writing and ask what reapplication requires.
Rules to check
Identification must match your application exactly. Bring an unexpired government-issued photo ID with signature; if the name differs from your application, bring the supporting documentation. Confirm the provider's ID policy before test day.
The General knowledge test is multiple choice and requires a score of 70 percent to pass; your result is issued at the testing center. Confirm the current question count and time limit with the testing center, since these are set by FAA policy and can change.
Expect a secure testing environment for the knowledge test: phones, smartwatches, and personal notes stay in a locker, and you may be asked to empty your pockets and turn out your sleeves. Confirm the specific security rules with the testing center.
Scheduled breaks are not guaranteed. On the knowledge test the clock generally keeps running if you leave the room, and on the practical your DME controls the schedule. Confirm break policy with the provider before you begin.
Reference materials may be tabbed and indexed, but must not contain handwritten answers or worked-out solutions. Confirm with your DME exactly what annotation is acceptable before you carry a book into the test area.
The practical test is pass/fail by task, and you must satisfy every required task. If you do not, the DME issues a notice of disapproval listing the failed areas. Ask your DME in advance about reapplication and retest requirements.
Unsafe work can end the test regardless of your technical answers. The DME is authorized to stop a practical test for an unsafe act, so treat every project as though the aircraft or component were going back into service.
Do not discuss or reproduce specific test questions or project details afterward. Test content is controlled, and sharing it is a integrity issue that can affect your certificate.