FAA A&P Mechanic
FAA Aviation Mechanic (A&P) Certification - Knowledge Tests
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ExploreAbout this exam
The FAA Aviation Mechanic certificate - widely called the A&P - is the U.S. credential that lets a mechanic approve an aircraft for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alteration. The letters stand for the two ratings a mechanic may hold: Airframe and Powerplant. The certificate is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration through its Airmen Certification system, and the mechanics, repairmen, and designee programs are administered under the agency's Pilots & Airmen section. The credential is intended for people working in or entering aircraft maintenance: repair station technicians, airline and general aviation maintenance personnel, and military-trained mechanics transitioning into civil aviation. Knowledge testing is organized around three subject areas - General, Airframe, and Powerplant. General covers regulations, mathematics, physics, materials, and hand skills; Airframe covers structures, systems, and assembly; Powerplant covers engines, propellers, and related systems. Each rating carries its own knowledge test and a subsequent oral and practical evaluation. To prepare, work through the FAA handbooks and manuals published under Regulations > Handbooks & Manuals, review current regulations and advisory circulars, and drill question sets organized by subject area rather than randomly. Administrative details - test centers, scheduling, fees, eligibility, and retake rules - change over time, so confirm them directly with the FAA; the agency's site is the authoritative source, and this page does not claim any official affiliation with it.
What you'll study
About FAA A&P Mechanic preparation
What do the letters "A&P" actually stand for?
Airframe and Powerplant - the two ratings a certificated aviation mechanic may hold. A mechanic may qualify for one rating or both. The FAA groups mechanics alongside repairmen and designees under the Pilots & Airmen section of its website, where certification and training information is published.
How many questions are on each knowledge test, and how long do I get?
That information is not published on the FAA page used to build this profile, so no figure is given here rather than risk quoting an outdated count. Check the FAA Airmen Certification - Training & Testing pages, or ask your local testing center, for the current item count and time limit.
What passing score do I need?
The retrieved FAA source does not state a passing score, so this page does not quote one. Passing standards are set in FAA testing materials and can be revised. Confirm the current requirement through FAA Airmen Certification or the computer testing center before you sit for the exam.
Are the knowledge tests multiple choice?
The knowledge tests are delivered as computer-based, multiple-choice exams, with the oral and practical portion conducted separately by a designated examiner. Because delivery details and scheduling procedures change, verify the current format and appointment process with the FAA or your testing center rather than relying on secondhand descriptions.
What happens if I fail a knowledge test - can I retake it?
Retake rules, waiting periods, and any additional training requirements are not stated in the FAA source retrieved for this profile, so no specific policy is quoted here. Ask the testing center or consult FAA Airmen Certification for the current retest procedure before assuming you can re-sit immediately.
In what order should I study General, Airframe, and Powerplant?
Start with General, because its regulations, math, physics, materials, and hand-skill content underpins the other two areas and appears in the oral and practical evaluation as well. Then take the rating you intend to earn first. Studying one subject area to competence before starting the next beats rotating randomly.
Which rating should I earn first, Airframe or Powerplant?
It depends on your employer and career path. Many candidates train for both in a single program; others add the second rating later while working. Look at the job postings you are targeting, then sequence your study and testing around the rating that employer requires.
What are the most common ways candidates fail?
Typically: memorizing question banks without understanding the underlying system, skipping the regulations and publications material because it feels tedious, and neglecting hands-on familiarity with tools, hardware, and safety practices. The oral and practical evaluation exposes shallow knowledge quickly, so study for understanding, not recall alone.
Where do I confirm official details like fees, eligibility, and scheduling?
Go straight to the FAA website - the Pilots & Airmen section for certification and testing, and Regulations for handbooks, manuals, advisory circulars, and forms. Fees and scheduling are handled through the approved testing centers. Third-party summaries, including this page, are study aids, not official notices.