FAA Inspection Authorization (IA) exam-day guide
FAA Inspection Authorization (IA) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring a current, unexpired ID with photo and signature (driver license or passport). The name must match your FAA records exactly. needs_review: confirm which specific ID forms your testing center accepts.
FAA mechanic certificate (A&P)
Your airframe and powerplant certificate is the basis of IA eligibility; have the original available for the knowledge test and the oral/practical.
Airman knowledge test report (if already passed)
If you completed the IA knowledge test previously, bring the printed test report/authorization. needs_review: confirm with the testing center or your FAA office how long a passed knowledge test remains valid for the IA oral/practical.
Appointment confirmation and site registration
Bring the confirmation email/number for your computer-testing appointment or your scheduled oral and practical with the FAA inspector.
Payment method for test fees
Testing centers collect fees at the window. Confirm the accepted payment types and current fee when you schedule.
Experience and eligibility records
Logbooks, employment letters, or records showing the required mechanic experience and active A&P status. needs_review: confirm exactly what documentation the inspecting office wants to see.
Current FAR/AIM and reference set
For the oral/practical, an inspector may or may not allow reference materials. needs_review: ask in advance whether you may bring a current FAR/AIM, AC 43.13-1B/2B, AC 43-9, and type certificate data sheets, or whether references are supplied.
Basic calculator
Useful for weight-and-balance, tolerance, and torque computations. needs_review: confirm whether a calculator is permitted and whether the center supplies one.
Notepad and pencil
For scratch work and for jotting references you want to look up. Many centers supply these and restrict anything you bring in; confirm at check-in.
Know your weak areas and a study list
Write down the regulation sections and inspection topics you want to double-check in the final days (parts 65, 43, 91, 39, 21; annual and 100-hour inspections; AD and SB research; return-to-service documentation).
Travel, parking, and arrival plan
Know the address, parking, and security screening time so you arrive early and unstressed.
Rest and food plan
Plan a normal night's sleep and a light meal before the appointment; the oral/practical can run long.
Plan the day
Reconfirm the appointment date, time, location, and what you must bring with the testing center or FAA office. Resolve any open questions now, not on the morning of.
Do focused review of the highest-risk areas: annual/100-hour inspection scope, AD research and compliance records, major repair/alteration and Form 337, maintenance record entries, and return-to-service privileges and limits of the IA.
Assemble and check your documents: ID, A&P certificate, knowledge test report, experience records. Make sure names and certificate numbers match.
Stop cramming new material. Do a light pass over your own notes and the regulation sections you flagged, then set everything aside.
Pack your bag with documents, payment, references (only if permitted), calculator, and the appointment confirmation. Lay out clothes and confirm your route and travel time.
Get a full night's sleep. Do not stay up reviewing; fatigue hurts performance more than one more hour of study helps.
Eat a normal meal, arrive at least 30-45 minutes early, and allow time for check-in and security. Bring only what the center permits into the testing room.
Read each question completely and watch for words like 'except' and 'most nearly.' Answer the easy items first, flag and return to hard ones, and leave time to review flagged items before submitting.
Answer concisely and cite the regulation or reference you are relying on. If you do not know, say so and explain how you would look it up; inspectors generally value a sound method over a guess.
Talk through your inspection steps, use the references you are permitted to use, and document your findings as you would in the field. Be deliberate rather than fast.
Ask how and when results are issued and what the next step is if any portion must be retested. needs_review: confirm the retest and reapplication procedure with the FAA office that tested you.
Rules to check
Bring photo ID and be prepared to present it at check-in; you will not be admitted without acceptable identification. Confirm the accepted forms with the center in advance.
Arrive early. Late arrival can cost you the appointment slot, and fees may not be refundable; confirm the center's late-arrival policy when you schedule.
Bring only permitted items into the testing room. Expect to store bags, phones, watches, and notes in a locker, and expect a security screening.
Do not attempt to bring in or use unauthorized notes, devices, or study aids; doing so can end your session and affect your eligibility.
The knowledge test is scored on a pass/fail basis with a minimum passing score of 70 percent. Confirm the current passing standard and number of questions with the testing center, as the test bank and format are updated periodically.
Take the breaks that are offered during the computer test, but be aware the clock may keep running; confirm the break policy with the proctor before you begin.
For the oral and practical, answer honestly. If you do not know something, say so and describe how you would find the answer rather than guessing.
Treat the inspector and staff professionally, keep your documentation organized, and ask clarifying questions when a task is ambiguous; communication is part of the evaluation.