Guide
How long does it take to get an A&P license?
Time to an A&P license on each route: school, 18 or 30 months of work, or military. Plus the 24-month test window and retest waits.
How long does an A&P license take?
On the work experience route, you need at least 18 months for one rating or 30 months for both. On the school route, it depends on the school's course. After that, testing takes as long as you need to study and book the tests. Every test must be passed within 24 months of the first one. [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.77 and § 65.71(a)(3)]
| Route | Before you can test | Testing window |
|---|---|---|
| Part 147 school | Length of the school's course. Early testing allowed | 24 months from your first pass |
| Civil work, one rating | At least 18 months of work | 24 months from your first pass |
| Civil work, both ratings | At least 30 months of combined work | 24 months from your first pass |
| Military | Same 18 or 30 months, or a JSAMTCC certificate | 24 months from your first pass |
Can school students test before they graduate?
Yes, in two ways. When you finish the General part of the course, the school can clear you for the General written early. Near the end, the school can clear you for the oral and practical before you pass every written. [14 CFR Part 147, § 147.31] [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.75(c) and § 65.80]
Experience applicants do not get these head starts. You take the writtens after the FSDO signs your 8610-2. [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.75(a)]
How long does the testing part take?
Each written test is 2 hours. You book them with PSI when you are ready. The oral and practical are booked with a DME, and the length depends on the examiner and the projects. [FAA-G-ACS-1, Ch. 3, p. 12]
Most of your testing time is study time. The writtens are hard. In 2025, only 69.6 percent passed the General and 63.0 percent passed the Powerplant.
What is the 24-month rule?
You must pass all the tests for the certificate within 24 months. Your written test report expires 24 calendar months after the month you took the test. If it runs out before you finish the oral and practical, you may have to take that written again. [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.71(a)(3)] [FAA-G-ACS-1, Ch. 5, p. 19]
That is why it pays to plan your tests close together. Pass the General, then book Airframe and Powerplant while the habit is fresh.
How long do you wait after failing?
30 days. You can retest sooner only with a signed statement from a mechanic who holds the rating. It must say they gave you more training in each failed subject and that you are ready. [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.19]
Next steps
- Run the eligibility checker to see when you can start testing.
- Take the free General diagnostic to see how much study time you need.
- Back to the full A&P guide.
Questions people ask
- What is the fastest way to get an A&P?
- There is no shortcut on the experience time: 18 months for one rating, 30 for both. School students can start testing earlier, because they can take the General written and the oral and practical before the end of the course.
- Does my written test expire?
- Your test report is good for 24 calendar months after the month you took the test. All tests for the certificate must be passed within 24 months.
Sources
Every fact above comes from one of these FAA or eCFR documents. Page numbers are the PDF page unless marked. The full list of what we use is on the sources page.
- 14 CFR Part 65: 14 CFR Part 65: Certification: Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers (eCFR current as of 2026-10-28)
- § 65.77 Experience requirements, p. 65.77
- § 65.71 Eligibility requirements: General, p. 65.71
- § 65.75 Knowledge requirements, p. 65.75
- § 65.80 Certificated aviation maintenance technician school students, p. 65.80
- § 65.19 Retesting after failure, p. 65.19
- 14 CFR Part 147: 14 CFR Part 147: Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools (eCFR current as of 2026-10-28)
- § 147.31 Early testing, p. 147.31
- FAA-G-ACS-1: Airman Certification Standards Companion Guide for Aviation Mechanics (with Changes 1 and 2)
- Chapter 3, Written Test Description, p. 12
- Chapter 5, Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR), p. 19