Guide
Can you get your A&P license online?
What part of getting an A&P license can happen online and what can't: study, the FTN, the written tests, the oral and practical, and the experience rule.
Can you get an A&P license online?
No. You can study online and set up your FAA account online. The written tests are taken in person at a PSI testing center. The oral and practical are done with an examiner, on real projects. Online study does not count as your experience or schooling. [FAA-G-ACS-1, Ch. 4, p. 15] [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.77]
| Step | Online? |
|---|---|
| Study for the tests | Yes |
| Get an FAA Tracking Number (IACRA) | Yes |
| Schedule the written tests with PSI | Yes |
| Take the written tests | No. In person at a PSI test center |
| Meet the experience rule | No. Hands-on work or a Part 147 school |
| Take the oral and practical | No. In person with a DME |
What can you do online?
Three things. You can study. You can make your FAA Tracking Number in IACRA, the FAA's online system. And you can make a PSI account and book your writtens. [FAA-G-ACS-1, Ch. 4, p. 15]
The FAA handbooks, the ACS and the advisory circulars are free online too. Our sources page links to each one.
Why can't you take the writtens online?
The FAA gives knowledge tests at PSI testing centers. You show ID, a proctor watches, and the rules on what you can bring are strict. That is how the FAA keeps the tests secure. [FAA-G-ACS-1, Ch. 4, At the Test Center, p. 16]
Why can't the practical be online?
The practical test is you doing real maintenance tasks while the examiner watches. The examiner needs tools and equipment on hand for each project. The FAA even updates the list of tools examiners must have. [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.79] [ATCA-2026-08, MTEL Updates, p. 3]
You book the oral and practical with a DME, a Designated Mechanic Examiner. [FAA-G-ACS-1, Ch. 6, p. 20]
Does an online course count as experience?
No. The rule gives two ways to qualify. You can bring a document from a Part 147 school, or proof of 18 or 30 months of hands-on work. An online course is neither. Any course that says it meets the experience rule is wrong. [14 CFR Part 65, § 65.77]
That includes ours. SafetyWire helps you pass the tests. It does not count toward the experience or school requirement.
What about online Part 147 schools?
Part 147 talks about schools training at a "fixed location." A school can add other fixed locations if the FAA lists them. If a school offers some classes online, ask how they meet the rule. Also ask how much of the course is hands-on. [14 CFR Part 147, § 147.15]
Next steps
- See where you stand: take the free 20-question General diagnostic.
- Read the full A&P guide.
Questions people ask
- Can I take the A&P written test online?
- No. The writtens are taken at a PSI testing center, with a proctor. You can schedule online, but you test in person.
- Does an online course count toward the experience requirement?
- No. The rule asks for hands-on experience or a Part 147 school document. An online course is neither. It can help you pass the tests, nothing more.
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
- § 65.79 Skill requirements, p. 65.79
- 14 CFR Part 147: 14 CFR Part 147: Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools (eCFR current as of 2026-10-28)
- § 147.15 Training provided at another location, p. 147.15
- FAA-G-ACS-1: Airman Certification Standards Companion Guide for Aviation Mechanics (with Changes 1 and 2)
- Chapter 4, How to Register for an FAA Airman Knowledge Test, p. 15
- Chapter 4, At the Test Center, p. 16
- Chapter 6, The Oral and Practical (O&P) Test Process, p. 20
- Minimum Tools and Equipment List (MTEL) Updates, p. 3