What is the A&P certificate?

It's the FAA's Airframe and Powerplant certification — the license to perform and sign off aircraft maintenance. It's federal, so it's valid in every state.

How long does it take?

FAA-approved programs run roughly 18 to 24 months, after which you test for the written, oral, and practical exams.

Do I have to work for an airline?

No. Cargo, corporate aviation, MRO shops, and defense contractors all hire A&Ps, and pay is often comparable or better.

Does this cost me anything?

No. Career-Bond is free for students. Our partner schools pay us to connect them with prospective students who are a genuine fit.

What kind of schools do you work with?

Predominantly accredited career colleges, along with select non-profit institutions and community colleges. Every partner is vetted before it appears in a match — accreditation or state approval, real outcomes, and programs that finish in two years or less.

Why don't you offer bachelor's degrees?

Because a four-year degree is the slowest and most expensive route into most of these careers. Everything we match to is two years or less — certificates, diplomas, and associate-level credentials that employers actually hire on.

Will I get spammed with phone calls?

You choose which schools to move forward with. We do not sell your information to a list of buyers.

An aircraft maintenance technician inspecting an engine in a hangar

Aircraft mechanic

FAA Airframe & Powerplant work on commercial and general aviation fleets. Most programs run 18 to 24 months at vetted, accredited schools and colleges.

At a glance

Program length: 18–24 months
Format: FAA-approved classroom + hangar lab
Credential: FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate
Typical pay: $55k–$95k*
Outlook: Airlines and MROs are short-staffed nationwide

Get matched to Aircraft mechanic schools

Takes about a minute. We match you to vetted, accredited schools that run this program near you.

A federal certificate, two years, and airlines competing for you.

Aircraft mechanics inspect, repair, and sign off on the airframes and engines that keep fleets flying. The A&P is a federal certificate — it's recognized in every state, it doesn't expire, and airlines, cargo carriers, and MRO shops are actively short of people who hold it.

A typical day

Perform scheduled inspections and service checks
Troubleshoot airframe, engine, and system faults
Replace components and document every action
Work to FAA regulations and manufacturer manuals
Sign off airworthiness on completed work

What you walk out able to do

Inspect and maintain airframes and powerplants
Read and apply maintenance manuals and ADs
Troubleshoot electrical, hydraulic, and fuel systems
Keep compliant maintenance records
Test for the FAA A&P written, oral, and practical exams

Where people work

Commercial airlines and regional carriersMRO and heavy maintenance shopsCargo and charter operatorsCorporate and general aviation FBOsDefense contractors and government fleets

How you get started

Request info on Aircraft mechanic

A short form: your zip code, your schedule, and when you want to start. About a minute.

See the schools that actually run it

Vetted, accredited schools and colleges near you offering this exact program — with start dates and real costs.

Talk to an advisor at the school you pick

You choose who reaches out. They answer cost, aid, and schedule questions in one conversation.

Request info on Aircraft mechanic programs

Is this the right fit?

This is for you if…

You want a federal credential that never needs renewing
You're methodical and comfortable with strict procedure
You want a hands-on trade with airline-level pay
You'll commit to a two-year program

This isn't for you if…

You want to be working in under a year
You don't want to relocate near an airport or MRO hub
You're not comfortable with heavy documentation and audits

Questions people ask first

Close cousins worth a look

Automotive & diesel

9–18 months

See the path

Welding

6–12 months

See the path

Find the A&P program that actually fits you.

Every semester you wait is a paycheck you don't get back. Three minutes now can save you years.

Get matched to Aircraft mechanic schools

* Pay figures. "Typical pay" ranges are estimates, not offers or guarantees. Ranges are drawn from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Occupational Outlook Handbook for the closest matching occupation, and generally span the 25th to 75th percentile of national annual wages for that occupation (entry-level earnings are commonly at or below the bottom of the range). Actual earnings vary by state, metro area, employer, shift, certification, and experience, and no school or program can promise a specific wage. Source: bls.gov. Figures are reviewed periodically; the BLS site always holds the most current data.