Does your MOS count?
Enter your job code to see which A&P ratings the FAA lists it toward. The FAA makes the final call when it signs your 8610-2.
Any branch. Current and older codes both work.
Source: FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, Figure 5-138, Military Occupational Specialty Codes (CHG 929, Sept 2024). The FAA still checks your actual experience before it signs your 8610-2.
Your quick read
AIT, drill, and AT time don't count. The experience has to be full-time work.
Records scattered across units, or no JSAMTCC? We assemble the 8610-2 packet for you, including reconstructing missing records. Start with a free, no-obligation planning call.
Or text your MOS to (559) 314-7589 and an advisor will reply.
What the A&P is
The FAA mechanic certificate lets you maintain aircraft in the U.S. National Airspace. It has two ratings, and your MOS and experience decide which ones you can test for. You must pass written, oral, and practical exams (14 CFR Part 65 Subpart D).
Which MOS qualifies for which rating: FAA Order 8900.1, Vol 5, Ch 5, Sec 2, Figure 5-138, or use the MOS lookup above.
A smoother transition
Get certified before you ETS or retire and you spend your transition getting hired, not testing. SkillBridge / CSP lets you intern with an employer. Start planning about two years out.
Promotion points (Army)
TRADOC-approved certifications earn 10 points each, up to 50. Check that the A&P is on your MOS's Army COOL list. Civilian education adds 2 points per semester hour. Most CLEP exams are worth 3 semester hours and are free on the first try through DANTES.
A degree head start
Embry-Riddle may award up to 39 credits toward an associate or bachelor's for an A&P. Confirm with an academic counselor.
Wrench time for flight time
Want to fly? Some aircraft owners will trade flight time for maintenance work. It takes networking, but it happens.
What airline A&Ps earn
Base pay from current union contracts, start to top of scale. Hover or tap a row for details. Turn on the license premium to see what holding both ratings adds.
Yearly figures use 2,080 hours. Overtime, shift, longevity, and lead premiums, plus profit sharing, are extra. Delta, FedEx, JetBlue, and SkyWest don't publish union scales. SkyWest says new mechanics start at $26–$33.
Sources: AMT Index (union contract rates, updated 17 Oct 2026), BLS median $79,870 (May 2025). This replaces the 2024 Reddit AMT pay thread.
Get your A&P roadmap
Tell us where you are and we'll email you the path, plus what we handle for you.
- Already have 18+ monthsThe fast track. We build your 8610-2 packet, line up the funding paperwork, and prep you for the writtens and the practical.
- Still building experienceStart documenting now. We set up your JSAMTCC and OJT records the right way so the finish takes weeks, not months.
Email me my roadmap
JSAMTCC or FSDO direct?
Both get you signed 8610-2s. JSAMTCC is the Joint Service Aviation Maintenance Technician Certification Council program.
| JSAMTCC | FSDO direct | |
|---|---|---|
| How | Air University courses plus an OJT task book, signed through your chain | Bring your records to your local Flight Standards District Office and ask an inspector to sign |
| Effort | More work up front | Less paperwork, but it depends on the FSDO |
| You get | Study prep, a Certificate of Eligibility, signed 8610-2s | Signed 8610-2s |
| Bring | Completed OJT record and AU grades | ERB/STP, DD214 or ID, a statement of experience or LOR from your maintenance supervisor, VMET, and your AMTP folder if you have one |
| Bonus | AU coursework can count toward promotion points | Faster with a cooperative FSDO |
| Cost | Free | Free |
What it costs and who pays
Typical military-rate program
Depends on where you train
Less with a mostly-remote program
At a military PSI site; otherwise about $175 each
Army proponent funding (USAACE)
Covers coursework and testing fees without touching your TA or CA. Follow the roadmap. Some units send soldiers TDY for lodging and travel, using career progression as the justification.
Credentialing Assistance (CA)
- FY26: $2,000 a year, one credential per year, three per ten years
- TA is $4,500 a year for up to 18 semester hours; CA draws from the same ceiling
- Since 19 March 2026, every TA and CA request needs commander approval
- CA alone won't cover a full A&P program
Find your branch's credentialing site: Army COOL · AF COOL · Navy · USMC · USCG
Veterans
VA Licensing & Certification can reimburse written and practical exam fees while using very little of your GI Bill.
SkillBridge / CSP
Keep your military pay while you train or intern. Have your 8610-2s signed first, and start approvals about two years out.
Scholarships
- RTAG scholarships (join their Facebook group for window alerts)
- AAAA A&P grant, up to $500 for travel
- Aviation Start scholarship search
- Anywhere A&P funding worksheet
Built for military maintainers
Anywhere A&P is a self-paced program you do about 90% from home, around your duty schedule. The study portion takes about 18 days of focused work, followed by hands-on prep and testing with a DME.
Free 15-minute planning call · No obligation
What's included
- We handle the 8610-2 paperwork, including reconstructing missing records
- Written prep for General, Airframe, and Powerplant: video lessons, weekly live training, unlimited practice exams
- Oral and practical prep with hands-on bench drills in Fresno, CA
- DME scheduling at the site nearest you, plus one DME re-attempt covered
- A personal advisor, a custom study plan, and a resume review
The exams
You can take the writtens on your own before any course. Study from the free FAA handbooks, and use Air University as a read-ahead. FAA testing guide.
| Pass score | 70% on each written |
| Cost | Free at an FAA-approved military PSI site, retakes included. Otherwise about $175 each. Find a PSI site. |
| Military sites | Schofield Barracks, JBLM, Fort Novosel, and the Fort Wainwright / JBER area. Korea is listed but not active yet. Check with your Education Center. |
| If you fail | Wait 30 days, or retest sooner with a signed statement of additional instruction (14 CFR 65.19) |
| Time limit | All tests within 24 months of your first written |
Course options
Look for programs built for military experience. Civilian Part 147 programs run 18 to 24 months because they create the experience you already have.
Your branch
The roadmap is Army-specific. Pick your branch to see what's known and who to contact. Contacts current as of 15 Jan 2026; they change, so confirm first.
The best-documented path. Follow the roadmap. The Army JSAMTCC team will brief your unit at no cost. National Guard: ask your training NCO about the A&P course at WAATS.
The Air Force runs a more structured program through CCAF. Ask your chain first, then email CCAF.
Less is published than for the Army, so use the Army steps as a template.
- Unverified alternate contact (from Reddit): Cnatthq_nmcapp@us.navy.mil
- Navy COOL
- Reddit outline (Air Force focused)
Very little public, Marine-specific JSAMTCC information exists. Use the Army roadmap to find the matching resources in your branch.
- USMC COOL
- Reddit outline (Air Force focused)
Coast Guard maintainers have done it. Use the Army roadmap as a template.
Where airlines keep their hangars
Heavy maintenance bases, engine shops, and hub line stations for major U.S. airlines, cargo carriers, regionals, and independent repair stations. Pick an employer, or tap a city to see who works on aircraft there.
The map couldn't load here. The full list of locations is on the right.
Where A&Ps work
Career fairs pay off. Airline maintenance recruiters attend events like RTAG looking for military maintainers. Many more openings are on JSfirm.
Manufacturers
Space (integration and aerospace technicians)
Contractors and helicopters
Not sure where you stand?
Tell us your MOS and how long you've turned wrenches. On a free 15-minute planning call, an advisor will tell you which ratings you can likely test for, how to fund it, and how fast you can finish. No obligation, whether you train with us or not.
Text your MOS to (559) 314-7589
