The A&P oral and practical test, explained

Passing the written tests doesn't finish the job. Every applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must also pass an oral test and a practical test for the rating sought, showing satisfactory understanding of the knowledge, risk management and skill elements in each subject of the Aviation Mechanic ACS (14 CFR 65.79). The FAA often shortens this to the O&P tests (FAA: Become an Aviation Mechanic). Here is how it's set up, who runs it and how to get ready.

When you can take it

Normally you pass each section of the written test first, and only then apply for the oral and practical tests (14 CFR 65.75(b)). There is one exception for students at an aviation maintenance technician school certificated under Part 147: when the school shows the FAA that a student has made satisfactory progress and is ready, that student may take the oral and practical tests during the final subjects of training, before meeting the experience requirement and before passing the written tests (14 CFR 65.80).

Watch the timing. You must pass all the prescribed tests within 24 months (14 CFR 65.71(a)(3)), and the FAA counts the written, oral and practical tests in that period (FAA Companion Guide to the Mechanic ACS, p. 9). If your knowledge test report expires before you finish the practical, you have to retake that knowledge test and present the new report to start or continue (FAA Companion Guide to the Mechanic ACS, p. 19).

Who gives the test

Mechanic tests are given at times and places, and by people, that the FAA designates (14 CFR 65.17(a)). In practice that's usually a designated mechanic examiner (DME), a private person the FAA designates as its representative (14 CFR 183.1) to accept applications for and conduct mechanic oral and practical tests (14 CFR 183.25(a)). In some cases an FAA inspector conducts the test instead (FAA Companion Guide to the Mechanic ACS, p. 20). The FAA lists examiners in its Designee Locator, and it notes that no DMEs are currently located outside the United States (FAA: Become an Aviation Mechanic).

You contact the examiner to schedule. Before the test there is a pre-test interview to agree on the date, time and place, and for the examiner to see the codes on your knowledge test report (FAA Companion Guide to the Mechanic ACS, p. 20). An examiner tests only one applicant at a time (FAA Companion Guide to the Mechanic ACS, p. 20).

What to bring

The FAA's companion guide lists what to bring to the pre-test interview and the test (FAA Companion Guide to the Mechanic ACS, p. 20):

• Two identically prepared FAA Forms 8610-2, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application, with original signatures.
• Your passing knowledge test results for the ratings you want (unless you're testing early as a school student).
• A current government-issued photo ID with a signature, such as a passport or driver's license.
• Proof of eligibility: a graduation document from your school, Form 8610-2 signed in Block V by an FAA inspector for practical experience, or a military certificate of eligibility. School students testing early bring Form 8610-2 with Section II signed by a school official and an FAA inspector.

Leave any of these at home and the test may be delayed or ended (FAA Companion Guide to the Mechanic ACS, p. 20). Pack the night before.

The oral portion

The oral is built from your own written results. The examiner asks questions on the topics tied to the ACS codes printed on your knowledge test report, plus additional questions picked at random by the Mechanic Test Generator (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. A-1). You have to show acceptable knowledge of the subjects you missed on the written test, and if you scored 100%, you get only the minimum number of oral questions (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. A-1).

The oral is closed book: you may not use any reference material to answer the examiner's oral questions (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. A-1). That's why it pays to study the codes on your report the day you get it. Look each one up in the ACS, find the matching handbook chapter, and practice explaining it out loud in plain words.

The practical portion

The practical is hands-on. It consists of projects, plus questions about the projects you're working on, and for those practical questions you may use reference material (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. A-1). The examiner personally watches every project you perform (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. A-1). You won't know in advance which items from each subject will be picked, so the FAA advises being ready on every knowledge, risk management and skill element in the ACS (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. A-1).

The skill elements give a feel for what a project can look like. A few examples straight from the ACS: measure voltage (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. 2), perform weight and balance calculations (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. 4), fabricate a rigid line with a flare and a bend (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. 6), and perform a 100-hour inspection of a propeller and determine airworthiness (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. 59).

The examiner supplies the tools, equipment and references the projects need, including 14 CFR, airworthiness directives, advisory circulars and manufacturer manuals, all unmarked. Reference material the examiner didn't provide isn't allowed, a nonprogrammable calculator is permitted where appropriate, and your own tools are used only if the examiner agrees (FAA Companion Guide to the Mechanic ACS, p. 22).

Two standards run through every project. You work to an approval for return to service standard where it applies, and you show you can find and apply the right references; if the standard can't be met, for example because a measurement is outside limits, you explain why (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. A-1). And safety comes first: the examiner may have you simulate any step that would be unsafe, and any disregard for safety will result in a failure (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. A-3).

It also helps to know the action words, which the examiner may go over with you. The ACS defines them: inspect means to examine, check means to verify proper operation, troubleshoot means to analyze and identify malfunctions, and service means to perform functions that assure continued operation (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. A-2).

Passing, failing and retesting

The minimum passing grade for each test is 70 percent (14 CFR 65.17(b)). Once you've passed everything required within the time allowed and meet the other requirements, you can be issued a temporary airman certificate (FAA Companion Guide to the Mechanic ACS, p. 24), which a DME may issue at the local Flight Standards inspector's discretion (14 CFR 183.25(a)(2)). A temporary certificate lasts no more than 120 days while the FAA reviews your application (14 CFR 65.13).

If you fail, you may apply to retest 30 days after the date you failed, or sooner with a signed statement from an airman holding the certificate and rating you're seeking, certifying extra instruction in each failed subject (14 CFR 65.19). On an oral retest you're tested on the whole section you failed (General, Airframe or Powerplant); on a practical retest, on the failed projects and anything not tested before (FAA Companion Guide to the Mechanic ACS, p. 24). Bring every earlier Form 8610-2 marked with a failure or "not tested", plus your passed knowledge test reports (FAA Companion Guide to the Mechanic ACS, p. 24).

How to prepare

• Use the ACS as your checklist. Go through the skill elements for your ratings and mark the ones you've never done with your own hands. Those are your practice list.
• Practice finding things. References are allowed during the practical, so get fast at locating a limit or procedure in a maintenance manual, an advisory circular or 14 CFR.
• Close the gaps from your written tests. Every deficient area shown by the codes on your report is retested at the oral (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. A-1).
• Think safety out loud. Eye and hearing protection and the right tool for the job are part of what's being watched (Aviation Mechanic ACS, p. A-3).

Still working on the written tests? Fewer misses there mean a shorter list of codes at the oral. A&P Complete, our course for the three written tests ($49 one-time), has 40 lessons that follow the ACS subjects and 15 timed mock exams for each written test in the official format. It's built for the knowledge tests, not the hands-on projects. Try the free Mathematics lesson to see the style, and read how to study for the A&P written tests and how to become an aircraft mechanic.

Questions people ask

Who gives the A&P oral and practical test?

Usually a designated mechanic examiner (DME), a person the FAA authorizes to conduct mechanic oral and practical tests. In some circumstances an FAA inspector conducts them instead.

Can I use references during the A&P oral test?

No. The oral portion is closed book. During the practical portion you may use the reference material the examiner provides to answer questions about your projects.

Do I have to pass the written tests before the oral and practical?

Yes, normally you must pass each section of the written test first. Students at a Part 147 school may take the oral and practical tests during their final subjects if the school shows the FAA they have made satisfactory progress and are prepared.

What happens if I fail part of the A&P oral and practical test?

You may retest 30 days after the date you failed, or sooner with a signed statement of additional instruction from an airman holding the certificate and rating you're seeking. An oral retest covers the whole section you failed; a practical retest covers the failed projects and anything not tested.