Basic Requirements to Become an Aircraft Mechanic

I'm a US Citizen. What requirements must I meet to get a mechanic's certificate?

You must be
- at least 18 years old;
- able to read, write, speak, and understand English.
You must get 18 months of practical experience with either power plants or airframes, or 30 months of practical experience working on both at the same time. As an alternative to this experience requirement, you can graduate from an FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School.
You must pass three types of tests;
- a written examination
- an oral test
- a practical test

I'm not a US Citizen, and I live outside the United States. How do I get a mechanic's certificate?
You must meet all the requirements listed above for United States citizens. You must also meet the following requirements:

Demonstrate you need a mechanic certificate to maintain U.S.-registered civil aircraft and you are neither a U.S. citizen nor a resident alien.
Show the examiner your passport.
Provide a detailed statement from your employer saying what specific types of maintenance you preformed on each aircraft, and how long you performed it.
Provide a letter from the foreign airworthiness authority of the country in which you got your experience, or from an advisor of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), validating your maintenance experience.
Make sure all the documents you provide are signed and dated originals.
Pay the fee for the document review.

What if I can't meet the English language requirements?
We may waive the language requirement if you live outside the United States. We would stamp your certificate "Valid only outside of the U.S."

Do I need any other certificate to work on avionics equipment?
If you have an airframe certificate you don't need any other certificate, but you must be properly trained and qualified and have the proper tools and equipment. You can even work on avionics equipment without a certificate if you have avionics repair experience from the military or from working for avionics manufacturers and related industries.

How do I get a repairman's certificate?
To get a repairman's certificate, you must be recommended by a repair station, commercial operator, or air carrier. You must

be at least 18 years old;
be able to read, write, speak, and understand English
be qualified to perform maintenance on aircraft or components
be employed or a specific job requiring special qualifications by an FAA-certified Repair Station, commercial operator, or air carrier.
be recommended for the repairman certificate by your employer
have either 18 months practical experience in the specific job or complete a formal training course acceptable to FAA.