Education / Workforce Development

Become an Aircraft Technician

Workforce Development & Education

AMFA is committed to providing our members and those interested in the craft a means to research and secure the necessary aircraft mechanic certificate ratings (also commonly referred to as licenses) to maintain aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires these licenses to perform maintenance on aircraft and they are essential to our craft. The main licenses are known as the Airframe and the Powerplant (also known as A&P). They are aptly regarded as “licenses to learn,” because in our craft there is much opportunity to continue learning when one begins utilizing their education and training in the field.

There are two pathways to earning an A&P: either through an FAA-certificated Part 147 school or through experience via on-the-job (OJT) training in both civilian and military aviation. Please visit the FAA "Become an Aviation Mechanic" webpage for more detailed information about becoming an aircraft mechanic, including federal requirements, training, testing, and career outlook.

Most of our members have already earned these licenses through training at a college, trade school, or while serving in the United States Military. There are several programs available in the United States and they range from a technical school that may take as little as 16 months, to Associates Degree programs, and there are even Bachelor’s Degree options available. To search for an educational program near you, please visit: http://av-info.faa.gov/MaintenanceSchool.asp

We are seeking to expand our relationship with other schools; for opportunities please contact the National Secretary/Treasurer at jay.johnson@amfanatl.org.

Once each year, AMFA is proud to award scholarships to deserving students who are working to join our craft. The application deadline for our 2021 scholarship has concluded and the NEC is currently considering applicants.

AMFA National will be awarding three (2) $2000 scholarships for 2023:

Click here to view the 2023 Scholarship Flyer
Click here to download the 2023 Scholarship Application

FY 2022 Funding for Aviation Technician & Pilot Workforce Grant Programs April 20, 2021 -- As you begin the FY 2022 appropriations process, the 42 undersigned organizations, representing aviation maintainers, commercial operators, general and business aviation, manufacturers, labor organizations, educators, airports, and state and local government officials urge you to once again fully fund the aviation workforce development grant programs created by Sec. 625 of the 2018 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) law.	Press Release: VIPER Transitions Announces First Aviation Program Cohort Starting May 2021 in Partnership with AMFA April 20, 2021 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) is happy to announce a new and unique aviation program designed to train transitioning military members and active-duty spouses in the important and valued craft of aircraft maintenance. The program is being conducted by VIPER Transitions, an organization dedicated to ending veteran suicide through counseling, comradery, and skilled training towards a rewarding career. AMFA is also excited to announce a $10,000 donation to VIPER Transitions towards the purchase of program tooling—an important and necessary component of our craft.	Junior Achievement Collaboration Letter to FAA March 22, 2021 -- Junior Achievement is pleased to express its intent to collaborate with AMPLiFI Project team (Aviation Maintenance technician PipeLine Focused Initiative) in their proposed effort to create general aviation maintenance pipeline to support aviation workforce development. The program is a workforce development initiative that supports primary school outreach, secondary school education and military personnel A and P certification.
Press Release: AMFA is Accepting Scholarship Applications for 2021 December 30, 2020 -- The AMFA National Executive Council (NEC) is pleased to announce that we will be accepting applications until February 28, 2021, for two AMFA Scholarships for 2021. Scholarships will be $2500 and will be payable to each recipient’s institution of higher learning. 2021_AMFA_Scholarship_Press_Release.pdf	Press Release: AMFA is Accepting Scholarship Applications for 2020 December 30, 2019 – The AMFA National Executive Council (NEC) is pleased to announce that we will be accepting applications until February 28, 2020, for two AMFA Scholarships for 2020. Scholarships will be $2500 and will be payable to each recipient’s institution of higher learning.	Press Release: 2019 AMFA Scholarship Recipients May 16, 2019 -- The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) National Executive Council (NEC) is proud to announce the two recipients of the AMFA Scholarship for 2019. Those who applied had to be currently enrolled in a school to gain their Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license, had to be a US Citizen, and were required to submit a 500-word essay explaining what “safety in the air begins with quality maintenance on the ground” means to the applicant.
Press Release: 2018 AMFA Scholarship Recipients April 20, 2018 – The AMFA National Executive Council (NEC) is proud to announce the two recipients of the AMFA Scholarship for 2018. Those who applied had to be currently enrolled in a school to gain their Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license, had to be a US Citizen, and were required to submit a 500-word essay explaining the difference between a craft specific and an industrial union.	Press Release: 2017 AMFA Scholarship Recipients April 26, 2016 -- The AMFA National Executive Council (NEC) is proud to announce the two recipients of the AMFA Scholarship for 2017. Those who applied had to be currently enrolled in a school to gain their Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license, had to be a US Citizen, and were required to submit a 500-word essay expressing why they chose aircraft maintenance as a career.	Press Release: 2016 AMFA Scholarship Recipients April 11, 2016 -- The AMFA National Executive Council (NEC) has finished reviewing applications for the 2016 AMFA Scholarship. We are excited to further note that we have added an additional scholarship of $2500, bringing our total to two scholarships in 2016. Those who applied had to be currently enrolled in a school or university to gain their Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license. They needed to be a US Citizen and were required to submit a 500-word essay expressing why they chose aircraft maintenance as a career.
AMFA Supports ATEC Comments	2015 AMFA Scholarship Winner AMFA National provides a scholarship each year to a student attending an A&P school or university to obtain their license. In previous years AMFA has selected students attending Tulsa Technology Center and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. This year Kyle Johnson from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University was selected.

Page Last Updated: May 17, 2021 (12:06:00)