Airman Certification Standards

WHAT IS THE ACS?

The FAA Mechanic Airman Certification Standard (ACS) replaced legacy Practical Test Standards (PTS) with publication of the new part 147, and clearly defines minimum knowledge and skill requirements for A&P mechanics. The ACS provides the framework for the written, oral and practical mechanic tests; and subsequently, a guide for revising handbooks, oral questions, practical projects and the knowledge test bank. The ACS is is the certification standard for all mechanic applicants, no matter if they earn certification based on experience or training at an A&P school. The ACS is also the standard used for FAA mechanic testing and for A&P curriculum, ensuring that testing and training are always correlated.

All certificated A&P programs are required to align curriculum with the mechanic ACS (see The New Part 147 page for a gap analysis tool to help with that exercise).

ATEC has a seat on an FAA-industry working group that makes recommendation for revision to the ACS, expected to occur on a biennial basis. Stakeholders are encouraged to provide comment and recommendations for revision to the standard, either directly to ATEC or the FAA comment box at afs630comments@faa.gov.

ADVOCACY 

TIMELINE

ATEC has taken a leadership role in development of the ACS since the FAA ACS working group was established in 2016. 

  • March 2022: FAA publishes Mechanic Airman Certification Standards
  • Feb. 25, 2021: ATEC sends FAA letter addressing interim final part 147's reference to mechanic ACS
  • Feb. 23, 2021: ACS working groups industry members send letter to FAA encouraging swift publication of delayed ACS
  • July 18, 2018: ATEC releases draft AMT ACS with public comments incorporated.
  • April 17, 2018: FAA releases draft AMT ACS for public comment, due May 31.
  • Sept. 27, 2017: ACS highlighted in the FAA's DME Tips, Vol. 1, Issue 6
  • Sept. 6, 2017: FAA Presentation at ATEC Fly-In, Development and Integration of Airman Certification Standards
  • June 28, 2017: ACS working group makes formal recommendation to ensure the new part 147 takes into account the ACS, and ensures that training and testing are correlated.
  • Jan. 20, 2017, FAA, Industry Modernizing Airframe And Powerplant Test Standards, Aviation Week article
  • Jan. 9, 2017: ATEC webinar on the ACS, its purpose, implementation plan, and how it will influence the new part 147.
RESOURCES