Trying to decide whether getting my A&P - Aircraft and Powerplant Certification is worth the time and money investment. I've been doing research on "A&P" and the salary data is all over the place.
Some sources say it adds $5-8k/year on average, others suggest it's more of a requirement to even get considered for certain roles now rather than a pay bump.
Has anyone here seen a direct salary impact from getting A&P certified? Or is it more of a "required to apply" thing in your industry now?
Also — how long did the whole process take from starting to study to passing? And what was the exam fee in your state/country?
Trying to do a real cost-benefit before I commit 4-6 months to this.
The free ap airframe systems components helped me understand what the exam actually tests rather than just what the material covers.
Same boat a few months ago. Here's what I'd tell myself:
The A&P exam is more application-focused than the study guides suggest. They test whether you understand A&P, not just whether you can define it.
My tip: when you see a scenario question, mentally walk through it step by step before looking at the answers. The wrong answers are designed to catch people who jump to conclusions.
Good luck — the fact that you're doing this level of prep means you're going to be fine.
Went through this exact question when I was prepping. The A&P material on "A&P" is actually not as bad as it looks — once it clicks it clicks.
What helped me was finding one resource that explained it from first principles instead of just giving me the "right answer." Made a huge difference on the scenario-based questions.
Also: don't underestimate the importance of reviewing your wrong answers more than your right ones. I learned more from 20 wrong answers than 200 correct ones.
For anyone finding this later: A&P is passable with consistent effort even working full time. I studied 75 minutes a day for 13 weeks. The a p a p aircraft and powerplant hydraulic and pneumatic systems kept me honest about my actual gaps.
Quick update: just cleared 89% on my most recent A&P practice set using a p a p aircraft and powerplant hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Sitting for the real thing in 3 weeks. Feeling cautiously optimistic.
Related Discussions
- Deep dive: study guide for the UAG — tips from someone who almost failed it5 replies
- How long does it realistically take to study for the AQT?5 replies
- ASI exam day — what do you actually need to bring?5 replies
- Is AME certification worth it for career growth? Honest take5 replies
- What EAWS score do you need to pass? Breaking down the numbers5 replies