Mohawk Valley Community College is accepting applications for a two-week test prep class for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) exams starting Monday, Jan. 6, and finishing Friday, Jan. 17. This 80-hour course will run on the Rome Campus from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and will prepare students to sit for the FAA exams to become certified aircraft mechanics.

The course is offered monthly on the Rome Campus, instruction is approved by the GI Bill, and prepares students for the civilian FAA certification. Students are taught aircraft maintenance knowledge, competency in fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters, and other hands-on skills they will be expected to perform on the FAA exam. Class size is small to allow instructors to tailor the instruction to the needs of individual students. On-site Designated Mechanics Examiners testing is also available.

This training includes a one-time fee of $1,400 with a book kit fee of $190. The course prepares students for the FAA Oral & Practical exams that lead to certification for students who pass. The cost for the FAA exams is $480 and the cost of the oral and practical exam is $850.

Students can choose to prepare for either Airframe, Powerplant, or Airframe & Powerplant exams. The single-track of either Airframe or Powerplant requires at least 18 months of prior, hands-on experience in maintaining aircraft, and the dual Airframe & Powerplant certification requires 30 months of experience. Instructors work closely with students to prepare them for the FAA exam in the track they choose.

The average wage for aircraft maintenance technicians is $41.79 per hour. Technicians work for major airlines, aerospace manufacturing, aircraft MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) companies, U.S. Armed Forces, and the Federal Aviation Administration.

“This prep course is a fast track to a career in aircraft maintenance by providing hands-on training to prepare students to sit for – and pass – the industry-demanded FAA exams,” said Airframe & Powerplant Program Director Walter Constantini. “FAA certification opens up limitless opportunities for successful, high-paying careers in the aviation industry.”

Students who do not have the prior experience can enroll in MVCC’s Airframe & Powerplant Certificate program to become certified in one year and prepare for the FAA exams. This program provides 1,905 hours of full-time training with start dates in May, August, and January available.

For more information about the test prep course, contact Janelle Perry, Coordinator for Workforce Development, at 315-792-5305 or visit the A&P test prep website at https://www.mvcc.edu/academics/stem/airframe_powerplant/airframe-powerplant-test-prep.php.

For information about the Airframe & Powerplant Certificate, please visit https://www.mvcc.edu/academics/stem/airframe_powerplant/aviation-program-career-information.php. To apply, visit https://www.mvcc.edu/admissions/.