The FAA requires a certain amount of training or experience to get certification as an aircraft mechanic. The Administration approves aviation-mechanic schools, and applicants must also pass an exam to get a license.
Aspiring mechanics also need to decide which kinds of aircraft they would like to repair. For example, some maintain and repair helicopters. Others work on airplanes, and even some work on gilders. Speak to individual mechanic schools to determine exactly what you will learn if you attend that aviation-mechanic school.
The FAA has a database of approved schools for mechanics. You can see a link to that page below. It is best to search one state at a time because the software will not return results for every single school in the database. You will find the contact information for each maintenance school in the search results.
The general requirements are that a mechanic must be at least 18 and can speak, understand, read, and write English. It is possible, however, for a foreign mechanic hired by a U.S. airline to get an FAA mechanic license so long as he works only outside the United States.
Mechanics must pass a number of aircraft-mechanic FAA exams. All of the exams can be taken again, but they all must be passed within the same 24-month period. Once that period is over, a mechanic would have to take previously passed FAA mechanic exams again to fit all of the passing scores within that 2-year window.
Mechanic experience requirements are met by either graduating from one of the approved mechanic schools or getting actual experience. 18 months of work strictly on airframes or powerplants related to the certification applied for is enough. However, 30 months of working on both airframes and powerplants at the same time is sufficient practical experience.
Regardless of whether you attend school or get experience, you need to pass all tests. Usually, a combination of schooling and experience is best, but if you can choose only one, school actually tends to prepare you for tests better than experience.
All applicants for a mechanic’s license must pass three tests. They include written, oral, and practical exams. The practical exam may require you to do actual maintenance or repairs on a test aircraft.
Resources:
FAA-Approved Mechanic Training Schools
Requirements for an FAA Mechanic License
Maintenance Experience or Education Required for FAA Mechanics