Trade licensing overview · aircraft mechanic (a&p)
How aircraft mechanic (a&p) licensing works — Iowa
How this trade is regulated in Iowa. federal-license-required The framework below describes the national pathway most aircraft mechanic (a&p)s in Iowa follow.
Aircraft mechanics are federally licensed by the FAA, not by states. The Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificate is issued under 14 CFR Part 65 and preempts any state mechanic licensing scheme.
Aircraft Mechanic (A&P) wages in Iowa · BLS OES A01 2024
Wages are state-level annual figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program (A01 2024). Specific aircraft mechanic (a&p) earnings in Iowa vary by metro area, employer type, union membership, and years of experience. Verify the current state and metro figures on the BLS OES site (bls.gov/oes).
What this trade actually looks like in Iowa
Aircraft mechanics in Iowa work in a smaller midwestern market where general aviation, agricultural aviation, regional airline operations, and Iowa Air National Guard fighter activity at Sioux City and Des Moines shape the demand. There is no major airline base in the state, and most A&P work runs through GA shops, corporate hangars, ag-aviation operators, and ANG civilian and contractor roles.
Where they work
Des Moines (DSM regional and corporate, 132d Wing Iowa ANG), Cedar Rapids (CID regional and Collins Aerospace adjacency for avionics work), Davenport (Quad City corporate), Sioux City (SUX 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa ANG), Waterloo, and Dubuque. Ag-aviation operators are scattered across rural Iowa, especially in the Iowa River and Missouri River corridors.
Pay context
Iowa has below-national cost of living, with relatively affordable housing in metro Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. Posted A&P wages typically reflect the local market and run below national median for 49-3011; ag-aviation pay is seasonal and varies. Iowa has middle-tier state income tax. Pull the Iowa row from the BLS OES 49-3011 table at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes493011.htm for the current annual median figure. See https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ia.htm.
Training pathway
Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa operates an FAA Part 147 AMTS, the principal in-state pathway. Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Rapids) and Iowa Western Community College offer related coursework; check current FAA Part 147 status. Military aviation-MOS experience from the Iowa ANG units qualifies under 14 CFR 65.77. Collins Aerospace runs avionics-side hiring out of Cedar Rapids that overlaps with the A&P pipeline.
Considerations
If you want low cost of living, exposure to ag aviation, and a quieter career, Iowa offers that. If you want airline base maintenance, you will likely commute or relocate to Minneapolis, Chicago, or Kansas City. State has no separate mechanic license; FAA A&P preempts.
Iowa aircraft mechanic (a&p) snapshot
| MSA | Employed | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 170 | $68,250 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 150 | $64,920 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 40 | $70,410 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 40 | $64,880 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 30 | $61,510 |
FEDERAL LICENSE STATUS
The Federal Aviation Administration licenses aircraft mechanics under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 65, Certification: Airmen Other Than Flight Crewmembers (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-65). The Mechanic certificate is issued with Airframe, Powerplant, or both ratings; the combined A&P is the primary credential held by civilian aviation mechanics (https://www.faa.gov/mechanics). State mechanic licenses do not apply to certificated aircraft work. FAA certification preempts state licensing for maintenance performed on type-certificated aircraft (https://www.faa.gov/mechanics/become). A certificated mechanic may exercise privileges anywhere in the United States without state-level registration.
CFR PART 65 REQUIREMENTS
Under 14 CFR §65.77, an applicant must document 18 months of practical experience on the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in airframe OR powerplant work for a single rating, or 30 months of concurrent experience for both ratings (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-65). Alternatively, graduation from an FAA-certificated Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School satisfies the experience requirement (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-147). Every applicant must pass three FAA written tests, General, Airframe, and Powerplant, followed by an oral and practical examination administered by a Designated Mechanic Examiner (https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing). The written tests are delivered through FAA-authorized testing centers.
PART 147 SCHOOLS
FAA-certificated Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools (AMTS) operate under 14 CFR Part 147 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-147). The legacy curriculum required 1,900 classroom and shop hours (400 general, 750 airframe, and 750 powerplant), and the 2022 rewrite of Part 147 moved the content to an FAA-approved curriculum model tied to the Airman Certification Standards (https://www.faa.gov/mechanics). Programs typically run 18 to 24 months. Completion substitutes for the 18 or 30 months of documented work experience required under §65.77, and graduates still sit for the three written, oral, and practical exams (https://www.faa.gov/mechanics/become). The DOL RAPIDS apprenticeship finder also lists registered aircraft-mechanic programs by ZIP (https://www.apprenticeship.gov/apprenticeship-job-finder).
IA (INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION)
Inspection Authorization is an advanced endorsement available to A&P mechanics under 14 CFR §65.91 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-65#65.91). To qualify, a mechanic must hold an A&P for at least 3 years, have been actively engaged in maintaining certificated aircraft for the 2 years immediately preceding application, and pass the IA written exam. IA privileges include signing off annual inspections, performing progressive inspections, and approving major repairs and major alterations for return to service using FAA Form 337 (https://www.faa.gov/mechanics). Authorization expires March 31 of each odd-numbered year and is renewed under §65.93 by meeting recent-activity criteria (inspections performed, training completed, or re-examination) every 2 years.
AVIONICS / REPAIRMAN
Avionics technicians who transmit on aircraft radios typically hold the FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL), Element 3, issued by the Federal Communications Commission (https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/commercial-radio-operator-license-program). Avionics work on installed equipment is often performed under an FAA-certificated Repair Station (14 CFR Part 145) rather than by an individual A&P. The Repairman Certificate under 14 CFR §65.101 is an employer-specific alternative: it is issued to an individual recommended by a Part 145 repair station, Part 135 operator, or Part 121 air carrier, and its privileges are limited to the employer that requested the certificate (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-65#65.101). A Repairman Certificate is surrendered when employment ends and is not portable to a new employer. BLS OOH covers aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians under a shared occupation page (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/aircraft-and-avionics-equipment-mechanics-and-technicians.htm).