FAA Issued More Mechanic Certificates in 2025
Aviation maintenance certificate issuance grew by 23% in 2025 as the industry worked to expand its technical workforce.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Employment
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In 2025, the FAA issued 11,103 airframe and powerplant mechanic certificates, marking a 23% increase over the 9,027 certificates issued in 2024. This growth follows focused industry efforts to address labor shortages through aviation maintenance technician schools and military-to-civilian career transitions.
Why it matters
Aviation sector growth combined with an aging workforce has created significant pressure on the technical labor pipeline. Expanding the pool of qualified mechanics is essential to prevent a projected deficit of 20,000 certified technicians by 2030.
The FAA issued 11,103 A&P mechanic certificates in 2025, representing a 23% year-over-year increase. Part 147 aviation maintenance schools contributed 7,496 of these new certifications while enrollment in these programs grew by 13%.
The players
FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States that oversees all aspects of civil aviation.
Choose Aerospace
This organization provides industry-standard aviation maintenance curricula to high schools to help bridge the technical skill gap.
The details
Educational initiatives are targeting younger students, with 43 high schools now offering aviation maintenance coursework and Choose Aerospace providing specialized curricula to 37 of those locations. Additionally, the industry facilitated 1,375 transitions from military service to civil aviation licensing to further bolster the workforce.
Timeline
In 2024, the FAA issued 9,027 A&P mechanic certificates.
In 2025, the FAA issued 11,103 A&P mechanic certificates.
By 2030, the industry projects a deficit of 20,000 certificated mechanics.
Macro View
This increase in certifications marks a shift in the aviation labor market as training programs align with the Part 147 aviation maintenance technician school standards to address long-term shortages. These historical trends mirror past periods of rapid industrial growth where institutional training capacity had to scale quickly to meet demand.
For the aviation industry, the increase in newly licensed mechanics may stabilize maintenance costs and reduce service delays caused by staffing gaps. Workers considering this career path can utilize new high school programs or military transition pathways to enter a high-demand field with significant long-term growth prospects.
The takeaway
The sustained effort to expand technical training pathways is beginning to yield measurable increases in the aviation mechanic workforce. Prospective students and career-changers should monitor emerging high school partnerships and military transition programs as primary entry points into the industry.
Further reading
For additional context on the evolving domestic labor market, see Employment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Aviation Week.
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