A&P Oral and Practical Before Written: The §65.80 Route
Taking the A&P oral and practical before written tests is possible under §65.80 for an eligible student at a part 147 aviation maintenance technician school (AMTS). The exception applies during the final subjects of training, when the school shows the FAA that the student has made satisfactory progress and is prepared for the tests, and the FAA then authorizes the testing. It is not a general option to choose any exam order.
14 CFR § 65.80 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, p. 5 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, p. 6
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Who can use the §65.80 O&P student route?
The regulation applies to students at an aviation maintenance technician school certificated under part 147. The school must show the Administrator that the student has made satisfactory progress and is prepared for the oral and practical tests. The student may then take those tests during the final subjects of the required training, before meeting §65.77’s applicable experience requirements and before passing each written-test section. FAA Order 8900.1 treats the final subjects of training as those taken within approximately 45 days of graduating from the AMTS curriculum.
14 CFR § 65.80 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, p. 6
The normal sequence in §65.75(b) is to pass each written section before applying for the oral and practical tests. Section 65.80 creates the student exception described here; it does not make early testing available to every experience-based applicant.
14 CFR § 65.75 · 14 CFR § 65.80
What do the school, FAA, and DME each do?
| Step | Role under current FAA guidance |
|---|---|
| Student application | The student completes two originals of Form 8610-2 and provides them to the AMTS. |
| School review | The authorized school official completes the required blocks when the student meets §65.80 requirements. |
| FAA authorization | The FAA reviews the application. After finding the requirements met, an FAA aviation safety inspector (ASI) authorizes testing and returns the two FAA-signed originals. |
| O&P appointment | Once authorized, the applicant arranges the tests with a DME and provides the two FAA-signed originals. |
FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, p. 5 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, p. 6
Our scheduling advice is to start with your school’s authorized official. Ask which documents the school needs to demonstrate your progress and readiness, then complete the FAA authorization step before treating an exam date as settled. Use the 8610-2 guide for the form itself.
Is this the same as taking the General written early?
No. Section 65.75(c) separately permits the General written before the applicable experience requirements are met, with an authenticated AMTS document showing satisfactory completion of the General curriculum portion and its completion date. Section 65.75(c) is a written-test eligibility provision; §65.80 concerns the oral and practical tests. The two can combine: FAA Order 8900.1 says a student who has already completed the General written as permitted by §65.75(c) is still eligible to test under §65.80 if all other applicable requirements are met.
14 CFR § 65.75 · 14 CFR § 65.80 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, p. 5
How many oral questions should an early-testing student expect?
If you test under §65.80 before taking any written test, expect the maximum oral counts: 22 General questions and 34 each for Airframe and Powerplant. The FAA’s Mechanic Test Generator (MTG) FAQ and Order 8900.1 both say this, because there are no written results to focus the oral. The Order adds a case the FAQ does not address: if you took the General written early, the number of General oral questions is based on that test’s results, meaning the questions you missed. If you already have a General AKTR, confirm with your DME how your test will be generated.
FAA MTG FAQ, PDF p. 5 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, p. 8 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, p. 11
Does passing the early O&P finish certification?
No. In the §65.80 process, the DME records the oral and practical results but does not issue a temporary mechanic certificate at that point. After AMTS graduation and passing all remaining applicable written tests, the applicant returns to a DME or ASI for temporary-certificate issuance. The required tests must still satisfy the applicable testing-period requirement.
FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, p. 6 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, p. 8 · 14 CFR § 65.71
Keep your copy of the Form 8610-2 that shows you passed the oral and practical. To be issued the temporary certificate, you present it with the AKTRs that show your passing written tests. For the appointment conversation, use the DME scheduling guide; for the usual written-first path, read what to do after the writtens.
FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, p. 30
Frequently asked questions
Can any A&P applicant take the O&P before the writtens?
No. Section 65.80 is a route for qualifying part 147 school students whose school demonstrates the required progress and readiness; it is not a general sequencing choice.
Does my school’s recommendation alone authorize the early O&P?
No. Under current FAA Order 8900.1, the FAA must review every §65.80 application, and an FAA aviation safety inspector (ASI) authorizes testing after finding the requirements met.
FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, p. 5 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, p. 6
Will I receive a temporary certificate immediately after an early O&P?
No. Under FAA Order 8900.1, the DME does not issue a temporary certificate after a §65.80 oral and practical. You first graduate and pass the remaining applicable written tests, then return to a DME or ASI for your temporary certificate.
FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, p. 6 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, p. 8
How many General oral questions will I get if I passed the General written early?
The number is based on the questions you missed on that General written test, according to current FAA Order 8900.1. A §65.80 applicant with no written result gets the maximum of 22 General oral questions. Confirm with your DME how your test will be generated.
FAA MTG FAQ, PDF p. 5 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, p. 8 · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, p. 11
Rehearse the spoken answer with DMEReady
DMEReady is an AI voice examiner for the A&P oral in your phone or computer browser. You answer out loud, and it asks follow-up questions the way a DME would. An oral can also be built from the ACS codes on your Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR). It rehearses the oral; it does not train hands-on practical skills. After a session, the report shows what you covered, what you missed, what a complete answer includes, and where to read in the FAA handbooks. You can save it as a PDF study sheet or share a result image that never shows your answers or name. The first drill is free, with no sign-up. DMEReady is an AI examiner, not a human DME. It is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA; it does not predict or guarantee results.
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Related guides
- Understand the application form
- Arrange the examiner appointment
- Follow the usual written-first route
- See how the oral and practical works
Sources
Sources were checked on October 18, 2026.
- 14 CFR part 65, eCFR current through October 15, 2026
- FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 2, Authorize a Mechanic Applicant to Test (CHG 929, 9/17/2024)
- FAA Mechanic Test Generator FAQs, updated May 22, 2023
- FAA Order 8900.1, Vol. 5, Ch. 5, Sec. 11, Administer an Oral and a Practical Test (CHG 929, 9/17/2024)
About this guide: drafted with AI from the FAA sources listed on this page and checked claim by claim against them. Not reviewed by an A&P mechanic or DME. How we make our guides
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