Can You Use References on the A&P Oral and Practical?
No reference material is allowed to answer the standalone airframe and powerplant (A&P) oral questions. On the A&P practical, you are allowed to use reference material to answer the practical questions asked during the projects, so the oral and practical (O&P) have different reference rules.
FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed A-1, PDF 65
Our advice on practical references is to confirm the examiner’s arrangements before test day and practice locating applicable information rather than assuming an open reference makes a task automatic.
On this page
The closed-book part of the O&P
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Mechanic Airman Certification Standards (ACS) bar reference material for the standalone oral. The Mechanic Test Generator (MTG) FAQ repeats that restriction under Oral-related Questions. The ACS says keeping the oral and practical portions separate is imperative.
FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed A-1, PDF 65 · Mechanic Test Generator FAQs (May 22, 2023) — PDF 4 (no printed page number); Oral-related Questions · FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed A-2, PDF 66
Practical references cover the skill and its questions
FAA Order 8900.1 permits all available/applicable reference material to complete a practical project, including the skill and the practical questions. The ACS requires demonstrating the ability to locate and apply required references. When an approval-for-return-to-service standard cannot be achieved, the applicant explains why that standard was not met.
FAA Order 8900.1, Vol.5 Ch.5 Sec.11, CHG 929 (September 17, 2024) — printed 16, PDF 16; 5-5-11-7C3)c) · FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed A-1, PDF 65
Our interpretation for study: knowing where a limit lives is part of the work, but finding a number is not enough. Explain that the data applies to the assigned item and compare the result with the requirement. The permission to consult data does not excuse an incorrect application.
Who supplies the material?
The examiner must make the tools, equipment, and references available for each practical project. Reference materials must be unmarked and in good condition. Use of other references not provided by the examiner is prohibited.
FAA Order 8900.1, Vol.5 Ch.5 Sec.11, CHG 929 (September 17, 2024) — printed 13, PDF 13; 5-5-11-7B3)a) · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol.5 Ch.5 Sec.11, CHG 929 (September 17, 2024) — printed 13, PDF 13; 5-5-11-7B3)a)2
The Order says the examiner should not directly provide the specific tools and data for the task to the applicant. Our preparation advice: ask which reference formats will be available and how you will access them. Availability does not mean the examiner should hand you the exact page; practice navigating the source yourself. Leave your study annotations out of the test-reference plan.
Personal electronics and personal tools
Personal electronic devices are prohibited, except nonprogrammable calculators where appropriate. For the practical projects, applicants may use a designee-provided device with an internet connection for repair data and regulatory references. The designee must monitor that device’s use to ensure cheating does not occur. Personal tools and equipment may be used at the examiner’s discretion.
FAA Order 8900.1, Vol.5 Ch.5 Sec.11, CHG 929 (September 17, 2024) — printed 13, PDF 13; 5-5-11-7B3)b) · FAA Order 8900.1, Vol.5 Ch.5 Sec.11, CHG 929 (September 17, 2024) — printed 13, PDF 13; 5-5-11-7B3)a)
Our advice: do not build your test plan around a personal phone or an assumption that your own marked manual will be accepted. Separate the examiner’s permitted equipment arrangements from the references you use while studying at home.
A reference-finding rehearsal
Our suggested practice is a supervised, nonoperational lookup: take a task description, identify the exact model and configuration, open the applicable current manual, and locate the relevant limit with its units and conditions. Say why the information applies, then check whether a note, caution, or prerequisite changes its use. A study timer can reveal navigation problems, but it is not an FAA time allowance.
The ACS safety appendix calls for current maintenance and overhaul publications and procedures. For practice, our recommendation is to stop at finding and explaining the data unless your instructor has authorized and prepared the actual task. A successful lookup does not establish that an aircraft is ready for work or return to service.
FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed A-3, PDF 67
Before the oral
The MTG FAQ says each oral test has at least four randomly generated questions per section, plus one added question for each ACS code missed on your Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR). Our closing exercise is to alternate two modes: explain a concept without a book, then conduct a separate manual lookup for a practical scenario. Keep those habits distinct during rehearsal.
Mechanic Test Generator FAQs (May 22, 2023) — PDF 3 (no printed page number); Oral-related Questions
Practice answering without a reference open
Frequently asked questions
Can I use references for both O&P portions?
No, reference permission does not extend to answering the standalone oral. Practical questions administered with the projects do allow reference use.
FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021) — printed A-1, PDF 65
May I use an examiner-provided electronic reference device?
Yes, for the practical projects. FAA Order 8900.1 says applicants may use a designee-provided connected device for repair data and regulatory references, and the designee must monitor its use.
Can I use my own annotated reference book on the test?
No. FAA Order 8900.1 says all reference materials must be unmarked and in good condition. Applicant use of references not provided by the examiner is also prohibited.
Does the examiner have to hand me the exact task data?
No. FAA Order 8900.1 says the examiner should not provide the specific tools and data for the task directly to you, but should evaluate whether you can select the appropriate tools and data.
Oral coming up soon? Try the full thing free for 30 days
We are running a small pilot before launch. If your oral and practical is in the next few weeks, you get every section of the voice mock oral free for 30 days, no card. In return, tell us honestly what helped and what didn’t.
Start the free pilotLimited spots. The pilot closes on November 30.
Passed a written? Get your oral study plan by email
Paste the ACS codes on your Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR). We’ll email you a study plan now, then two short tasks built from your codes: one on day 3, one on day 7. That’s all.
Related guides
- How practical projects are structured
- Other exam-day arrangements
- Designated mechanic examiner (DME) cost guide
Primary sources
- FAA-S-ACS-1 (November 1, 2021)
- Mechanic Test Generator FAQs (May 22, 2023)
- FAA Order 8900.1, Vol.5 Ch.5 Sec.11, CHG 929 (September 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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