Aviation Maintenance Technology Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

AMT Program FAQs

The Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) programs prepare students to keep airplanes in a safe condition to fly. Students perform production installations,鈥痬aintain鈥痑nd alter鈥痑ircraft鈥痵tructures, systems, and subsystems. They also service, repair, and overhaul鈥痑ircraft鈥痗omponents and systems such as airframes, engines, electrical, hydraulic systems, and propellers. SSC's instruction is FAA鈥痗ertified鈥痑nd students may sit for their FAA general knowledge test, Airframe exam, and Powerplant exam upon completion of their coursework. These exams are needed to earn鈥痠ndustry-required鈥疐AA licenses.

First Quarter Starts: 

  • Fall and鈥疭pring鈥 

First quarter start means this is the only quarter that new students can begin the program. The program does not accept new students in Summer or Winter Quarters.鈥 

Class Times:鈥 

  • Morning Cohort: Tues through Fri 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in-person classes
  • Afternoon/Evening Cohort: Tues through Fri 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. in-person classes鈥 

Once you select a cohort, you cannot switch to a different cohort鈥.鈥

  • Aviation Maintenance Technology鈥疉ssociate of鈥疉pplied Science (AAS) (130 units,鈥痳oughly 2鈥痽ears to complete)
  • Aviation Maintenance Technology鈥疉ssociate of Applied鈥疭cience-Transfer (AAS-T)
  • Aviation鈥疉irframe鈥疶ech Certificate
  • Aviation Powerplant Tech Certificate鈥

Each certificate is at least 100鈥痷nits,鈥痬eaning these will take鈥痑 minimum of鈥2 years to complete鈥痮ne鈥痗ertificate.鈥

The鈥痶ypical industry standard for Aviation Maintenance is to be FAA certified in鈥疊OTH鈥疉irframe and Powerplant.鈥

One difference鈥痓etween the鈥疉AS vs. AAS-T degrees are: AAS-T is more credits as it involves taking transfer鈥痚ligible鈥疎nglish, Human鈥疪elations, Math, and an elective鈥痗ourse.鈥疉nother difference is the鈥疉AS-T is suggested as an option for people who might want to earn a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in the future which can open up more career options with a higher level of education later on鈥痺hile the AAS prepare people to enter directly into the work force for their field.

It is highly recommended that interested students complete English 107 and meet Math 110 eligibility prior to enrollment; These classes prepare students for the academic rigor and degree completion of the program.鈥

You can view full time sample schedules for our AMT certificate and degree programs. Select 鈥淰iew More Info鈥 for a degree or certificate from the Aviation Maintenance Technology website to view the schedules.

Estimated cost of tools is $875. You will receive a comprehensive tool list in your first quarter.

Workforce is a grant funding source that can help cover the cost of tools for eligible students. Check in with South鈥檚 Workforce team to see if you are eligible.

You鈥檒l be prepared to take three exams: General, Airframe, Powerplant鈥 

Each exam costs $175/per test.鈥 

While in the AMT degree program at South, students will receive certificates of completion that make them eligible to take each of the exams. Students can take the exams鈥痠mmediately鈥痑fter gaining鈥痚ligibility,鈥痮r they can wait to take the general and air frame exams together.鈥

Tips and Advice for Prospective Students

This is South鈥檚 most鈥痯opular career training program! This is a鈥痗apacity constricted鈥痯rogram meaning there are more people interested in this program than it has space for. First quarter classes typically fill up for both morning and evening cohorts the first day they open for Returning Student registration.

There are class waitlists that鈥痮pen up鈥痜or each class, and you are encouraged and able to add yourself to the waitlist in the registration process. A鈥痗lass鈥痺aitlist means that if鈥痑 spot鈥痮pens up鈥痜rom someone dropping the class or for non-payment, then the next person in the waitlist鈥痺ill move into the open spot.

It is highly recommended you:鈥 

  • Complete the Steps to Enroll process, it is recommended to start the Steps to Enroll process鈥痑t least 3 months prior to the quarter you are trying to enroll as processing for Financial Aid can take time to complete. 
  • Enroll into a class at South for your general education classes鈥(if you still need to complete them). South has different enrollment dates, which鈥痙etermines鈥痺hen you鈥痑re able to鈥痳egister for classes,鈥痓ased on if you are a Veteran, a returning student鈥(at South), or a new student鈥(to South).鈥 
  • The order of enrollment dates鈥痠n order of when they鈥痮pen: Veteran, returning student, new student. Veterans can register first. Then, returning students can register. Lastly, new students can register.鈥疊eing coded as a returning student鈥痑llows you to register earlier, which gives you a better chance of being able to register for an open spot in Fall or Summer for Aviation courses when the new cohorts begin.鈥 
  • The only way to have鈥痑鈥痳eturning student鈥痚nrollment鈥痵tatus鈥痠s鈥痶o have previously been enrolled at South鈥痑nd completed a course鈥痺hich is why we suggest prospective Aviation students to take their general education courses first so they can receive this returning student enrollment status which will allow them to鈥痟ave a better opportunity to register for Aviation in either Fall or Spring when the new cohorts begin.鈥 
  • It is highly recommended that interested students complete Math 110 placement and English 107 prior to enrollment; these classes prepare students for the academic rigor and degree completion of the program.鈥

Both certificate options (Aviation Airframe Tech Certificate鈥痮r鈥痶he Aviation Powerplant Tech Certificate) are at least 100 units, meaning these will take a minimum of 2 years to complete one certificate.鈥疶he degree options (AAS or AAS-T) are at least 128 units, meaning these will take a minimum of 2 years to complete.

South also informs students that employers in the field prefer candidates who are FAA certified in both Airframe and Powerplant. The degree path is recommended because it is comprehensive and prepares students for both FAA certification exams.

You are unable to change your cohort (morning or afternoon-evening) once you've picked one. There is little flexibility based鈥痮n instructor鈥痙iscretion,鈥痑nd you should do your best to be on time to class.

Yes, you can enroll and complete the program and take the FAA exams regardless of your citizenship status. However, employment is not guaranteed after completion of the program as non-citizens need a work visa to be able to work in the US legally.

The employer or organization will provide the student with a voucher. The student should email the voucher to SouthSeattleVouchers@seattlecolleges.edu. Invoicing and billing are then done by Seattle 神马福利电影院s District Student Financials.

  • Veterans at South, if eligible, are able to receive a 50% tuition reduction. View鈥痚ligibility requirements to learn more.
  • Veterans and their鈥痙ependents鈥痑re eligible for a Veteran enrollment date which allows them to register for classes the Friday before Returning Student registration opens鈥痳egardless鈥痠f鈥痶hey're鈥痷sing GI Bill or Vocational Rehab benefits.鈥疉ll Veterans and鈥痙ependents鈥痠nterested in this鈥痓enefit need to鈥痗onnect with South鈥檚 VA Certifying Official鈥痶o be granted this registration status. Veterans should connect with South鈥檚 VA Certifying Official at鈥SouthVeterans@seattlecolleges.edu鈥痮r 206.934.6705.鈥

All enrollment steps are outlined on the Steps to Enroll page. You are able to self-navigate through these enrollment steps, but if you have questions please schedule a 1:1 appointment either on Zoom or in-person with a Welcome Center staff member.

Visit the Welcome Center website to complete our Intake Survey to schedule a future appointment.