Updated September 30, 2026. Verified against each school’s published program, cost and schedule information, federal College Navigator data and FAA pass-rate data.
Dallas–Fort Worth has seven places to train for the FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic exams. Four are private schools that start classes often: Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Irving, Universal Technical Institute’s Dallas–Fort Worth campus, U.S. Aviation Academy in Denton and Thrust Institute in Addison and Burleson. Three are public colleges that cost less but have waitlists or fixed application windows: Tarrant County College at Alliance Airport, Dallas College at Dallas Executive Airport and North Central Texas College, whose aviation courses are taught by U.S. Aviation Academy.
Key Takeaways
- Most start dates: Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) in Irving runs day, evening and weekend classes, with the next start November 2, 2026. Thrust Institute starts new cohorts monthly.
- Lowest cost: Tarrant County College charges $74 per credit for Tarrant County residents, but its waitlist typically runs about a year.
- Fastest: U.S. Aviation Academy advertises an 8-month full-time program for about $36,000 all-in. Thrust takes 10 months.
- Night and weekend options: AIM, Tarrant County College, Dallas College, U.S. Aviation Academy and Thrust all offer them.
- Check aid before you enroll: Thrust does not accept federal financial aid or the GI Bill.
- New option: Universal Technical Institute lists a 78-week aviation maintenance associate degree at its Dallas–Fort Worth campus for $53,095, books included. Confirm FAA approval and start dates with UTI.
Dallas–Fort Worth A&P Schools Compared
| School | Credential | Length | Cost | Starts | Schedule | FAA pass rate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Dallas Irving | AMT certificate (78 credits) | 21 months | $16,757 per year tuition + fees (federal data); program total not published | Next start Nov 2, 2026 | Day, evening or weekend | 76.3% |
| Universal Technical Institute – Dallas–Fort Worth Irving (new facility planned in Coppell) | Aviation Maintenance Technology associate degree (69 credits) | 78 weeks | $53,095 tuition + fees, books included | Not published | Not published | New program |
| Tarrant County College Fort Worth (Alliance Airport) | Separate Airframe and Powerplant degrees or certificates | 2 years day, 3 years evening | $74 per credit in-district ($4,440 per 60-credit AAS) | Waitlist (about 1 year) | Day or evening | 88.4% |
| U.S. Aviation Academy Denton | A&P program | 8, 13 or 16 months | About $36,000 all-in (school-reported) | Not published | Day, evening or weekend | 77.3% |
| Thrust Institute of Maintenance Addison and Burleson | AMT program | 10 months | $39,539 incl. books and tool rental | Monthly | Day or night | 97.1% (34 tests) |
| Dallas College Dallas Executive Airport | General, Airframe and Powerplant certificates (non-credit) | 13 months; 24-month evening option | $24,864 for Dallas County residents | Applications May 22–Dec 18, 2026 | Mon–Thu days, or evenings | New program |
| North Central Texas College Taught at USAA, Denton | Airframe and Powerplant certificates; AAS | Not clearly stated | $34,062 for both certificates; $38,328 AAS | Fall, spring, summer | In person and hybrid | Tests under USAA |
*Combined General, Airframe and Powerplant written-test pass rate, August 2023–December 2024, from the FAA’s pass-rate report. The FAA labels this data preliminary. Dallas College started too recently to appear. North Central Texas College students test under U.S. Aviation Academy’s certificate.
What A&P School Costs in Dallas–Fort Worth
Private schools. AIM does not publish program tuition; federal College Navigator data lists $16,757 per year in tuition and fees for the Irving campus (2024-25) and an average net price of $25,642 per year after grants (2023-24). U.S. Aviation Academy advertises about $36,000, including tool use, digital books and first attempts at the FAA exams. Thrust charges $39,539, including books, lab fees and tool rental, with optional housing for about $9,000 more.
Public colleges. Tarrant County College charges $74 per credit in-district, $136 out-of-district and $315 out-of-state (Fall 2026). Airframe and Powerplant are separate 60-credit degrees, so budget for both. Dallas College’s three non-credit certificates total $24,864 for Dallas County residents, with most learning materials included. North Central Texas College bills aviation courses at $811 per credit.
FAA exams. Most programs do not include testing. Budget roughly $500–$600 for the three written tests and $1,000–$1,600 or more for the oral and practical exam. These are typical ranges, not official FAA fees.
The Schools
Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Dallas (Irving)
AIM’s Dallas campus on Airport Freeway in Irving has a 55,000-square-foot facility with a hangar, avionics lab and on-site FAA testing center. It is the best fit if you want to start soon, need evening or weekend classes, or plan to use federal aid or the GI Bill.
- Program: 21-month Aviation Maintenance Technician certificate (78 credits).
- Starts and schedule: day, evening and weekend classes; next start November 2, 2026. See AIM Dallas’s campus page.
- Aid: ACCSC accredited since 2001; accepts federal financial aid, the Post-9/11 GI Bill and military Tuition Assistance.
- Outcomes: 52% completion and 70% employment for the AMT certificate, per the school’s 2025 ACCSC disclosure. Employers AIM names include StandardAero, Envoy and AAR.
Universal Technical Institute – Dallas–Fort Worth
UTI’s Dallas–Fort Worth catalog lists the Aviation Maintenance Technology associate degree: 1,950 clock hours (69 credits) over 78 weeks, $53,095 for 2026-27 including books, uniforms and safety gear. UTI’s website gives the campus address as 5151 Regent Blvd in Irving; in October 2025 the company announced a new 30,000-square-foot aviation facility in Coppell.
- FAA tests: UTI covers up to $2,000 in FAA written-test fees for graduates who meet its study criteria and test within 120 days.
- Track record: UTI’s Houston aviation program, which uses the same curriculum, had an 85.9% FAA written-test pass rate (Aug 2023–Dec 2024). The Dallas–Fort Worth program is too new for data.
- Before you enroll: confirm the training location, start date and FAA approval status with UTI.
Tarrant County College (Fort Worth)
TCC trains at its Northwest Center of Excellence for Aviation at Alliance Airport, with three FAA-designated mechanic examiners on faculty. It is the lowest-cost option for Tarrant County residents and posted the best FAA pass rate among large DFW programs (88.4%).
- Programs: AAS degrees in Airframe and in Powerplant (60 credits each) or Level 2 certificates (45 each). You need both tracks to test for both ratings.
- Schedule: days Monday–Friday (about 2 years) or evenings Monday–Thursday (about 3 years).
- Admission: information session, application, orientation and a waitlist that typically runs about a year.
- Employer tie: TCC signed a recruiting agreement with American Airlines in June 2026.
U.S. Aviation Academy (Denton)
USAA trains at Denton Enterprise Airport and runs its own repair station on site. It has the shortest advertised schedule in the metro.
- Schedules: 8 months full-time (Monday–Thursday days), 13 months weekends or 16 months evenings.
- Cost: about $36,000 all-in; a 4-week avionics add-on costs $4,000.
- Aid: VA-approved at Denton; federal financial aid not confirmed. Private loans available.
- Pass rate: 77.3% combined, with a 68.5% Airframe rate.
Thrust Institute of Maintenance (Addison and Burleson)
Thrust opened in 2023 at Addison Airport and Fort Worth Spinks Airport in Burleson. Its 10-month program runs day shifts (8 a.m.–4 p.m.) or night shifts (4 p.m.–midnight), Monday through Friday, with new cohorts every month. Its graduates passed 33 of 34 FAA written tests in the latest report. Thrust is not accredited and accepts only private loans and 529 plans, not federal aid or the GI Bill.
Dallas College (Dallas Executive Airport)
Dallas College launched its non-credit Aviation Maintenance Technology program in 2025 at its hangar at Dallas Executive Airport and graduated its first 14 students in June 2026.
- Program: General ($7,168), Airframe ($9,856) and Powerplant ($7,840) certificates, 13 months full-time or 24 months in the evening cohort.
- Applications: open May 22–December 18, 2026, first come, first served. Current cohorts are full.
- Good to know: the college does not publish its FAA certificate number, and federal aid eligibility for this non-credit program is not confirmed. Ask admissions about both.
North Central Texas College (at U.S. Aviation Academy, Denton)
NCTC awards college credit for Airframe (30 credits) and Powerplant (33 credits) certificates and a 60-credit AAS, with all aviation courses taught by U.S. Aviation Academy in Denton. Aviation courses cost $811 per credit, far above NCTC’s regular rate: $34,062 for both certificates or $38,328 for the AAS. The advantage is federal financial aid through the college. Cohorts start in fall, spring and summer.
Which DFW School Fits You?
- You live in Tarrant County and can wait: Tarrant County College has the lowest tuition in the metro.
- You want to start soon: AIM (next start November 2) or Thrust (monthly starts).
- You want to finish fast: U.S. Aviation Academy’s 8-month day program or Thrust’s 10-month program.
- You work days: AIM evenings or weekends, TCC or Dallas College evenings, USAA evenings or weekends, or Thrust’s night shift.
- You are a veteran: AIM accepts the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Tuition Assistance, and U.S. Aviation Academy is VA-approved in Denton. Thrust does not accept the GI Bill.
- You already have 30 months of aircraft maintenance experience: you may not need a full program. U.S. Aviation Academy runs a 3-week prep course for experienced candidates.
- You want books and FAA test fees built in: UTI includes books and covers up to $2,000 in FAA written-test fees for qualifying graduates.
Compare every option in the state on our Texas aviation mechanic schools page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does A&P school take in Dallas–Fort Worth?
From 8 months at U.S. Aviation Academy and 10 months at Thrust to 13 months at Dallas College, 21 months at AIM, and about 2 years (days) or 3 years (evenings) at Tarrant County College.
What is the cheapest aviation mechanic school in DFW?
For Tarrant County residents, Tarrant County College at $74 per credit. Dallas College’s full program costs $24,864 for Dallas County residents. Private schools run about $36,000 and up.
Can I take A&P classes at night in DFW?
Yes. AIM, Tarrant County College, Dallas College, U.S. Aviation Academy and Thrust all offer evening or night schedules, and AIM and USAA also offer weekends.
Which DFW school has the best FAA pass rate?
Among schools with large test volumes, Tarrant County College led with 88.4% for August 2023–December 2024, followed by U.S. Aviation Academy (77.3%) and AIM Dallas (76.3%). Thrust posted 97.1% on a much smaller sample of 34 tests.