Updated September 30, 2026. Verified against each school’s published program, cost and schedule information, ACCSC disclosures and FAA pass-rate data.
Metro Houston has two FAA-certificated A&P mechanic schools, both private: Aviation Institute of Maintenance near Hobby Airport and Universal Technical Institute in North Houston. Thrust Institute is opening a location in Conroe. Houston does not yet have a public A&P program: Houston Community College is building one but is still waiting on FAA approval.
Key Takeaways
- Two main options: AIM Houston (21 months) and UTI Houston (about 18 months) each cost about $52,000–$53,500 in tuition and fees.
- Strongest outcomes: AIM Houston reported 74% graduation and 75% employment and an 89.3% FAA pass rate.
- Exam fees covered: UTI pays up to $2,000 in FAA test fees for graduates who meet its GPA and practice-test criteria.
- No public program yet: San Jacinto College and Lone Star College do not offer A&P training, and Houston Community College’s program is pending FAA approval.
- Lower-cost alternative: Thrust Institute’s 10-month program costs $39,539, but it does not accept federal aid or the GI Bill.
Houston A&P Schools Compared
| School | Credential | Length | Cost | Starts | Schedule | FAA pass rate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Houston Houston (near Hobby Airport) | AMT certificate (78 credits) | 21 months | $52,077 tuition + fees (2023-24, latest published) | Next start Nov 2, 2026 | Day or evening | 89.3% |
| Universal Technical Institute – Houston North Houston | A&P Technician diploma (1,950 clock hours) | 78 weeks (about 18 months) | $53,495 tuition + fees | Set at enrollment | Set at orientation | 85.9% |
| Thrust Institute of Maintenance Conroe | AMT program | 10 months | $39,539 incl. books and tool rental | Confirm with school | Day or night at other campuses | 97.1% (34 tests, all campuses) |
| Houston Community College North Forest campus | Airframe and Powerplant AAS (planned) | 2 years (planned) | Not published | Pending FAA approval | — | — |
*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. The UTI rate is for the UTI certificate in the FAA’s Houston district; UTI has not yet published Houston graduation or job-placement data.
What A&P School Costs in Houston
UTI Houston lists $52,520 in tuition plus registration, lab, equipment and laptop fees, for $53,495 total for students enrolling from August 2026.
AIM Houston does not publish current program tuition. Its most recent published figures (2023-24) were $47,410 in tuition and $4,667 in fees, $52,077 total, plus about $1,050 for books, tools and supplies. Ask admissions for the 2026-27 price.
Thrust Institute charges $39,539 for its 10-month program, including books, lab fees and tool rental.
FAA exams. Budget roughly $500–$600 for the three written tests and $1,000–$1,600 or more for the oral and practical exam, unless your school covers them. These are typical ranges, not official FAA fees.
The Schools
Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Houston
AIM Houston is on Airport Boulevard near Hobby Airport, with an 18,000-square-foot hangar. It had the stronger outcomes of Houston’s two main schools in the latest data.
- Program: 21-month Aviation Maintenance Technician certificate (78 credits), day or evening.
- Starts: next start November 2, 2026. See AIM Houston’s campus page.
- Aid: ACCSC accredited; accepts federal financial aid, VA benefits, military Tuition Assistance and WIOA.
- Outcomes: 74% graduation and 75% employment for the 2021-22 cohort, per the school’s 2025 ACCSC disclosure, and an 89.3% combined FAA pass rate.
Universal Technical Institute – Houston
UTI’s North Houston campus on Lockhaven Drive offers an Airframe & Powerplant Technician diploma: 1,950 clock hours (766 classroom, 1,184 lab) over about 78 weeks.
- Cost: $53,495 in tuition and fees.
- FAA exams: UTI subsidizes up to $2,000 in test fees for graduates who meet GPA or practice-test criteria and test within 120 days of graduating.
- Admission: age 16 or older with a high school diploma or GED; you must be 18 to take FAA exams.
- Good to know: UTI calls its Houston aviation program a new offering and has not yet published graduation or placement rates for it.
Thrust Institute of Maintenance (Conroe)
Thrust lists a Conroe location at 1007 General Thomas Kelly Boulevard, north of Houston. Its 10-month AMT program costs $39,539 and runs day or night shifts at its DFW campuses. Confirm Conroe start dates and schedules directly. Thrust is not accredited and does not accept federal aid or the GI Bill.
Coming Soon: Houston Community College
HCC is developing Airframe and Powerplant AAS degrees (60 credits each) at its North Forest campus. The program does not yet have FAA Part 147 approval, so it cannot yet qualify graduates for the A&P exams.
Which Houston School Fits You?
- You want the strongest track record: AIM Houston, with published graduation, employment and pass rates.
- You want exam fees covered: UTI, if you meet its GPA and practice-test criteria.
- You live north of Houston: UTI in North Houston or Thrust in Conroe.
- You are a veteran: AIM accepts VA benefits and Tuition Assistance. Thrust does not accept the GI Bill.
- Cost matters most: the nearest public A&P programs are outside the metro, including St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Del Mar College in Corpus Christi and TSTC in Waco.
Compare every option in the state on our Texas aviation mechanic schools page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does A&P school take in Houston?
About 18 months at UTI, 21 months at AIM and 10 months at Thrust.
Is there a community college A&P program in Houston?
Not yet. Houston Community College is building one at its North Forest campus, pending FAA approval. San Jacinto College and Lone Star College do not offer A&P training.
How much does aviation mechanic school cost in Houston?
About $52,000–$53,500 in tuition and fees at AIM and UTI, and $39,539 at Thrust. Books, tools and FAA exam fees can add more unless your school covers them.
Which Houston school has the best FAA pass rate?
AIM Houston had an 89.3% combined written-test pass rate for August 2023–December 2024, and UTI 85.9%.