Updated October 2, 2026. Verified against each school’s published program, cost and schedule information, BPPE disclosures and FAA pass-rate data.
The Los Angeles area has 11 FAA-certificated A&P mechanic programs. In Los Angeles and Orange County: Universal Technical Institute in Long Beach, Spartan College in Inglewood, West Los Angeles College, LAUSD’s North Valley Occupational Center, Mt. San Antonio College, Orange Coast College and Antelope Valley College. In the Inland Empire: Spartan’s Riverside campus, Chaffey College, Victor Valley College and San Bernardino Valley College. Community colleges cost residents about $2,500–$3,900; private schools run $51,000–$57,000.
Key Takeaways
- Lowest cost: North Valley Occupational Center is tuition-free (two-year waitlist). Among community colleges, Chaffey (about $2,500), San Bernardino Valley ($2,780) and Orange Coast ($3,033) cost residents the least.
- Soonest start: Spartan starts six times a year (next November 16 in Inglewood, November 30 in Riverside); UTI Long Beach lists October and December 2026 starts; Victor Valley accepts applications any time.
- Fastest: Spartan Riverside, 15 months. UTI Long Beach takes 78 weeks; Spartan Inglewood 18 months.
- Highest pass rates: North Valley Occupational Center (97.5%), Mt. SAC (94.4%), Chaffey (91.4%) and West LA College (90.8%).
- Night classes: Spartan (both campuses), Mt. SAC’s evening track, West LA College and Chaffey.
Los Angeles A&P Schools Compared
| School | Full A&P path | Length | Tuition + fees (resident) | Starts | FAA pass rate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Technical Institute – Long Beach Long Beach | Aviation Maintenance Technology AOS (69 credits) | 78 weeks (about 18 months) | $53,595 | October and December 2026 | Not yet in FAA data |
| Spartan College – Los Angeles Inglewood, near LAX | A&P diploma (93 credits) | 18 months | $57,096 (includes tools, books) | 6 a year; next Nov 16, 2026 | 85.4% |
| West Los Angeles College Culver City, near LAX | Aviation Maintenance Technician AS or certificates | Not published | $46 per unit (unit total not published) | Not published | 90.8% |
| North Valley Occupational Center (LAUSD) Van Nuys | Aircraft Mechanic Technician (2,340 hours) | About 2 years, days | Tuition-free (supplies extra) | Two-year waitlist | 97.5% |
| Mt. San Antonio College Walnut | A&P AS, evening (63.5 units) or day (67.5) | About 24 months evening; 21 day | $3,129 (evening) | Fall only; next Fall 2027 | 94.4% |
| Orange Coast College Costa Mesa | A&P certificate (63 units) | 6 terms (about 2 years) | $3,033 | Open enrollment | 88.6% |
| Antelope Valley College Lancaster | A&P coursework (75 units) | 2 years with summers | $3,558 | Summer | Too few tests |
| Spartan College – Inland Empire Riverside, Flabob Airport | AMT diploma (60 credits) | 15 months | $51,237 (includes tools, books) | 6 a year; next Nov 30, 2026 | 83.0% |
| Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga | A&P Technician certificate (about 53 units) | About 18 months | About $2,500 | Not published | 91.4% |
| Victor Valley College Victorville, SCLA airport | AMT AS (82 major units) | 18 months to 2 years, year-round | $3,884 | Apply any time | 82.4% |
| San Bernardino Valley College San Bernardino | AMT certificate (58 units) | 2 years | $2,780 | Not published | 76.5% |
*Combined General, Airframe and Powerplant written-test pass rate, August 1, 2023–December 31, 2024, from the FAA’s pass-rate report. The FAA labels this data preliminary. UTI Long Beach launched in 2023 and had no graduates testing in that period. Community college totals are 2026-27 resident fees ($46 per unit) plus mandatory campus fees; private-school figures are full program charges.
What A&P School Costs in Los Angeles
Community colleges charge California residents $46 per unit in 2026-27, and the California College Promise Grant can waive that for eligible students. Full A&P paths run 53 to 82 units, so resident totals are about $2,500–$3,900 with campus fees. Out-of-state students pay about $24,000–$38,000.
UTI Long Beach lists $53,595 for 2026-27 (tuition $52,620 plus registration, lab, equipment and laptop fees) and subsidizes up to $2,000 in FAA test fees. Spartan lists $57,096 for its Inglewood diploma and $51,237 for Riverside, both including tools, books and first-attempt FAA written tests.
North Valley Occupational Center is tuition-free; students buy supplies, books and materials.
The Schools
Universal Technical Institute – Long Beach
UTI’s Long Beach campus at 4175 E Conant St, near Long Beach Airport, added aviation in 2023 and graduated its first class in June 2025. It is UTI’s only California campus with aviation training.
- Program: Aviation Maintenance Technology, an associate of occupational studies: 69 credits, 1,950 clock hours, 78 weeks.
- Starts: October and December 2026, per UTI’s Long Beach page.
- Cost: $53,595, plus up to $2,000 in FAA test-fee support for qualifying graduates.
- Outcomes: too new for FAA pass-rate or state completion data.
Spartan College – Los Angeles (Inglewood)
Spartan trains at 8911 Aviation Blvd, about a mile from LAX, in about 100,000 square feet of space.
- Programs: 18-month A&P diploma (93 credits, $57,096) or 22-month associate degree (105 credits, $64,444).
- Schedule: day, 7:30 a.m.–1:45 p.m., or night, 5:30–11:45 p.m., Monday–Friday. Six starts a year.
- Outcomes: 76% completion, 72% placement for the 2024-25 diploma cohort; 85.4% FAA pass rate. Accredited by COE.
West Los Angeles College (Culver City)
West LA College’s Aviation Technology program has run since 1974 at its Culver City campus near LAX. It offers an associate degree, Airframe and Powerplant certificates and a bachelor’s in avionics, with day and evening sections. Top students get mentoring and guaranteed interviews through an American Airlines partnership. Graduates passed 90.8% of FAA written tests. The college does not publish unit totals online; ask a counselor for the current sequence.
North Valley Occupational Center (Van Nuys)
LAUSD’s adult school trains at its Aviation Center near Van Nuys Airport, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m., for about two years (2,340 hours). It is tuition-free and has the best pass rate in the area (39 of 40 tests), but the waitlist is at least two years and applicants must pass a math assessment.
Mt. San Antonio College (Walnut)
- Programs: day A&P track (67.5 units, about 21 months) or evening track (63.5 units, about 24 months in nine-week modules). Tools are supplied.
- Admission: fall start only, through an April orientation and math exam. Fall 2026 is closed; the next window opens April 2027.
- Cost: about $3,129 for residents on the evening track.
Orange Coast College (Costa Mesa)
OCC’s 63-unit A&P certificate takes about two years with open enrollment. It also offers avionics and helicopter certificates. Resident cost: about $3,033.
Antelope Valley College (Lancaster)
AVC’s 75-unit A&P coursework takes two years, starting in summer, with some labs at Barnes Aviation. It suits Antelope Valley residents aiming for aerospace jobs in Palmdale and Lancaster. Resident cost: about $3,558.
Inland Empire
Spartan College – Riverside trains at Flabob Airport; its 15-month diploma costs $51,237 with day and night shifts. Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga has a 91.4% pass rate and added night classes in 2024-25. Victor Valley College trains year-round at the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville. San Bernardino Valley College offers a 58-unit certificate over two years for about $2,780.
Elsewhere in California: see all California A&P schools.