Updated September 30, 2026. Verified against each school’s published program, cost and schedule information, federal College Navigator data, FAA pass-rate data and Georgia HOPE rules.
Metro Atlanta has five schools that train aviation mechanics for the FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) exams. Three are private schools that start classes often and run year-round. Two are public technical colleges that cost far less, especially with Georgia’s HOPE Grant, but start only in fall and spring.
Key Takeaways
- Most start dates: Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) in Duluth starts classes about every five weeks, with day and evening schedules.
- Lowest cost: Chattahoochee Tech’s A&P certificate runs about $9,492–$11,097 in tuition and fees before aid. HOPE covers tuition for eligible Georgia residents.
- Fastest advertised: U.S. Aviation Academy in Forest Park advertises an 8-month full-time program for about $36,000 all-in.
- Night classes: AIM, U.S. Aviation Academy and Chattahoochee Tech all offer evening options. Atlanta Tech is day-only.
- Biggest school: AIM Atlanta tests more A&P students than any other school in Georgia.
- New option: Universal Technical Institute’s Smyrna campus offers a 78-week aviation maintenance associate degree for $53,095, books included, with starts October 26 and December 7, 2026.
Atlanta A&P Schools Compared
| School | Credential | Length | Cost | Starts | Schedule | FAA pass rate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Atlanta Metro Duluth | AMT certificate (78 credits) | 21 months | $16,657 per year tuition + fees (federal data); program total not published | About every 5 weeks | Day or evening | 77.4% |
| Universal Technical Institute – Atlanta Smyrna | Aviation Maintenance Technology associate degree (69 credits) | 78 weeks | $53,095 tuition + fees, books included | Oct 26 and Dec 7, 2026 | Not published | New program |
| Chattahoochee Technical College Dallas (Paulding Co. airport) | A&P certificate (81 credits) | 5 semesters day, 6 night | $9,492–$11,097 in-state tuition + fees | Fall, spring | Day or night | New program |
| Atlanta Technical College Atlanta | Separate Airframe and Powerplant certificates | 3 semesters each | $6,999 Airframe / $6,357 Powerplant in-state | Fall, spring | Day only | 81.8% |
| U.S. Aviation Academy Forest Park | A&P program | 8–16 months | About $36,000 all-in (school-reported) | Not published | Day, or evening and weekend | Not in FAA report |
*Combined General, Airframe and Powerplant written-test pass rate, August 2023–December 2024, from the FAA’s school pass-rate report. The FAA labels this data preliminary.
What A&P School Costs in Atlanta
Private schools. AIM does not publish program tuition. Federal College Navigator data lists $16,657 per year in tuition and fees for the Duluth campus (2024-25), plus about $1,000 per year for books, and an average net price of $27,982 per year after grants (2023-24). Ask AIM for the enrollment agreement for your exact program before committing. U.S. Aviation Academy advertises about $36,000 all-in, including tool use, digital textbooks and first attempts at the FAA exams.
Public technical colleges. Chattahoochee Tech and Atlanta Tech charge $107 per credit hour for Georgia residents in 2026-27, capped at 15 credits per term. The HOPE Grant covers that tuition for eligible residents, and aviation certificates are on the 2026-27 HOPE Career Grant list, which adds a flat award each term. With HOPE, you mainly pay fees ($407–$486 per semester), books and tools.
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 national ranges, not official FAA fees.
The Schools
Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Atlanta Metro (Duluth)
AIM’s Atlanta Metro campus at 2025 Satellite Pointe in Duluth is the largest A&P school in Georgia by FAA test volume. It is the best fit if you want to start soon, need evening classes or do not qualify for HOPE.
- Programs: 21-month Aviation Maintenance Technician certificate; 21-month Associate of Occupational Studies (AIM Atlanta is the only AIM campus that awards the AOS); 27-month Aviation Maintenance Technical Engineer program with avionics (offered only here and in Orlando); and a 2-month refresher (PAMC) for experienced mechanics.
- Starts and schedule: about every five weeks, day and evening. See AIM Atlanta’s campus page.
- Aid: ACCSC accredited; accepts federal financial aid, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, military Tuition Assistance and VR&E.
- Outcomes: 53% completion and 70% employment for the AMT certificate, per the school’s 2025 ACCSC disclosure.
Universal Technical Institute – Atlanta (Smyrna)
UTI’s new Atlanta campus at 7100 Highlands Pkwy SE in Smyrna teaches a 1,950-hour Aviation Maintenance Technology associate degree (69 credits) over 78 weeks, about 18 months. The campus catalog lists $53,095 for students enrolling from August 2026, including books, uniforms and safety gear.
- 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.
- Starts: October 26 and December 7, 2026.
- Track record: too new for FAA pass-rate or graduation data.
Chattahoochee Technical College (Dallas)
Chattahoochee Tech received FAA certification in April 2025 and trains students at a 55,000-square-foot academy with a 12,000-square-foot hangar beside Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport. It is the lowest-cost full A&P credential in the metro and the only public program with a night cohort.
- Length: 81-credit certificate in five semesters (day, Monday–Thursday) or six (night).
- Cost: about $9,492 in tuition and fees for the fall day cohort, per the college’s program map.
- Next deadline: October 16, 2026, with a required information session.
Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta)
Atlanta Tech offers separate Airframe (54 credits) and Powerplant (48 credits) certificates rather than one combined A&P credential. Each takes three semesters of full-time day classes, Monday–Thursday.
- Cost: $6,999 (Airframe) and $6,357 (Powerplant) in tuition and fees; the college’s own estimates are $9,626 and $8,626.
- Admission: ranked, with 25 seats per cohort in fall and spring. You need both certificates to test for both ratings.
U.S. Aviation Academy (Forest Park)
This Texas-based private academy opened its Georgia campus in Forest Park in 2024, about 10 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson. It advertises an 8-month full-time program and 12- to 16-month evening and weekend options for about $36,000 all-in, plus a 4-week avionics add-on for $4,000.
Note: we could not independently confirm the Forest Park campus’s FAA Part 147 certificate, accreditation, federal aid eligibility or GI Bill approval. It does not appear in the FAA’s latest pass-rate report. Confirm these directly before enrolling.
Which Atlanta School Fits You?
- You want to start this year: AIM, with classes starting about every five weeks. Public programs admit only in fall and spring.
- You are a Georgia resident and cost matters most: Chattahoochee Tech, where HOPE can cover tuition.
- You work days: AIM’s evening schedule or Chattahoochee Tech’s night cohort.
- You are a veteran: AIM accepts the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Tuition Assistance and VR&E. Atlanta Tech also lists the GI Bill.
- You already have 30 months of aircraft maintenance experience: you may not need a full program. AIM’s PAMC refresher or a test-prep course can prepare you for the FAA exams.
- 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 Georgia aviation mechanic schools page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does A&P school take in Atlanta?
About 21 months at AIM, about 18 months (78 weeks) at UTI, five to six semesters at Chattahoochee Tech, and three semesters per certificate at Atlanta Tech. U.S. Aviation Academy advertises 8 months full-time.
What is the cheapest aviation mechanic school in Atlanta?
For Georgia residents, the public technical colleges. Chattahoochee Tech’s full A&P certificate costs about $9,492–$11,097 in tuition and fees before aid, and the HOPE Grant can cover the tuition portion.
Can I take A&P classes at night in Atlanta?
Yes. AIM offers evening classes, Chattahoochee Tech runs a night cohort, and U.S. Aviation Academy advertises evening and weekend options.
Which Atlanta school has the best FAA pass rate?
Among schools with FAA data, Atlanta Tech had an 81.8% combined written-test pass rate and AIM Atlanta 77.4% for August 2023–December 2024. AIM tests far more students. Chattahoochee Tech is too new to have data.