Tarrant County College trains aviation mechanics at the Erma C. Johnson Hadley Northwest Center of Excellence for Aviation at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, one of the largest aviation education facilities in Texas. It is the lowest-cost A&P option in Dallas–Fort Worth.
Verified October 2, 2026 against the college’s program page, Fall 2026 tuition schedule and news releases. Compare all Texas A&P schools.
Quick Facts
- Length: About 2 years day or 3 years evening (both ratings)
- Cost: About $5,476 in-district (both ratings, est.)
- Location: Fort Worth, TX
- Website: Official School Web Page
Compare with other A&P schools nearby: Dallas–Fort Worth A&P schools.
Our Take
TCC is the best value in North Texas for district residents: about $5,500 in tuition for both ratings, day or evening schedules and an 88.4% pass rate. A June 2026 agreement with American Airlines adds mentoring and guaranteed interviews for top students. The catch is the wait: after the information session and orientation, expect a waitlist of about a year.
At a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| FAA status | Part 147 certificated school (certificate AZ9T026R) |
| Credentials | AAS Airframe (60 credits), AAS Powerplant (60), Level 2 certificates (45 each), Level 1 General (16); composite and avionics add-ons |
| Both ratings | About 74 credits (16 General + 29 Airframe + 29 Powerplant, our estimate) |
| Schedule | Day, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–3 p.m. (about 2 years); evening, Monday–Thursday 5:30–11 p.m. (about 3 years) |
| Tuition (Fall 2026) | $74 per credit in-district, $136 out-of-district, $315 out-of-state; no per-credit fees |
| Books and tools | About $600 for books and $400–$1,200 for tools |
| FAA pass rate | 88.4% (152 of 172 written tests, Aug 2023–Dec 2024) |
| Campus | 2301 Horizon Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76177 (Alliance Airport) |
| Verified | October 2, 2026 |
Programs and Costs
TCC awards Airframe and Powerplant as separate credentials; to test for both ratings you complete both. See the program page.
| Program | Credits | FAA exams covered | In-district tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAS Airframe | 60 | General, Airframe | $4,440 |
| AAS Powerplant | 60 | General, Powerplant | $4,440 |
| Level 2 certificate – Airframe | 45 | General, Airframe | $3,330 |
| Level 2 certificate – Powerplant | 45 | General, Powerplant | $3,330 |
| Level 1 certificate – General | 16 | General | $1,184 |
| Advanced Composite / Avionics Line Maintenance | 8 / 12 | Add-on skills | $592 / $888 |
TCC does not publish a combined credit total for both ratings. If both Level 2 certificates share the 16-credit General courses, the total is about 74 credits, or $5,476 in-district and $10,064 out-of-district.
What You Will Actually Pay
District residents pay $74 per credit with no added per-credit fees, so both ratings cost about $5,476 in tuition. Out-of-district Texans pay $136 per credit (about $10,064) and out-of-state students $315. Add about $600 for books and $400–$1,200 for tools, plus FAA testing. Students who already hold an FAA rating can earn credit for it.
American Airlines Partnership
Under a June 2026 agreement, American Airlines refers qualified TCC graduates to on-campus recruiting events, offers guaranteed interviews and mentoring to top performers, and lets current American employees enroll in flexible cohorts. American employs more than 1,400 aviation maintenance technicians at DFW, including many TCC alumni.
How to Apply
- Attend an aviation information session.
- Apply to TCC.
- Attend program orientation.
- Join the waitlist, currently about a year.
How It Compares in Texas
| School | Full A&P path | Length | Cost | FAA pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant County College (Fort Worth) | Airframe + Powerplant (about 74 credits) | 2 years day; 3 evening | About $5,476 | 88.4% |
| Dallas College | General + Airframe + Powerplant (non-credit) | 13 months; 24 evening | $24,864 | New program |
| U.S. Aviation Academy (Denton) | A&P program | 8–16 months | About $36,000 all-in | 77.3% |
| Thrust Institute (Addison, Burleson) | AMT program | 10 months | $39,539 | 97.1% |
| North Central Texas College (Denton) | Combined certificates (42 aviation credits) | About 3 semesters | $34,062 | Tests under USAA |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance (Irving, Houston) | AMT certificate (78 credits) | 21 months | $52,077 (2023-24) | 76.3% / 89.3% |
TCC is the lowest-cost A&P program in Dallas–Fort Worth. If you can’t wait a year, compare Dallas College, U.S. Aviation Academy and Thrust Institute. See the Dallas–Fort Worth comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tarrant County College’s aviation program FAA-approved?
Yes. It operates FAA Part 147 school AZ9T026R; graduates passed 152 of 172 FAA written tests from August 2023 to December 2024, per the FAA’s pass-rate report.
Is there an evening schedule?
Yes. Evening classes run Monday–Thursday, 5:30–11 p.m., and take about three years.
How long is the waitlist?
About a year after orientation, according to TCC.
Related Programs
View All Aviation Mechanic Schools in Texas
- Amarillo College - Amarillo
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) - Irving, Houston
- Dallas College - Dallas
- Del Mar College - Corpus Christi
- Hallmark University - San Antonio
- LeTourneau University - Longview
- Midland College - Midland
- North Central Texas College - Denton
- Southwest Texas College - Del Rio
- St. Philip's College - San Antonio
- Texarkana College - Texarkana
- Thrust Institute of Maintenance - Addison, Burleson, Conroe
- Texas State Technical College - Waco
- U.S. Aviation Academy - Denton, San Marcos
- Universal Technical Institute - Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, San Antonio