Education · 1 of 4

The path

A 2-year college diploma, then paid experience toward a Transport Canada licence.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Math and physics are essential. Electronics or computer courses help.

2. 2

   Avionics diploma

   2 years

   A 2-year Aviation Technician, Avionics Maintenance diploma at a Transport Canada approved college, such as Centennial in Toronto or Canadore in North Bay. Attendance and grade rules are strict: Centennial requires 95% attendance and 70% in every technical course to get the licence credit.

3. 3

   Get hired

   Weeks to months

   Airlines, repair shops, manufacturers and the air force hire graduates as apprentice technicians. You work under licensed engineers who sign off your work.

4. 4

   Build experience

   2 to 3 years

   An approved diploma counts for 18 months toward the experience Transport Canada requires. The rest, roughly 2 to 3 more years, comes from logged work.

5. 5

   AME (aircraft maintenance engineer) licence, E rating

   After your experience

   At 21 or older, with the experience logged, pass the Transport Canada regulatory exam. Approved graduates are exempt from the technical exams.