Q: Will a Choose Aerospace student’s performance on the general written test impact my part 147 program’s minimum passage rate the FAA uses to assess quality of my program?

A: Section 147.25 requires that a part 147 program maintain a 70% passage rate on all FAA mechanic tests taken by students within 60 days after graduation. For that reason, any tests taken early (i.e., before graduation) will not be included in your program’s passage rate calculations.

That said, § 147.17 requires that part 147 programs ensure students have the knowledge and skills necessary to be prepared to test. For that reason, testing scores may always be utilized by the agency as a tool for assessing quality of instruction. For that reason, it is important that the part 147 program have some assurance that the student is prepared to test—even if the student did not take the general coursework at the part 147 program.

To help facilitate that assurance, Choose Aerospace provides certificates of completion for each course completed, and ATEC offers the opportunity for students to test and receive a credential further evidencing their knowledge of the FAA general knowledge elements. Prudent part 147 schools would provide further assessment of the student and/or high school program before recommending the student for early general knowledge testing.