Watch Webinar: Latest Mechanic ACS Proposed Revisions

ATEC is pleased to share that the next iteration of the proposed Mechanic ACS revision recommendation, now available for industry review and comment. This roll out follows Tuesday’s webinar providing an overview of the proposal—if you missed it, catch the recorded version or review the slide deck.

Developed by the ATEC ACS Working Group, this recommendation builds upon prior FAA-industry efforts and incorporates feedback from aviation maintenance educators, industry representatives, trade associations, and DMEs. The objective is to modernize the mechanic ACS framework while improving clarity, traceability, evaluator consistency, and workforce readiness. 

The proposed revision includes:

• Modernized subject organization and system-aligned structure
• Enhanced knowledge, risk management, and skill elements
• Observable performance criteria aligned with competency-based training principles
• Improved integration of human factors and maintenance risk management
• New competency domains intended to support consistent evaluation and workforce readiness

To get the most out of reviewing the proposed revision and to provide actionable feedback:

1. Begin with the Companion Guide. This provides the “why” and “how” behind the revision and makes the ACS easier to navigate.
2. Review the ACS draft recommendation in sequence:
   1. Front Matter: explains major changes and overall intent
   2. Appendices: includes Performance Standards and Competency Domains
   3. ACS Content:
      1. Subjects have been reorganized for improved flow
      2. Numbers indicate the proposed order
      3. Letters indicate the current FAA subject reference\Color coding identifies revised and new content.
3. Evaluate the revision with a fresh perspective. Rather than comparing line-by-line with the current ACS, select a subject area you know well and compare it to your existing curriculum, training materials, or testing processes. This provides the clearest picture of how the proposed structure aligns with real-world training and evaluation practices.
4. Submit feedback by June 15. ATEC welcomes all comments, including areas that work well, items needing clarification, and any elements that may appear misaligned with training, testing, or industry expectations. Use the form to provide specific feedback or email crystal.maguire@atec-amt.org

ATEC appreciates the continued engagement and expertise of the aviation maintenance community as we work collaboratively to strengthen mechanic certification standards for the future workforce. All of this information as well as ongoing news and background is available on the Mechanic ACS Initiative Landing Page.

Mechanic ACS Landing Page