Canadian AME Licensing General Information

The following information outlines the basic requirements to obtain a Canadian Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) Licence, in accordance with Canadian Aviation Regulations (CAR) 403 Division I and Airworthiness Manual (AWM) Chapter 566 Division I.

On this page

• AME Licence Ratings
• Requirements
  • Requirements Table
• Application(s)
  • Supporting Documentation Requirements
• Citizenship
• Age
• Basic Training
• Knowledge (Technical and Regulatory)
• Experience
• Skill (Maintenance Tasks)
• Examinations
  • Booking
• Charges

AME Licence Ratings

The scope of maintenance release privileges as they pertain to the rating designators entered on the licence, are as follows:

1. M1: Non-turbojet aircraft built to Standard 522, 523, 523-VLA, 527, 549 and equivalent standards (Includes all airframe, engines, propellers, components, structures, and systems of those aircraft);
2. M2: All aircraft not included in M1 (Excluding Balloons) (Includes all airframes, engines, propellers, components, structures, and systems of those aircraft);
3. E: Aircraft electronic systems. (Includes communication, pulse, navigation, auto flight, flight path computation, instruments and the electrical elements of other aircraft systems, and any structural work directly associated with the maintenance of those systems);
4. S: Aircraft structures. (Includes all airframe structures);
5. Balloons.

Holders of either an M1 or M2 rated AME licence also have maintenance release privileges for all:

• turbine powered helicopters; and
• SFAR 41C aeroplanes, including their associated variants and derivatives.

Requirements

An applicant for a Canadian Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) licence provides documented proof of the following:

• Citizenship (any country of citizenship);
• Age (minimum 21 years of age for the issuance of the licence);
• Training (basic training applicable to the licence rating sought);
• Knowledge (through examinations);
• Experience (aviation maintenance experience); and
• Skill (performance of maintenance tasks).

Requirements Table

Rating	Citizenship	Age	Minimum Basic Training	Aviation Maintenance Experience	Skill	Exams
M1	Any country	21	1000 hours Aircraft Maintenance theory	Total: 48 months Specialty: 12 months Civil: 6 months	Record of maintenance tasks required	Airframe Powerplant Standard Practices Regulations
M2	Any country	21	1000 hours Aircraft Maintenance theory	Total: 48 months Specialty: 12 months Civil: 6 months	Record of maintenance tasks required	Airframe Powerplant Standard Practices Regulations
E	Any country	21	1000 hours Electronics theory	Total: 48 months Specialty: 12 months Civil: 6 months	Record of maintenance tasks required	Avionics Standard Practices Regulations
S	Any country	21	550 hours Aircraft Structures theory	Total: 36 months Specialty: 24 months Civil: 6 months	Record of maintenance tasks required	Structures Standard Practices Regulations
Balloons	Any country	21	Acceptable course in balloon maintenance	120 hours	Record of maintenance tasks required	Regulations

Application(s)

There are two types of applications depending on where an applicant acquired their basic training:

• AME Licence Application Supplement Technical Examinations (Form 26-0638): This application form is for applicants who are required to demonstrate proof of technical knowledge and attempt the Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) technical examinations applicable to the AME licence rating requested.
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence Application (Form 24-0083): This application form is for applicants who have successfully completed a TCCA Approved Training Organization (ATO) basic training program with knowledge credit or have successfully completed the TCCA technical examinations applicable to the AME licence rating requested. At the time of application, applicants should have all but 6 months of the total aviation maintenance experience required.

Forms are available on the Transport Canada website.

Supporting Documentation Requirements:

All documentation submitted should be originals or certified true copies of the originals and where necessary, translated into English or French.Translated documents are expected to be accompanied by the original documents with any official stamps and seals identified by the translator.

The following individuals may certify copies of originals:

• A notary public or commission for oaths;
• A TCCA Safety Inspector/Officer or Administrative (Operational) Support personnel; or
• The holder of a valid Canadian AME Licence.

Citizenship:

An applicant provides proof of citizenship of any country. (e.g., valid passport or valid aviation personnel licence showing citizenship of the holder issued by an ICAO contracting state).

Age:

The age for licence issuance is 21. As proof of age, the following documents are acceptable:

• Canadian citizenship certificates;
• Birth or baptismal certificates;
• Passport; or
• Any Canadian Federal or Provincial document showing the applicant’s birth date.

Basic Training:

An applicant provides proof of having successfully completed basic training applicable to the AME licence rating requested. An applicant may have completed a TCCA approved or acceptable basic training course in aircraft maintenance, avionics or structural repair (as applicable). The basic training for balloon applicants consists of an acceptable course in balloon maintenance from the balloon manufacturer. As proof of basic training, the applicant submits:

• a graduation certificate from a TCCA approved basic training course bearing the approval number; or
• a graduation certificate from a TCCA acceptable basic training course.

Please refer to the list of approved or acceptable courses.

Applicants who did not complete their basic training from an approved or acceptable source are required to submit the following basic training documentation to TCCA for assessment (Refer to AWM 566.07(2)):

• a course graduation certificate or diploma,
• a transcript of marks and hours of theoretical training in each subject, and
• a detailed course curriculum from the training provider effective at the time the training was completed.

The basic training course will be assessed on a case-by-case basis against the pertinent requirements of AWM Chapter 566.

Applicants who held certain maintenance licences issued by an ICAO contracting state may be exempt from the basic training requirement. Refer to AWM 566.07(1) for the list of applicable licences. The applicant will need to submit documented proof of their licence and a letter from the civil aviation authority who issued the licence attesting its validity, privileges, initial issuance date, and that it conforms/conformed to ICAO Annex 1.

Canadian Military training for the AVN (Aviation Maintenance Technician), AVS (Avionics Systems Technician) and ACS (Aircraft Structures Technician) courses have been evaluated by TCCA against the requirements in AWM Chapter 566. The assessment of the courses is detailed in the table below, subject to an evaluation of the applicant’s training received. For further information please refer to the following document available on the TCCA website:

Maintenance and Manufacturing Staff Instructions No. 18 (Appendix B)

Trades	TQ/QL Level Required	Specialty	Applicable Rating	Additional basic training required (hours and subjects)
2005 to 2020 - Single Trade Personnel
00135	QL3	Aviation Maintenance Technician (AVN)	M	488 Hours of theory required.
				Additional training required on piston engines and basic avionics.
00136	QL3	Avionics Systems Technician (AVS)	E	None
00138	QL3	Aircraft Structures Technician (ACS)	S	None

Where additional training and hours are required, please consult the approved/acceptable basic training website for details on which training organization offers acceptable basic training.

As proof of basic training completed with the Canadian Military, TCCA can accept a graduation certificate, a UER (Unit Employment Record) or a MPRR (Military Personal Record Resume) if the documentation contains the necessary information. The MPPR is currently the primary means the Canadian Military uses to record training activities, such as basic training, type training, etc. TCCA considers the MPRR as an acceptable document as the trade qualification level achieved, such as QL3 or TQ3 would be indicated in the MPRR.

Knowledge (Technical and Regulatory):

Technical knowledge is demonstrated by the successful completion of the TCCA technical examinations applicable to the AME licence rating. Credit for the technical examinations may be granted for applicants who have successfully completed TCCA approved basic training from an ATO applicable to the AME licence rating. Refer to the Basic Training – Approved/Acceptable Training Courses (Currently Active) website for details on the knowledge credit available.

Regulatory knowledge is demonstrated by the successful completion of the TCCA regulatory requirements examination.

Applicants can refer to the Transport Canada Publication (TP) 14038 Study and Reference Guide – Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Examinations to help them prepare for the technical and/or regulatory examination(s).

Experience:

As proof of experience, the applicant submits a personal logbook or equivalent document such as employment letters signed by the person(s) responsible for the maintenance release of the work items recorded (e.g., identifying exact dates, types of work performed, and types of aircraft worked on). Applicants are assessed separately against each type of required experience (total, specialty, and civil) detailed in AWM 566 Appendix A.

Maintenance of military aircraft or parts intended for installation on military aircraft may be counted toward the total and specialty experience requirements, if it is representative of the aircraft, systems or structures applicable to the AME rating sought. Military applicants are required to obtain at least six months of civil aviation maintenance experience performing maintenance on civil registered aircraft.

Applicants claiming military experience in Canada are required to submit:

• a certified true copy of their Personnel Record Resume attesting to the time period during which they have been a member of the Canadian Armed Forces;
• a certified true copy of their UER or MPRR

TCCA considers a letter of employment confirmation from their unit/squadron as an acceptable document that an AME applicant with Canadian military experience may submit to demonstrate meeting the requirement, attesting to the time the applicant is/was employed as a technician including associated responsibilities and duties.

Crediting of experience for actual “hands-on” aircraft maintenance work would commence after the completion of the initial basic training period (e.g., successful completion of a TQ/QL level 3).

Applicants are required to provide documented proof of having obtained the additional civil experience required along with the required maintenance tasks (skill).

Skill (Maintenance Tasks):

Applicants obtain skill by completing a representative selection of eligible maintenance tasks, over the full range of applicable systems and structures. An applicant provides proof of skill by submitting documentation showing the completion of not less than 70 percent of the items listed in Appendix B of AWM Chapter 566 that are applicable to the rating sought and to the aircraft, systems or components for which the experience is claimed. Each task claimed shall have been subject to a maintenance release or equivalent certification. This may be accomplished by:

• Submission of an appropriately completed personal logbook; or
• Submission of an appropriately completed list of maintenance tasks per AWM Chapter 566, Appendix B

Each task is certified by the holder of an AME licence or equivalent person who supervised the work, which includes the date, aircraft type, registration mark, or component serial number as applicable, and a confirmation that the applicant is able to:

1. identify the applicable standard for the task;
2. select the proper tools;
3. perform the work correctly without supervision; and
4. complete the necessary documentation.

Persons who sign for the completion of maintenance tasks are responsible for the accuracy of statements made.
Maintenance tasks performed on military aircraft may be acceptable provided these tasks were performed on an aircraft type (or variant of a type) for which a civilian type certificate has been issued. For aircraft type certified in Canada, the Type Certificate Data Sheet available on the National Aeronautical Product Approval database on the TCCA website can be referenced to aid in this determination. If the civilian equivalent is not type certificated in Canada, but it is type certificated under another ICAO contracting state, the applicant may be required to provide substantiating documentation to support this claim.

Maintenance task requirements are outlined in section 566.03(4)(e) of the AWM.

In the Canadian military, the following persons may be deemed equivalent to an AME and act as signatories to sign the certification of the maintenance tasks in the applicant’s logbook as they are considered trained and having the appropriate knowledge, experience and skill equivalent to an AME:

• A Level-A maintenance releaser*: This authorization is granted to individuals to sign a maintenance release for a given maintenance task or aircraft system.
• A Level-C Weapons Systems releaser: This authorization is given to an individual to certify an entire aircraft, where all maintenance tasks have been previously certified by an appropriate Level A maintenance releaser and the aircraft has been returned to service.

Applicants will also be required to provide documented proof that the signatories certifying their maintenance tasks hold the appropriate level of maintenance privileges such as by providing a confirmation letter from the Employment Training Office from their Squadron/Unit.

* Military applicants who are level-A maintenance releasers cannot sign for their own work.

In addition to the civil experience requirement, no less than 10 % of the required maintenance tasks are required to be completed on civil registered aircraft.

Examinations:

Approval to attempt the technical and regulatory examinations is valid for 12 months after the date on which TCCA approved the application. The passing grade for each examination is 70%. The technical examinations may be attempted once the 26-0638 application has been approved by TCCA. The regulatory examination may be attempted once the 24-0083 application has been approved by TCCA and the applicant has completed all but six months of the required total experience.

An AME licence applicant who fails an examination on the first attempt cannot be re-examined sooner than 30 days following the failed attempt. An AME licence applicant who fails a second or subsequent attempt cannot be re-examined sooner than six months following each failed attempt.

All examinations are invigilated at a Transport Canada Regional Service Centre of the applicant’s choice by appointment only. For accommodation requests due to a disability, condition or disorder (physical or intellectual; permanent, ongoing or episodic), please contact the Transport Canada Regional Service Centre directly prior to booking the examination appointment.

Booking:

Once approved by TCCA, an applicant can book the technical and regulatory examinations using the online booking website.

Charges:

For the charges associated with AME licensing, please refer to Schedule IV of CAR 104. Fee payments can be made online through the Transport Canada Online Payment System or by calling toll free at 1-800-305-2059.

For further information, general inquiries related to the Civil Aviation program or its services, or to report issues or concerns, please contact the Civil Aviation Communications Centre using the contact form.

For further information refer to the AME Licensing website.