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Aviation maintenance instructor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an aviation maintenance instructor. Aviation maintenance instructors usually study aviation, business, or general studies. 43% of aviation maintenance instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 39% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 281 real aviation maintenance instructor resumes to see exactly what aviation maintenance instructor education sections show.

The most common colleges for aviation maintenance instructors are the Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

There are also many online aviation maintenance instructor courses to help get the education required to be an aviation maintenance instructor.

What education do you need to become an aviation maintenance instructor?

What degree do you need to be an aviation maintenance instructor?

The most common degree for aviation maintenance instructors is bachelor's degree, with 43% of aviation maintenance instructors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 39% and associate degree degree at 9%.
  • Bachelor's, 43%
  • Associate, 39%
  • Master's, 9%
  • Diploma, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become an aviation maintenance instructor?

You should major in aviation to become an aviation maintenance instructor. 31% of aviation maintenance instructors major in aviation. Other common majors for an aviation maintenance instructor include business and general studies.

Most common colleges for aviation maintenance instructors

Aviation maintenance instructors often get their degrees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Excelsior College, and Troy University. Here are the most common colleges for aviation maintenance instructors in the US based on their resumes.
Aviation maintenance instructor common collegePercentages
Southern Illinois University Carbondale11.90%
Excelsior College7.14%
Troy University7.14%
American University7.14%
Delta State University4.76%

Best majors for aviation maintenance instructors

Best colleges for aviation maintenance instructors

The best colleges for aviation maintenance instructors are California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Boston University, and University of Pennsylvania.

An aviation maintenance instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for aviation maintenance instructors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become aviation maintenance instructors.

1. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Enrollment

33,495

2. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,816

Enrollment

21,047

3. Baker College

Owosso, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$9,800

Enrollment

8,319

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

5. Vermont Technical College

Randolph, VT • Private

In-state tuition

$15,108

Enrollment

1,350

6. Utah State University

Logan, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$8,138

Enrollment

21,658

7. Lewis University

Romeoville, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$32,450

Enrollment

4,217

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

9. North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$9,101

Enrollment

23,708

10. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Enrollment

24,163

20 best online courses for aviation maintenance instructors

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2. Garnett Cross Training in the Maintenance of Oil Hydraulics

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This course will prepare you to work with hydraulic systems, plan maintenance and perform troubleshooting...

3. Maintenance Planning Basics

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4.4
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Understanding maintenance planning basics of successful maintenance department...

4. Maintenance Management Basics

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4.4
(632)

Crucial knowledge and practices for successful maintenance department...

5. Safety Management System for Civil Aviation (SMS)

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4.3
(408)

Based on ICAO Annex 19, doc. 9859 requirements. Also fits the IATA and EASA requirements on SMS training...

6. SAP Plant Maintenance(PM) Module Online Classes

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Functional Module SAP Plant Maintenance(PM) with Configuration...

7. Reliability and Maintenance Engineering - FMEA

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Failure Mode and Effects Analysis - A mechanical engineering approach to risk management of plant and machinery...

8. Real World SAP - Plant Maintenance Orders and Notifications

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Learn SAP PM / EAM with a focus on real world scenarios...

9. Train the Trainer Virtual: Virtual Training Master Class

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10. Electronic & Electrical Devices Maintenance & Troubleshooting

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17. The Complete Train the Trainer Bootcamp (Part 1): All Levels

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The Complete Classroom Training Mastery Certification Program That Doubles Learning Retention In Half The Time...

18. Refresher course of Safety Management Systems

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A quick overview for aviation managers and safety professionals about basic concepts and philosophy of SMS...

19. Airline Operations: Flight Planning and Flight Dispatch

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4.3
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Airline Operations: Master the essentials of aviation - aircraft operational control and dispatch...

20. Part 1 FAA Private Pilot Ground School (Part 61)

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Introduction to flight training, Aircraft Structure, Systems and Flight Instruments...

Top 10 most affordable universities for aviation maintenance instructors

The most affordable schools for aviation maintenance instructors are California State University - Los Angeles, university of florida, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for aviation maintenance instructors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for aviation maintenance instructors.

1. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

4. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

5. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

6. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

7. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

8. Minot State University

Minot, ND • Private

In-state tuition

$7,064

Cost of attendance

15,576

9. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

10. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for aviation maintenance instructors

The hardest universities for aviation maintenance instructors to get into are California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Boston University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for aviation maintenance instructors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for aviation maintenance instructors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA • Private

Admissions rate

30%

SAT average

1,339

2. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

4. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

26%

SAT average

1,427

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,321

7. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,434

9. Brandeis University

Waltham, MA • Private

Admissions rate

31%

SAT average

1,398

10. University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL • Private

Admissions rate

32%

SAT average

1,365

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for aviation maintenance instructors

The easiest schools for aviation maintenance instructors to get into are Gwynedd Mercy University, holy names university, and thomas more university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an aviation maintenance instructor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for aviation maintenance instructors.

1. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

2. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

3. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

4. Centenary University

Hackettstown, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

67%

SAT average

987

5. Grand View University

Des Moines, IA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,060

6. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

7. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

8. Lewis-Clark State College

Lewiston, ID • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,009

9. Holy Family University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,017

10. Averett University

Danville, VA • Private

Admissions rate

61%

SAT average

953

Average aviation maintenance instructor salary by education level

According to our data, aviation maintenance instructors with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $61,801 annually. Aviation maintenance instructors with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $50,208.
Aviation maintenance instructor education levelAviation maintenance instructor salary
Master's Degree$50,208
Doctorate Degree$61,801

Aviation maintenance instructor education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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