Five Reasons Why You Should Choose SUU’s Aircraft Maintenance Program
Posted: November 24, 2025 | Author: Kierstin Holloway | Read Time: 2 minutes
Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMT) are aviation mechanics who maintain and repair aircraft. These technicians are also referred to as A&Ps because of the airframe and powerplant license required and issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Southern Utah University is one of the few schools in Utah that offers the necessary training to qualify students for the FFA’s A&P exams. SUU’s Aircraft Maintenance Technician Program has 50 spots open per semester and takes roughly 18 months to complete. Graduates of the program receive their associate's degree in addition to FFA exam eligibility.
Five Reasons Why You Should Consider SUU’s AMT Program:
- High-Demand Career: Because A&P mechanics work in such a specific and highly regulated field, there is often a high demand for licensed technicians. In recent years, this demand has only increased due to a wave of retirements in the field. This high demand not only creates job opportunities but also job stability for new mechanics entering the industry
- Good Pay: With the demand for licensed technicians only increasing, A&Ps can expect to find well-paying positions, afford to change jobs for better pay, and be pickier than other aviation careers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly/yearly pay of an AMT in the United States of America is $38.05 per hour, and $79,140 per year.
- Job Versatility: A career in aviation maintenance can also offer a lot of job versatility in both job title and in the day-to-day. This versatility comes not only in different career options - such as working in the airlines, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) companies, or general aviation - but also in the day-to-day work within certain positions. Because of the nature of the aviation industry, there are always new problems to be solved and challenges to be met, so no two work days are the same. This variation in daily tasks can keep airframe and powerplant work engaging and dynamic.
- Desk-Free Job with Minimal Heavy Labor: A&P mechanics are usually only required to be at a desk or computer for very minimal amounts of time. Usually, only to sign an aircraft logbook or order parts. Otherwise, aviation mechanics get to enjoy a desk-free job that has them frequently on their feet and moving without requiring heavy labor.
- Degree Benefits through SUU: SUU’s AMT program is particularly desirable because it is designed to help you receive your associate's degree alongside your AMT certification. While not necessary in the AMT field, having an associate's degree gives aircraft technicians a competitive edge when applying for positions. Another benefit of this simultaneous setup at SUU is that it enables students to easily pursue further aviation education, such as a Bachelor of Aviation Management or a Master of Business Administration with an Aviation Administration and Leadership emphasis. Both are offered at SUU.
For more information about SUU’s Aircraft Maintenance Technician Program, visit the program’s webpage.
Tags: College of Engineering and Computational Sciences Career and Professional Development Aviation
