IL · part AMRT647KGI BillFSDO GL03
Aviation Institute of Maintenance
CHICAGO, IL
Program
21 mo
Tuition
—
Pass
77%
Reviews
—
§ State · IL
A&P Mechanic Schools in Illinois
↳ 6 FAA-approved Part 147 schools · 1 registered apprenticeship
§ Brief
Aircraft maintenance in Illinois
Illinois anchors the Midwest aviation economy through Chicago O'Hare — one of the busiest airports in the world and a major hub for both United Airlines (headquartered in Chicago) and American Airlines. That concentration drives heavy, steady demand for line and base maintenance across the metro, supplemented by Midway's Southwest operations and a large cargo presence.
Beyond the airlines, Illinois hosts a substantial aerospace supplier and business-aviation sector, plus military aviation maintenance at Scott Air Force Base near St. Louis. Aircraft-mechanic wages in the Chicago area run at or above the national median, reflecting the metro's cost of living and the scale of hub operations.
Illinois' Part 147 schools include programs in the Chicago area and downstate at Lewis University, Southern Illinois University's well-known aviation technologies program, and community colleges near Rockford. Most are VA-approved, and SIU's program is one of the most established university-level A&P paths in the country.
BLS Median Wage
$74,300 / year
↳ Aircraft Mechanics · BLS OEWS May 2024
Top Employers
- United Airlines (O'Hare / Chicago HQ)
- American Airlines (O'Hare)
- Southwest Airlines (Midway)
- Scott AFB (civilian roles)
- AAR Corp (Rockford HQ)
Maintenance Hubs
- Chicago
- Rockford
- Southern Illinois / St. Louis metro
Schools
7
↳ Listed
GI Bill Approved
6
↳ VA verified
Avg Overall Pass Rate
90%
↳ FAA records
Matching Filters
7
↳ Live
IL · part DEMT159DGI BillFSDO CE03
Community College District #522, DBA - Southwester
GRANITE CITY, IL
Program
24 mo
Tuition
—
Pass
88%
Reviews
—
IL · part AN9T014RGI BillFSDO GL03
Lewis University
ROMEOVILLE, IL
Program
24 mo
Tuition
$38k
Pass
96%
Reviews
—
IL · part L9LT087KGI BillFSDO GL19
Lincoln Land Community College
SPRINGFIELD, IL
Program
24 mo
Tuition
$7k
Pass
90%
Reviews
—
IL · part BS9T045RGI BillFSDO GL03
Rock Valley College Aviation Tech
ROCKFORD, IL
Program
24 mo
Tuition
$10k
Pass
95%
Reviews
—
IL · part BNZT547CGI BillFSDO GL19
Southern Illinois Univ Avn Tech
MURPHYSBORO, IL
Program
24 mo
Tuition
$13k
Pass
96%
Reviews
—
Showing 1–6 of 7
§ Locator · IL7 markers
Schools across Illinois.
↳ Click a marker for details. Color-coded by school type.
Becoming an A&P mechanic in Illinois
Illinois has 6 FAA-certified Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician Schools and 1 DOL-registered aviation maintenance apprenticeship. Part 147 programs prepare students to earn their Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic certificate through required curriculum and hands-on training hours, after which students must pass the FAA written, oral, and practical exams to become certificated. Registered apprenticeships offer a paid, employer-sponsored path — you earn wages while working toward the same A&P certificate. 6 of the 7 programs in Illinois are approved for veterans using Post-9/11 GI Bill or other VA education benefits.