The FAA has formally recognized the Aircraft Electronic Association’s Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician (CAET) credential as an equivalent to formal training for a repairman certificate.
First introduced to the industry in 2025, the CAET is a knowledge-based certification for entry-level technicians. It requires passing a written exam that must be taken online through the Unmanned Safety Institute (USI). The credential is the foundation for a series of stackable certifications for avionics technicians, according to AEA officials.
The Federal Aviation Regulations have specific requirements for eligibility for a repairman certificate, including age, qualifications specific to the job assignment, language, and being recommended by the employer.
The regulations also list specific requirements for qualifications. To be qualified for recommendation, the applicant must have either at least 18 months of practical experience applicable to the maintenance duties of the specific job or completed formal training specifically designed to qualify the applicant for the job on which the applicant is employed. This is where the AEA’s CAET credential comes into focus.
The AEA petitioned the FAA to recognize the CAET certification as an acceptable means of compliance to the formal education option as listed in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) section 65.101(a)(5)(ii).
As a result of the petition, the CAET certification is now considered equivalent to completing formal training that is acceptable to the FAA as required by the regulations.
“The CAET certification program has been thoroughly reviewed and found to effectively demonstrate the knowledge base of technicians while assessing the competencies of each qualified individual,” wrote Jackie L. Black, manager of the FAA’s Aircraft Maintenance Division, in a letter to AEA dated March 23, 2026.
“This recognition culminates the efforts of an ASTM task group convened in 2024 to modernize the legacy standard to reflect the evolving technical complexity of avionics systems and the operational needs of Part 145 repair stations,” said Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs.
For more information: AEA.net/CAET
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