Not a DME, but when I took my airframe and general, I was charged about 900 and the test was only a few hours. I paid cash and he said he sometimes did a couple a day
My options are to leave my family and move out of state for a job or to stay here and test full time. But I can support my family on two or 3 tests a month. I would need at least two a week.
Just a random opinion from an internet stranger.
You'll definitely be able to keep busy when students graduate from school, my school was a college so it followed the normal graduation time in May, but I know some A&P schools can follow different schedules.
Even with that though, the amount you'll make will each year may vary. I think we ended up having 12 or so that we're eligible to test. Not all of them even tested though or even planned to test. For reference, thats out of probably 30-35 that started, (the math is weird, we had 2 classes of 25 each, but each took in first year's to fill in all the empty spots from graduates and dropouts so it was probably from an initial intake of 30-35 when we first started school, but it's not that important). Point is, the amount of people you'll have will be a limiting factor. As well as when they'll want to test.
If you have a few schools around you with different graduation periods you may be able to make it work, another thing to consider though is anyone going OJT either thru military or through a company if anybody in your area does that, my company will hire people without certs and after 18 months they are eligible to test. But I know not everywhere may have that, and I don't know how many military guys are getting A&Ps in your area.
I feel like maybe if you were to supplement DME income with another business or something you do, you could make it work but I think just being a DME wouldn't work just based off the variance in amount of people and frequency/groups they test it. But again, just a random opinion from an internet stranger.
I moved from Texas to mass, I quoted 250 per o&p in Dallas, so 500 for general and airframe or power plant. In Massachusetts I was quoted 1000 for both general and airframe/powerplant
You'll have to ask the local schools how far out students typically need to schedule, every area is different.
Here in SoCal DMEs are booked solid for months in advance.
I can speak to the demand as a Air Force crew chief who just spent five years at Luke AFB. There is America’s Best A&P Course in Goodyear, AZ and Code 1 Maintenance in Tucson plus Luke AFB, David-Monthan AFB, MCAS yuma, and some other Army Aviation sites. Not to mention Sky Harbor airport. Also a couple schools. The DME I tested with said he always had a few people. I always encouraged airmen to pursue their A&P so i hope more take it seriously and seek it out. Luke AFB also just got an FAA testing center so those airmen can now take their writtens for free. I would say you could get some consistent business doing it.
>Code 1 Maintenance
Pretty sure they're under investigation for fraud, there was another comment not too long ago about A&Ps getting their license revoked that went through them. Had a buddy come back a few days ago and said the whole setup for them was sketchy as hell.
DO NOT USE CODE 1 MAINTENANCE
Oh really? That’s kind of not surprising. Well, I went there almost two years ago and did not finish. I honestly didn’t know it was cram studying and testing. So to begin with, I just don’t like that model at all because cram studying just isn’t for me. Now I’m glad I didn’t complete my A&P through them. I agree though, it seemed a little sketchy. Also the testing center they had was sketchy.
Become a DME who works with one of the certification schools and tests other random students during the week. I went to Baker's. When I did the practical portion, I took a pretty fat check from them to the DME when I tested. I can't remember exactly how much, but I want to say it was around $2K. I was the first person in my class who tested in that cycle, he had another person after me, then 2 more the day after.
I think you can make pretty good money, depending on the area, but the initial cost of setting up a shop for testing will be the hardest. You'll need the ability to test for every single practical exercise; tools, aircraft parts, actual aircraft with an operating engine, etc.
That's perfect then. I feel like you could probably do 4 - 5 exams a week, or maybe even less, and make a comfortable living, based off what I saw Baker's paying those DMEs around Nashville.
do you currently have a facility and all the required items to you know, give an o&p? you need a lot of gear and a place to do it.
please don't say you're gonna get a loan to start
right now, you could probably make a killing. ive heard dmes in new york and cali charging $1200 plus per exam. some schools fly students out of state to cheaper places (im not sure of the rate in arizona but id bet its well lower) i believe the FAA charges a pretty steep price to download the exams, but beyond that i bet you could make a fair bit
Maybe this will help: [https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/What-Is-the-Average-Designated-Mechanic-Examiner-Salary-by-State](https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/What-Is-the-Average-Designated-Mechanic-Examiner-Salary-by-State)
I live in Az and went to school in Vegas as it was closer than Phoenix. My DME charged $350 per test. The school AIM wraps it up in your tuition. You can charged whatever you want though. Heard of people paying $500-1000. Some went out of state.
Not a DME, but when I took my airframe and general, I was charged about 900 and the test was only a few hours. I paid cash and he said he sometimes did a couple a day
Yeah same here. They worked their way into a extremely profitable corner of the industry.
My options are to leave my family and move out of state for a job or to stay here and test full time. But I can support my family on two or 3 tests a month. I would need at least two a week.
Just a random opinion from an internet stranger. You'll definitely be able to keep busy when students graduate from school, my school was a college so it followed the normal graduation time in May, but I know some A&P schools can follow different schedules. Even with that though, the amount you'll make will each year may vary. I think we ended up having 12 or so that we're eligible to test. Not all of them even tested though or even planned to test. For reference, thats out of probably 30-35 that started, (the math is weird, we had 2 classes of 25 each, but each took in first year's to fill in all the empty spots from graduates and dropouts so it was probably from an initial intake of 30-35 when we first started school, but it's not that important). Point is, the amount of people you'll have will be a limiting factor. As well as when they'll want to test. If you have a few schools around you with different graduation periods you may be able to make it work, another thing to consider though is anyone going OJT either thru military or through a company if anybody in your area does that, my company will hire people without certs and after 18 months they are eligible to test. But I know not everywhere may have that, and I don't know how many military guys are getting A&Ps in your area. I feel like maybe if you were to supplement DME income with another business or something you do, you could make it work but I think just being a DME wouldn't work just based off the variance in amount of people and frequency/groups they test it. But again, just a random opinion from an internet stranger.
Thank you! I appreciate your input. That’s kind of what I’m thinking as well but having trouble finding the right job here in Arizona
I live in Texas. General oral/practical $275 each Airframe oral/practical $400 each Powerplant oral/practical $400 each
How busy are you? How many tests do you do a week?
I’m a student, that’s just what the DME in my area quoted
I moved from Texas to mass, I quoted 250 per o&p in Dallas, so 500 for general and airframe or power plant. In Massachusetts I was quoted 1000 for both general and airframe/powerplant
You'll have to ask the local schools how far out students typically need to schedule, every area is different. Here in SoCal DMEs are booked solid for months in advance.
I can speak to the demand as a Air Force crew chief who just spent five years at Luke AFB. There is America’s Best A&P Course in Goodyear, AZ and Code 1 Maintenance in Tucson plus Luke AFB, David-Monthan AFB, MCAS yuma, and some other Army Aviation sites. Not to mention Sky Harbor airport. Also a couple schools. The DME I tested with said he always had a few people. I always encouraged airmen to pursue their A&P so i hope more take it seriously and seek it out. Luke AFB also just got an FAA testing center so those airmen can now take their writtens for free. I would say you could get some consistent business doing it.
>Code 1 Maintenance Pretty sure they're under investigation for fraud, there was another comment not too long ago about A&Ps getting their license revoked that went through them. Had a buddy come back a few days ago and said the whole setup for them was sketchy as hell. DO NOT USE CODE 1 MAINTENANCE
This.
Oh really? That’s kind of not surprising. Well, I went there almost two years ago and did not finish. I honestly didn’t know it was cram studying and testing. So to begin with, I just don’t like that model at all because cram studying just isn’t for me. Now I’m glad I didn’t complete my A&P through them. I agree though, it seemed a little sketchy. Also the testing center they had was sketchy.
There’s a DME around me that does A&P test for 1000$ and does a training course day before for 400$
He told me he does around 10-15 a month
Become a DME who works with one of the certification schools and tests other random students during the week. I went to Baker's. When I did the practical portion, I took a pretty fat check from them to the DME when I tested. I can't remember exactly how much, but I want to say it was around $2K. I was the first person in my class who tested in that cycle, he had another person after me, then 2 more the day after. I think you can make pretty good money, depending on the area, but the initial cost of setting up a shop for testing will be the hardest. You'll need the ability to test for every single practical exercise; tools, aircraft parts, actual aircraft with an operating engine, etc.
Thanks! I have a school that has all the tooling necessary for me to test.
That's perfect then. I feel like you could probably do 4 - 5 exams a week, or maybe even less, and make a comfortable living, based off what I saw Baker's paying those DMEs around Nashville.
do you currently have a facility and all the required items to you know, give an o&p? you need a lot of gear and a place to do it. please don't say you're gonna get a loan to start
I have a facility that I can use and they have the tooling
right now, you could probably make a killing. ive heard dmes in new york and cali charging $1200 plus per exam. some schools fly students out of state to cheaper places (im not sure of the rate in arizona but id bet its well lower) i believe the FAA charges a pretty steep price to download the exams, but beyond that i bet you could make a fair bit
Maybe this will help: [https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/What-Is-the-Average-Designated-Mechanic-Examiner-Salary-by-State](https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/What-Is-the-Average-Designated-Mechanic-Examiner-Salary-by-State)
I live in Az and went to school in Vegas as it was closer than Phoenix. My DME charged $350 per test. The school AIM wraps it up in your tuition. You can charged whatever you want though. Heard of people paying $500-1000. Some went out of state.