How Much Does a Part-66 Licence Cost?

Working out the real Part-66 licence cost is harder than it should be, because the total depends on where you train, who runs your exams and who pays. This guide sets out every fee you are likely to meet: UK CAA exam and licence charges, how EASA fees work, training and type rating costs, the hidden costs most people forget, and example budgets for common routes. Fees are quoted as of October 2026 with their sources; check the current figures before you pay.

Part-66 Prep is an independent study aid, not an authority or a training organisation. UK fees are set by the CAA in its Scheme of Charges and published on the CAA engineer licensing pages. EU fees are set by each member state authority under Part-66 in Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014. For the whole route into the job, see how to become an aircraft engineer.

UK CAA fees for a Part-66 licence

These are the main CAA charges for UK Part-66, from the CAA Scheme of Charges (ORS5 No 446, in force from 1 April 2026) and the CAA's aircraft maintenance licence examinations page, checked in October 2026.

Item	CAA fee
AML module examination (per attempt)	£60
Grant of an aircraft maintenance licence (per category)	£455
Licence renewal (every 5 years)	£455
Adding a type rating	£183
Removing a limitation	£74
Replacement licence	£63
Exam credit extension (10-year validity)	£183
Review of an exam result	£177 in the Scheme of Charges; £169 on the CAA exam page

The two figures for a result review are not a typo: the Scheme of Charges lists £177 while the CAA's exam page states £169, refundable if an error is found, and says the request must be made within 14 calendar days of the exam. Check which applies when you apply. The exam credit extension applies only to basic exams from a UK Part-147 organisation or the CAA, and only in extenuating circumstances; type training certificates cannot be extended.

Key fact: The CAA exam fee is per examination. If you fail, the resit costs another £60, and you must wait 90 days (or 30 days after tailored Part-147 retraining) before you can take it.

Booking CAA exams

CAA exams are booked through the CAA Customer Portal's e-exam service and taken at approved venues, which change from time to time. The CAA module exam booking guide explains the process. Check the exam timetable for how each module and essay part is listed and charged before you book.

EASA fees: set country by country

There is no single EASA price. Under EASA rules, licences are issued by the competent authority of each member state, and each sets its own licence and exam charges. Module exams in the EU are run mostly by Part-147 approved training organisations, each with its own price list, and in some states also by the authority.

What this means for your budget:

• Look up the fee schedule of the authority that will issue your licence. Most publish one.
• Ask Part-147 organisations whether their exam fee includes the essay part of Module 7, and what resits cost.
• If you are paying in a different currency from the provider, allow for conversion.

We do not quote EU figures here because they vary and change; any number we gave would be out of date for most readers.

Training costs

Part-147 basic training

A full Part-147 approved basic course is the biggest single cost of the licence for anyone who pays for it themselves. Prices vary widely by country, school, category and format (full time, part time, online with exams at a centre), and schools do not publish them in a standard way. Many students do not pay directly: apprenticeships with airlines and maintenance organisations combine the course with paid work, and employers fund courses for staff.

Courses also cut the experience requirement. For B1.1, B1.3 and B2 a Part-147 basic course reduces the minimum experience from five years to two; for B1.2, B1.4, A and B3 from three years to one. For some people that time saving is worth more than the course fee.

Single-module courses

Between a full course and pure self-study, some Part-147 organisations sell online courses for individual modules, often bundled with the first exam attempt. As one example, a UK Part-147 organisation advertised module courses at £125 to £225 each including the first exam, with resits and exams for non-registered candidates at £65 including VAT (October 2026). Prices differ between providers, so compare what is included.

Self-study materials

Self-study candidates pay for books or online notes and practice questions. Typical options include printed module textbooks, online question banks priced per module or per month, and free resources such as the FAA's public-domain Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbooks (useful background, though written for the US system). Our own Pro plan costs £6.99 per week, £11.99 per month or £22.99 for three months, billed in GBP, and covers every module and category with ten exam-style papers per module, drills and all study notes. Everything on the free tier, including a full timed paper 1 for every module, costs nothing.

Type rating costs

To certify group 1 aircraft you need a type rating for each type. The cost has two parts:

1. The type training course, theory and practical, with on-the-job training for your first type in the category. This is a significant cost that varies with the aircraft and the provider, and employers normally pay it for their own engineers. Self-funded type courses are possible but uncommon.
2. The licence endorsement: in the UK, £183 to add a type rating (October 2026).

Removing a limitation from a licence costs £74 in the UK. The Part-66 type ratings guide explains the training requirements.

The hidden costs

Budgets usually miss these:

• Resits. Each failed module costs another exam fee and at least 90 days.
• Travel and time off. CAA venues and Part-147 exam centres are not everywhere; you may need travel, parking and a day's leave per exam.
• Essay practice. Module 7 (and UK Modules 9 and 10) essays are where unprepared candidates fail; time spent practising is cheaper than a resit.
• Exam credit expiry. Module passes count for 10 years. Letting one lapse means paying for it again.
• Renewal. A licence is valid for five years, then renewed (£455 in the UK); see the licence renewal guide.
• Replacement documents. £63 in the UK if you lose your licence.

Exam tip: The cheapest exam is the one you pass first time. Book only when you score well above 75% on several full timed papers, not when you are borderline.

Example budgets

These examples are illustrations, not quotes. They use UK CAA fees as of October 2026, assume every module is passed first time, and leave out training, books, travel and type courses.

B1.1 by self-study, CAA exams

Item	Cost
13 module exams at £60	£780
AML application	£455
Fees total	£1,235

With two resits the exam total rises to £900 and the overall figure to £1,355. Check the CAA timetable for whether Module 7 essays and the UK Module 9 and 10 essays are booked as separate exam parts, as that changes the count.

B2 by self-study, CAA exams

Item	Cost
12 module exams at £60	£720
AML application	£455
Fees total	£1,175

Adding a second category later

A B1.1 holder adding B2 typically sits the modules they have not passed at B2 level, such as Modules 13 and 14 and the longer B2 papers for Modules 4 and 5, then pays for the licence change. The authority decides exactly which module passes carry across. Ask the CAA which fee applies to adding a category to an existing licence.

Part-147 route

The course fee dominates, and it often includes the module exams. Ask each school for a written quote that states what is included: exams, resits, essays, materials and any practical training. If an employer is paying, ask what you would owe if you left early.

When you pay what: a cost timeline

Costs are spread over years, which makes them easier to manage but also easier to underestimate. For a UK self-study candidate, the pattern usually looks like this:

1. While studying (years 1 to 5): one exam fee per module as you book it, £60 at a CAA venue, plus study materials and travel. Spread over several years, this is a modest monthly amount.
2. At application: £455 for the grant of the licence, paid with the application once all modules and experience are complete.
3. After the licence is issued: type training, usually funded by the employer, and £183 per type rating endorsement. Limitation removal (£74) if your first licence was restricted.
4. Every five years: £455 to renew the licence document. Renewal is administrative; there are no new exams, but you must keep your privileges valid through recent experience.
5. Occasionally: £63 for a replacement licence, and £183 for an exam credit extension in extenuating circumstances.

Setting aside a small amount each month for the next exam keeps the cost from arriving all at once and removes the temptation to book before you are ready just because you have the money that month.

Time versus money: comparing the routes

The cheapest route in fees is rarely the cheapest overall. A useful way to compare is to look at what each route costs you and how long it takes to reach the licence.

Route	Out-of-pocket cost	Minimum experience (B1.1, B2)	Main trade-off
Apprenticeship with a Part-147 course	Low; employer pays	2 years	Competitive entry; often a commitment to stay
Self-funded full-time Part-147 course	Highest	2 years	Large upfront cost, and no wage during the course
Single-module courses while working	Moderate	5 years without an approved basic course	Pay per module; flexible
Self-study with CAA or Part-147 exams	Lowest	5 years	Most discipline needed; longest experience period

For a working mechanic, self-study often costs least because the five years of experience happen anyway while you earn. For someone outside the industry, an apprenticeship is the most affordable way in, and a self-funded course buys speed at a high price. Whatever the route, every module still has to be passed at 75%, and every resit adds cost and delay.

Ways to keep costs down

• Pass first time. Practise at the real paper size and timing, and book only when your scores are well above the line.
• Plan modules in a sensible order. Modules 1 to 3 make later modules easier; passing them early reduces resits later.
• Group exams by venue. If you travel to a CAA venue or exam centre, sit two modules on the same trip where the timetable allows.
• Use free material first. Free timed papers, quick practice and printable sheets show you which modules need paid help and which do not.
• Watch the 10-year window. A module pass that expires before you apply must be paid for again.
• Ask about funding before you pay. Employers, and in some countries public training schemes, may cover exams or courses.
• Keep receipts and invoices for anything you might reclaim.

A month of a study plan costs far less than a single resit fee, so spend on preparation, not on retakes.

Who pays: employer sponsorship

Many engineers pay little or nothing themselves. Employers commonly:

• fund apprenticeships, including the Part-147 course
• pay exam fees for staff working towards a licence, sometimes after a pass
• arrange and pay for type courses
• give study leave before exams

Sponsorship often comes with a repayment agreement if you leave within a set period, so read it before you sign. Some engineers also claim training costs as a business expense or reclaim them from employers with an invoice; keep receipts.

Your study plan

1. Decide your route and authority, then list the fees that apply using the tables above and the application guide.
2. Ask your employer what it will fund before paying anything yourself.
3. Take the free B1.1 diagnostic (or your category's) to see which modules need most work.
4. Use the free paper 1 for each module to check readiness before you pay an exam fee, and book each module only when you are consistently above 85%.
5. If you study alone, the Part-66 self-study guide shows how to plan modules within the 10-year window and keep costs down. The B1 licence guide lists the modules you will pay for.