An A&P is not worth having because of all the "sign here and show up" programs. Dont waste your time and money unless it's a sure thing for you. If you do fnd a living wage, you certainly won't like the working conditions or your coworkers. It is extremely blue collar. This is coming from a former airline mechanic that found a better job in another industry.

What is a "sign here and show up" program?

I've been using my mechanic certificate for much of my professional life, and was turning wrenches years before I had it. It's been a pre-requisite at some flying jobs, and got me into my first jet job.

The notion that one won't like the job or co-workers is ridiculous, especially given that you know nothing about the job. That's wild, pointless speculation. Perhaps at your airline. For how many companies and how many parts of the industry did you work as an aircraft mechanic?

I've enjoyed the job and co-workers in repair stations, general aviation facilities, corporate departments, drop zones, ag operations, government operations, etc. Perhaps I need to try a few more before I find myself where ever you worked that was so poor.

"Extremely blue collar?"

I was referring to most 147 schools, at least the ones that exist because of government welfare programs, which is almost all of them.
They have no academic standards so the dregs of society end up there, I went to one. I started in GA, then on to 135, 145. and 121 shops over a 20 year period. Looking back, it was all for nothing. The cert and experience simply have no monetary value.

Just wondering what you guys think, I'm 21 I have commercial and multi and have 30 months of apprenticeship time under many A&Ps that work at the shop. Do you its worth my time to go a head and get my A&P, my goal is to be a pilot, but working with my hands is just easy fot me. I have heard many different things that it will or will not help me down the road. I've also heard that corporate departments love sending A&p/ pilots over seas because if the tire or something blows than the American A&P can sign the work off. Also just got a part 135 gig, so going to school at Bakers in TN won't be a possibly for a little while, so if I go to the FAA right now, will the paper work they give me ever expire?

I still have no idea what you're talking about. Welfare programs? I've yet to work with a mechanic who become one because of a "welfare program." I've never met one, never talked to one, and frankly, never heard of one. Now granted, I didn't work at a regional for a little while and quit, but after a lifetime of flying and maintenance, I've never seen such a case.

In fact, I've never seen a Part 147 program that exists because of a "welfare" program. Many are associated with colleges; in fact almost all are part of colleges, and most include a two year (or greater) degree. Perhaps you got your certification from a box of cracker jacks.

No academic standards? A college which grants degrees in aviation maintenance technology, either two year or four year, holds no academic standards, despite accreditation? Really?

You sound very much like skyhigh. You've got a failed career in your past from which you walked away, and you're here to preach about it all for nothing (so you say).

Your mechanic certificate has no monetary value, you say? Perhaps not, if you attempt to sell it on eBay. As a professional certification, it certainly does. Even in flying jobs, my mechanic certification has typically increased by salary by approximately 30% or more, and in many cases, has been a deciding factor in my getting hired.

I didn't need a mechanic certificate in a repair station, but my salary tripled with one, compared to co-workers who did not hold a mechanic certificate.

When I was furloughed, many of my fellow crew members found now work until the recall, and some were in dire straights. During the last big economic downturn, it was a bad time to be out of work. I was three weeks from my last flight until I was on a shop floor turning wrenches, and from there was shortly flying packages under 135, a check airman, and instructing pilots for a government contract air attack program. I stayed busy, and stayed employed.

During that time, a steady stream of airline and other pilots drifted through, looking for work. As time pressed on, they became more desperate. Pilots, especially furloughed airline pilots, were a dime a dozen; one's with mechanic certification, we could use.

How much mechanic certification helps you in your career is up to you, not the certificate.

Corporate departments that fly large enough aircraft to make overseas trips don't rely on a pilot/mechanic; they use repair facilities and spend the money necessary to get it done right. Your signature may be used in some cases, but simply holding the certificate doesn't entitle you to sign something off. You must supervise the work, must verify it's done correctly in accordance with approved data, and accordingly, you must have access to and use current approved data, yourself. That's not easy to do when you're piloting an aircraft on a trip.

I don't now about Bakers. I studied on my own, went to a designated examiner and took the practical tests. I spent a year prepping on the written, did those on my own, too. I suppose the degree of effort you're willing to expend will be proportionate to how much you want the certification.

Let's be clear on mechanic certification; it's not simply some extra fluff to throw on your resume. It's a real job, a real career track, and a livelihood for many working maintenance professionals. If it's something that you wish to pursue, take it seriously.

My failure began the day I started A&P school and ended the day I left the hangar 20 years later. Life has been better ever since. Playing with airplanes is okay for an expensive hobby. Trying to make a living as a mechanic is worse than being a regional pilot, forever! Don't squander your life away.

We have another poster on this site who claims a 20 year failed career, and talks constantly about the misery of the industry and the futility of trying to be a pilot. Apparently your career mirrors his, except that you were a mechanic.

20 years of failure. At least you're persistent.

I did some flight instructing as well, maintenance paid better, which isn't saying much. Aviation is a religion, once you lose faith it really sucks.

Aviation is whatever you make it out to be.

It's a job, and it pays well.

If you want it to suck, it sucks, but that's a reflection of you, not the industry. If you wan too succeed, you will; it's a product of your determination and effort.

In your case, it appears that you disliked your jobs and you disliked your co-workers where ever you went, and your assessment of 20 years is that "it sucked." Your attitude is negative, and chances are high that your work history is a reflection of that. Doubtless you have at least a surface familiarity with the concept that "attitude determines altitude." By your own assessment, you didn't climb very far or very high in a 20 year period. That's not coincidental to your attitude.

You don't seem to understand that relationship.

When you hate everything you do, everywhere you work, and everyone with whom you work, do you think the job, the industry, the people, and the companies all have a problem...or you?

I'm okay with that. I am not the only one that had a bad time here. I was an enthusiast, once that waned there was no reason to stay. I traded the plane for a train and guess what. Trains provide much better employment and retirement opportunities than all but the very best aviation jobs. I'm just disappointed that I made such a big mistake and having to spend the rest of my career catching up financially. Ive kept up with some former coworkers, none are doing any better than they were fifteen years ago.