Program Overview
Cuesta College fits students who want a low-cost two-year path to aircraft mechanic certification with direct pathways into ACI Jet and Vandenberg Space Force Base placement.
Cuesta College's Aviation Maintenance Technology program runs two years in a cohort format, alternating day and night schedules by year, at a facility on the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. The graduation certificate serves as the FAA eligibility document to sit the Airframe and Powerplant exams, known as the A&P, standing in for standard paperwork. Partnerships with ACI Jet and Vandenberg Space Force Base connect graduates to aerospace careers.
California has 20 Part 147 certificated schools, and total tuition here runs $2,208 for the full two-year program, low next to many public programs. The next certificated school is 90.7 miles away, a distance worth weighing for anyone who cannot relocate for training.
FAA AV-Info and School Pages
Program Facts
| Program Name | Aviation Maintenance Technology (AVMT) |
|---|---|
| Ratings | Airframe and Powerplant |
| Program Length | Two-year program delivered in cohort style, new cohorts starting each Spring semester (48 units) |
| Schedule | Full-time cohort: Even years - Night Cohort Monday-Friday 4:30pm-approx. 10pm; Odd years - Day Cohort Monday-Friday 8am-approx. 3pm |
| Published Cost | $2,208Total tuition ($46/unit x 48 units, $552 per semester)Does not include books & supplies (est. $500) or FAA testing fees ($2,400-$3,125)Where the school states it (cuesta.edu) |
| Start Dates | Each Spring semester |
| FAA Certificate Number | SLOT661K |
| Address | 835 Airport Drive, Suite A, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 |
| Phone | (805) 546-3100 |
FAA AV-Info (certificate, address) and the school's own pages (program details), retrieved September 22, 2026
Official School Pages
- Official program page cuesta.edu
- Official Cuesta College website cuesta.edu
In the School's Words
Program Highlights
- FAA-recognized Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technician School; graduation certificate serves as official FAA eligibility document to sit for A&P exams, replacing FAA Form 8610-2
- Training facility located at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, including hands-on work
- Partnership with ACI Jet at the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport for commercial and business aviation career pathways
- Regional partnership with Vandenberg Space Force Base / Space Vandenberg initiative for aerospace career placement
- Tools currently provided to students (not required to purchase own)
As stated on cuesta.edu
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location and Aircraft Mechanic Pay Near San Luis Obispo
Cuesta College is at 835 Airport Drive, Suite A, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Compare it with every aviation maintenance school in California.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
Annual median wage for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011), BLS OEWS May 2025. See the California aircraft mechanic salary data.
By Straight-Line Distance
Nearby Aviation Maintenance Schools
The closest FAA-approved schools to Cuesta College, by straight-line distance.
California Aeronautical University
Bakersfield, CA · 91 mi from San Luis Obispo
Reedley College
Reedley, CA · 115 mi from San Luis Obispo
San Joaquin Valley College
Fresno, CA · 118 mi from San Luis Obispo
Gavilan College
San Martin, CA · 139 mi from San Luis Obispo
North Valley Occupational Center
Van Nuys, CA · 141 mi from San Luis Obispo
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cuesta College FAA Part 147 Certificated?
How Long Is Cuesta College's Aviation Maintenance Program?
What Does the Program Cost?
Where Does Training Take Place?
Sources
- FAA AV-Info Part 147 school record for Cuesta College
- Aviation Maintenance | Cuesta College
- Certification Information - Aviation Maintenance | Cuesta College
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
All sources retrieved .
How we compile school profiles, and what each source can and cannot tell you, is explained in our data methodology.