Marshall University offers an Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) that is designed for students who want a college degree and a clear pathway toward FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification. The program is described as a joint offering between Marshall University and Mountwest Community and Technical College, combining academic coursework with applied, hands-on aviation maintenance training. The stated goal is straightforward: help students build the knowledge and practical skill needed to become eligible for FAA testing for A&P licensure and to enter the workforce as aviation maintenance professionals.

On Marshall’s aviation program page, the AMT degree is presented as a 24-month, hands-on training program, with training housed at Huntington Tri-State Airport. That airport-based setting matters because it aligns students with the environment they will work in after graduation around aircraft, tools, and maintenance workflows rather than learning only in traditional classrooms. The program highlights a comprehensive curriculum that covers airframe, powerplant, and avionics topics, alongside instruction delivered by faculty with industry experience. For students, that combination often translates into training that is both structured and practical: learn the systems, then apply the procedures in a lab or shop setting similar to real maintenance operations.

Marshall emphasizes that graduates are eligible to take FAA exams for A&P licensure, and it positions that credential as a gateway to careers across general aviation, commercial airlines, manufacturers, repair stations, and structural repair facilities. The program also highlights employer engagement and job placement support. It notes relationships with employers such as Delta Air Lines, Embraer, Thoroughbred Aviation, and others, with industry representatives visiting in person or virtually to help students understand career options and connect with recruiters while still enrolled.

The program’s messaging also reflects the broader demand for aviation maintenance talent and the portability of A&P credentials. For prospective students, the most important takeaway is that Marshall’s AMT A.A.S. is set up as a degree-plus-licensure pathway: complete the associate degree coursework, receive intensive hands-on maintenance training in an airport setting, and graduate prepared to pursue FAA Airframe and Powerplant certification and start building a career in aviation maintenance.

Another important feature is the partnership structure itself. Because Mountwest Community and Technical College is involved, students are guided through an admissions process that includes both institutions, and financial aid administration is described as running through MCTC. For many students, that arrangement can combine the resources of a university with the career-technical focus of a community college. If your goal is to work on aircraft as quickly as possible while still earning a college credential, this dual-institution model is designed to keep the timeline tight while still providing broad academic and career support.