Inspection Authorization — Requirements & Free Practice
US · License preparation
200 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required
Choose what to practice
Start with an exam below. Your examination requirements depend on your application pathway. View licensing requirements
Loading selected examination banks…
Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements
Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.
Inspection Authorization
Federal inspection authorization for qualified mechanics to approve return to service after major repairs or alterations and to perform annual or perform and supervise progressive inspections under the applicable FAA rules.
Licensing authority: Federal Aviation Administration · Application information
Initial by examination
- Authorization
- Before registering, arrange an FSDO/IFO Airworthiness ASI eligibility appointment and obtain the FAA Form 8610-1 block 14 endorsement, valid for 30 days; sign up with IACRA before the IAR and present proper FAA authorization at an IAR-authorized test center.
- Eligibility
- Hold a currently effective mechanic certificate with both airframe and powerplant ratings, each currently effective and held for a total of at least three years; at least two years immediately before application actively maintaining aircraft certificated and maintained under 14 CFR chapter I; a fixed base where reachable in person or by telephone during a normal workweek; and necessary equipment, facilities and inspection data under 65.91(c)(1)–(4). These existing qualifications are conditions, not new prerequisite examination tasks.
- Retest
- After failure, wait at least 90 days; the current matrix requires the failed AKTR and a newly endorsed FAA Form 8610-1.
- Scheduling
- Appointment testing through the FAA-linked knowledge testing service after eligibility authorization; no fixed annual examination date is asserted.
- Scope
- Initial IA qualification only; renewal, its oral-test mechanisms, other mechanic examinations, and new prerequisite banks are outside this task.
Inspection Authorization Knowledge Test
- Format
- Computer-delivered multiple-choice knowledge examination; one correct answer per question.
- Exam questions
- Total questions: 50–53; Scored questions: 50; Unscored questions: 0–3; The total includes the scored and unscored questions.
- Time limit
- 3.0 hours, including time for validation questions, under the FAA matrix revised September 25, 2026.
- Passing score
- 70 percent
Examination outline
- Inspection for return to service after major repairs
- Inspection for return to service after major alterations
- Annual inspections
- Progressive inspections
Examination sources
- FAA Inspection Authorization (IAR) Sample Questions
p. 1, introduction and controlling knowledge-area reference
- 14 CFR 65.91
§ 65.91(c)(5)
- 14 CFR part 43
§ 43.15(c)(1), adoption of appendix D and rotorcraft detail
- 14 CFR part 43
§ 43.3(a), adoption of appendix A
- FAA AC 65-30B, Change 1
printed p. 12, section 14.1, requirement 5
- FAA AC 65-30B, Change 1
printed p. 12, section 14.2 (PDF p. 13)
- FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix
p. 9, table headers and IAR row
- FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix
p. 2, Validation Questions; read with p. 9 IAR row
- FAA AC 65-30B, Change 1
printed p. 12, section 14.1, test endorsement validity
- FAA AC 65-30B, Change 1
printed p. 12, section 14.2, first sentence
- FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix
p. 9, acceptable authorization and retest notes
- FAA Airman Testing, ACTS
More Information, Schedule an Airman Knowledge Test link
- FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix
p. 9, initial authorization, form handling and failed-test retesting
- FAA Computer Testing Supplement for Inspection Authorization
Preface, printed p. iii (PDF p. 4)
- FAA AC 65-30B, Change 1
printed p. 11, section 14.1 (PDF p. 12)