Licensing
The AME S Licence: Structures Rating
The S rating covers aircraft structural maintenance and repair specifically — with its own, shorter experience path than the other ratings.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-10
What the S rating covers
The S (structures) rating authorizes maintenance and repair of aircraft structures — airframe structures specifically, as distinct from the engine/mechanical systems M1 and M2 cover or the electronic systems E covers. Per Transport Canada's technical examination study guide, S-rating exam content focuses on structural repairs and material properties.
Like E, S is a fully independent rating — it doesn't require holding a mechanical rating first, though many AMEs eventually hold S alongside M1, M2, or E.
A notably different experience requirement
Unlike the M1, M2, and E ratings — which share a 48-month total experience structure — the S rating has its own, shorter experience path: 36 months total experience (with 24 months specialty and 6 months civil aviation), and a lower basic training minimum than the M/E ratings. This makes S a meaningfully different time commitment than the other ratings, not just a different subject-matter focus. Always confirm the current exact figures against Standard 566's official table, since these are periodically amended — see our AME Experience Requirements guide for how to read that table.
The examinations
S candidates write a technical examination testing structures-specific knowledge (90 questions per TP 14038), and the regulatory examination covering CARs itself (50 questions, shared with the M and E ratings). Both require a 70% passing grade — see our AME Technical Exams and AME Regulatory Exam guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the S rating easier to get than M1 or M2?
It has a shorter stated experience and training-hour requirement, but "easier" depends on your background and the aircraft you have access to — the technical content (structural repair and materials knowledge) is its own specialized subject, not a lighter version of the mechanical ratings.
Can I work on structures without an S rating?
You can perform structural work under supervision or as part of documented experience toward a licence, but independently certifying (signing off) structural maintenance release specifically requires holding the S rating.
Does S combine well with a mechanical rating?
Many AMEs do hold S alongside M1 or M2, since airframe structural work and mechanical systems work often come up on the same aircraft — but each rating still has to be earned separately.
Official Transport Canada References
PassCARs is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Transport Canada. For authoritative, current requirements, always refer to the official sources below.
Related Guides
Canadian AME Licence: A Complete Overview
What the licence actually authorizes, the five rating categories, and how Transport Canada structures the credential.
M1 vs M2: Understanding the Two Canadian AME Mechanical Ratings
The two mechanical AME ratings are defined by aircraft type, not by seniority — here is exactly how Transport Canada draws the line.
AME E Licence Guide: Electronic Systems Rating
The E rating covers aircraft electronic systems specifically — separate from, and independent of, the mechanical M1/M2 ratings.
AME Technical Exams: What They Cover by Rating
Technical exams test the "how" — the rating-specific systems knowledge — and Transport Canada publishes an official study guide for exactly what they may cover.
How to Become an AME in Canada: The Full Path
Training, experience, and examinations are three separate requirements that all have to come together — here is how the path actually works, end to end.
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