Veteran Trade Schools

VA-approved aircraft mechanic programs in California

Quick answer

Aircraft mechanic training in California is spread across 21 cities, with no more than one location in any city.

VA's GI Bill® Comparison Tool lists 21 aircraft mechanic training locations in California with 38 approved programs: 19 with school programs and 2 with apprenticeship or on-the-job training. 2 have a VA caution flag.

Before you enroll, open the VA profile to confirm the exact program, and ask the School Certifying Official to confirm your start date. [VA: Choosing a GI Bill approved school]

21 locations, by city

California Aeronautical University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA
VA profile for California Aeronautical University-Bakersfield (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program For-profit VA caution flag
  • Aviation Maintenance Technology Diploma

VA caution flag: School placed on Heightened Cash Monitoring. The Department of Education has placed this school on Heightened Cash Monitoring because of financial or federal compliance issues. Learn more about Heightened Cash Monitoring

GI Bill students (all programs): 210Accredited (national)

Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology-Inglewood

Inglewood, CA
VA profile for Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology-Inglewood (opens VA Comparison Tool)
VA-approved School program For-profit VA caution flag
  • Airframe and Powerplant
  • Aviation Maintenance Technology

VA caution flag: School placed on Heightened Cash Monitoring. The Department of Education has placed this school on Heightened Cash Monitoring because of financial or federal compliance issues. Learn more about Heightened Cash Monitoring

GI Bill students (all programs): 188Accredited (national)

Show all 21 locations

Source: VA GI Bill Comparison Tool program data, retrieved October 24, 2026. School details come from VA's data file dated October 8, 2026. The list is sorted by city, then name. It isn't a ranking.

Common questions

How many GI Bill-approved aircraft mechanic programs are in California?

VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool lists 38 approved programs at 21 locations in California as of October 24, 2026. That's about 8% of the 279 aircraft mechanic locations in VA's data nationally. By type: 13 public colleges and technical schools, 5 for-profit schools, 2 employers and apprenticeship sponsors, 1 private nonprofit school.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Which cities in California have aircraft mechanic programs?

By number of locations: Alameda (1), Bakersfield (1), Costa Mesa (1), Culver City (1), Fairfield (1), Fremont (1) and 15 more cities.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Are there paid aircraft mechanic apprenticeships in California that take the GI Bill?

Yes. 2 locations offer VA-approved on-the-job training in California (3 programs); 1 of them is a registered apprenticeship. With the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you're paid wages plus a monthly housing payment that steps down every six months.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool] [VA: On-the-job training and apprenticeships]

Do any aircraft mechanic schools in California have VA caution flags?

Yes. 2 locations have a VA caution flag. Each flag is shown on its listing in VA's wording. Read it before you enroll.

[VA: GI Bill Comparison Tool]

Other trades in California

← All Aircraft Mechanic programs · Does the GI Bill cover aircraft mechanic school?

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “GI Bill Comparison Tool data (ComparisonToolData.xlsx)”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.
  3. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Choosing a GI Bill approved school”. Retrieved October 23, 2026.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.