- CAET is administered by the Aircraft Electronics Association and delivered through the Unmanned Safety Institute (USI).
- The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, with a 70% passing score.
- Virtual proctoring through GMetrix costs $119; an approved physical proctor costs $109.
- There are no formal prerequisites, and purchase includes up to three attempts within 90 days.
What Is the CAET Certification?
The Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician (CAET) credential is the Level 1 certification created by the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) to validate baseline competency in aircraft avionics installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting. This is the base CAET credential - distinct from the AET upgrade path and separate from the CAET-Advanced assessment, which sit further along the same career ladder. If you're just starting out, this base-level exam is the one that establishes your foundation.
Because there are no formal prerequisites, technicians coming from A&P backgrounds, avionics shops, or aviation trade programs can all sit for the exam once they feel ready. For a broader orientation to the credential before diving into logistics, the What Is CAET Certification? overview and the CAET Meaning explainer are good starting points.
Who Administers CAET and What It Costs
The AEA owns the CAET credential, but exam delivery runs through the Unmanned Safety Institute (USI). Candidates can sit for the exam using virtual proctoring - the AEA specifically points to GMetrix as its virtual proctoring provider - or they can arrange an approved physical proctor if remote testing isn't a good fit.
- Virtual proctoring (GMetrix): $119
- Approved physical proctor: $109
Your purchase isn't a single shot at the exam. It includes up to three attempts, but the retake windows are strict: you must wait 24 hours before a second attempt and two weeks before a third. All testing under one purchase must be completed within 90 days. That structure rewards candidates who prepare seriously before their first sitting rather than treating early attempts as a diagnostic run. For a full accounting of what you're paying for and why, see the CAET Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Key Takeaway
Because the second attempt requires only a 24-hour wait but the third requires two full weeks, plan your first attempt as if it's your only one - the penalty for needing a third try is steep in lost time.
Exam Format and Scoring
The CAET exam is 100 multiple-choice questions administered in a 90-minute window. A passing score is 70%. There's no essay component, no practical bench test, and no oral defense - it's a closed-book, timed, multiple-choice assessment covering eight official topic areas.
A non-phone calculator is permitted during the test, which matters for questions involving electrical calculations, signal measurements, or pitot-static values. Bring a dedicated calculator rather than assuming your phone's calculator app will be allowed - it won't be.
At 90 minutes for 100 questions, you have roughly 54 seconds per question on average, though some domains (like wiring and databus systems) will take longer to reason through than straightforward regulatory recall questions. For a detailed breakdown of what "passing" actually requires and how the scoring works, read the CAET Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass guide.
| Exam Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Question count | 100 multiple-choice |
| Time allotted | 90 minutes |
| Passing score | 70% |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Attempts included | Up to 3, within 90 days |
| Virtual proctoring fee | $119 |
| Physical proctor fee | $109 |
The Eight CAET Domains
CAET content is organized into eight official topic areas. Understanding what each domain actually tests - not just its title - is the difference between generic exam prep and targeted CAET prep. For the deepest treatment of each area, cross-reference the CAET Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 8 Content Areas.
Domain 1: Maintenance Procedures & Regulatory Requirements
Covers documentation practices, regulatory compliance, and the procedural side of avionics maintenance work.
- Know how maintenance records and regulatory paperwork tie together
Domain 2: Basic Electrical Theory & Systems
Foundational electrical concepts - voltage, current, resistance, circuits - applied to aircraft systems.
- Be fluent in Ohm's Law application within aircraft circuits
Domain 3: CNS - Communication, Navigation & Surveillance Systems
Radios, transponders, GPS, and the systems that let aircraft communicate and be tracked.
- Understand how CNS components interact with other avionics subsystems
Domain 4: Flight Instrument & Pitot-Static Systems
Airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed instrumentation, plus the pitot-static plumbing behind them.
- Trace pressure-based instrument readings back to their source systems
Domain 5: Digital Databus Systems
Data communication standards used to move information between avionics units.
- Recognize how digital data is structured and transmitted between LRUs
Domain 6: Aircraft Wiring, Hardware & Installation
Wire selection, termination, hardware standards, and correct installation practices.
- Know accepted wiring and hardware installation standards cold
Domain 7: Tools, Test Equipment & Measurement Techniques
Correct use of multimeters, signal generators, and other bench and field test equipment.
- Match the right test instrument to the right measurement task
Domain 8: Safety, Housekeeping & Best Practices
Shop safety, tool control, and professional best practices in an avionics work environment.
- Understand safety procedures as they apply to hangar and bench work
If you're trying to gauge how tough the exam feels once you weigh all eight domains together, the How Hard Is the CAET Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 article walks through that in more depth, and the CAET Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows piece looks at outcomes.
Remote Testing Requirements
If you choose virtual proctoring through GMetrix rather than a physical proctor, your testing environment has to meet specific technical requirements. You'll need:
- Government-issued photo identification
- A working webcam
- A microphone
- Ability to perform a full room scan on request
- Compatible proctoring software installed and running
Chromebooks and tablets are explicitly unsupported for remote testing - you'll need a standard laptop or desktop computer. If your only reliable device is a Chromebook or tablet, arranging an approved physical proctor for $109 may be the more practical route rather than scrambling for compatible hardware on exam day.
Mapping Study Time to CAET Domains
Generic study techniques only help if they're pointed at the right material. Rather than a one-size-fits-all weekly template, allocate more time to the domains that combine conceptual depth with hands-on judgment - wiring, CNS systems, and databus systems tend to demand more review than straightforward regulatory or safety content.
Electrical Foundations
- Review Domain 2 (Basic Electrical Theory) until circuit math is automatic
- Start Domain 1 regulatory and documentation review
Systems Deep Dive
- Work through Domain 3 (CNS) and Domain 4 (Flight Instrument & Pitot-Static)
- Practice tracing signal and pressure paths through diagrams
Hardware and Data
- Cover Domain 5 (Digital Databus) and Domain 6 (Wiring & Installation)
- Drill hardware standards and wire termination practices
Tools, Safety, and Timed Practice
- Finish Domain 7 (Test Equipment) and Domain 8 (Safety & Housekeeping)
- Run full 100-question, 90-minute timed practice sessions
For a structured walkthrough of this kind of preparation with more detail on pacing and resources, see the CAET Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also build timed practice into your routine using practice tests on this site to simulate the real 90-minute, 100-question format before you sit for the actual exam.
Who Hires CAET-Certified Technicians
CAET certification signals to avionics shops, MRO facilities, and aircraft operators that a technician has demonstrated baseline competency across installation, wiring, test equipment use, and regulatory awareness - without requiring years of tenure to prove it. It's particularly useful for technicians transitioning into avionics-focused roles or trying to formalize skills gained on the job.
If you're weighing whether this certification is worth pursuing given your career goals, the Is the CAET Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 article and the CAET Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis both dig into that question directly. For a sense of the roles and postings that reference the credential, check CAET Jobs, and if you're still assembling foundational training before testing, CAET Training covers preparation paths.
Renewal and Continuing Education
CAET certification isn't permanent. It renews on a three-year cycle, and maintaining it requires 18 Continuing Education Hours (CEHs) within that window. There are two accepted ways to satisfy a renewal cycle:
- Accumulate 18 CEHs through approved continuing education activities
- Earn an approved higher CAET credential, or pass the online recertification exam, which also fulfills that cycle's requirement
Because the renewal clock runs continuously, it's worth tracking your CEH activity as you go rather than scrambling near the three-year mark. If you're still deciding whether you meet the baseline requirements to sit for the exam in the first place, the CAET Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify page covers eligibility in full, and CAET Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling covers scheduling mechanics for both initial testing and recertification.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) owns the CAET credential, but the exam is delivered by the Unmanned Safety Institute (USI). Virtual proctoring runs through GMetrix, and AEA also permits approved physical proctors.
$119 with virtual proctoring through GMetrix, or $109 if you use an approved physical proctor instead.
No. There are no formal prerequisites for the base Level 1 CAET exam, which is distinct from the AET upgrade or CAET-Advanced assessment.
No. A non-phone calculator is allowed, but phones are not permitted as calculators or for any other purpose during testing.
Your purchase includes up to three attempts. You must wait 24 hours before a second attempt and two weeks before a third, and all testing must be completed within 90 days of purchase.