Standards Exam FAQ: CAR 571 & 573 Questions Answered
The Standards exam — covering Transport Canada Standard 571 (Maintenance Standards) and Standard 573 (Manufacturing and Repair Standards) — is a critical written test for all AME license applicants. While the CARS exam tests your understanding of the regulatory framework, the Standards exam tests the specific technical criteria and procedures you will apply every time you perform, inspect, or certify aircraft maintenance. This FAQ covers the exam format, the key differences between 571 and 573, study strategies, and how Sky Licence helps you master the standards.
Sky Licence Team
AME exam preparation specialists — helping engineers earn their Transport Canada license since 2025
What Are Standards 571 and 573?
Transport Canada Standard 571 (Aircraft Maintenance and Manufacturing Standards) and Standard 573 (Aircraft Maintenance and Manufacturing Standards — Aircraft) are the technical companion documents to the Canadian Aviation Regulations. While the CARs define what is required at a regulatory level, the Standards define how it must be done at a technical level. Standard 571 covers maintenance standards for aircraft, engines, propellers, and appliances, including inspection criteria, testing procedures, and acceptance standards. Standard 573 covers standards for aircraft repairs, modifications, and manufacturing, including repair design approval, data approval, material substitution, and process specifications.
Together, these two standards form the technical backbone of aircraft maintenance in Canada. Every AME — whether working on small general aviation aircraft under an M1 rating or large transport category aircraft under an M2 rating — must know and apply these standards. The Standards exam ensures that every licensed AME understands the technical criteria for accepting or rejecting components, performing inspections, certifying repairs, and documenting maintenance. Without this knowledge, the regulatory framework established by the CARs would have no technical foundation.
The Standards exam is unique among the five written AME exams because it bridges the gap between regulatory knowledge and hands-on technical skill. While you will develop practical skills through your training and experience, the Standards exam ensures you know the technical criteria behind the procedures. For example, you might know how to perform a dye penetrant inspection from your practical training, but the Standards exam tests whether you know the acceptance criteria defined in the standard that determine whether a crack indication is within limits. Sky Licence incorporates this applied knowledge approach by including detailed scenario-based questions that mirror real maintenance decisions.
Exam Structure and Preparation
Like the other AME written exams, the Standards exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit and a 70% pass mark. The questions are drawn from the full scope of Standard 571 and Standard 573 as defined in the TP14038E syllabus. You will be tested on your knowledge of maintenance release categories, inspection standards, acceptance criteria, repair design requirements, material substitution rules, process specifications, and documentation requirements. The exam is challenging because of the breadth of material — Standard 571 alone covers everything from airframe structural inspection criteria to engine test run procedures to propeller maintenance standards.
The most effective study approach for the Standards exam is to organize your learning by standard section. Start with the maintenance release categories (571.02–571.07), which are heavily tested and foundational to understanding the rest of the standards. Then move to inspection standards for major aircraft systems. Finally, cover Standard 573 repair and modification requirements. Sky Licence follows this progressive structure in its Standards module, guiding you from foundational concepts to advanced topics with adaptive difficulty that responds to your performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Standards (571/573) exam and who needs to take it?
The Standards exam tests your knowledge of Transport Canada Standards 571 (Maintenance and Manufacturing Standards) and 573 (Maintenance and Manufacturing Standards — Aircraft). These standards define the technical requirements for performing and certifying aircraft maintenance, repairs, and modifications in Canada. Unlike the CARS exam, which tests the regulatory framework (the "what" and "why"), the Standards exam tests the technical standards (the "how"). This exam is mandatory for all AME license applicants under both M1 and M2 ratings. Sky Licence includes a dedicated Standards module with over 250 practice questions organized by Standard section.
How many questions are on the Standards exam and what is the format?
The Standards exam follows a similar format to the other AME written exams: 50 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit and a 70% pass mark (35 out of 50 correct). The exam is computer-based at Transport Canada-approved testing centers. Questions cover Standard 571 (maintenance standards for aircraft components, engines, and airframes) and Standard 573 (maintenance standards for aircraft manufacturing, alterations, and repairs). Many questions require you to identify the correct standard for a specific maintenance procedure. Sky Licence simulates this with timed mock exams that match the real test format.
What is the difference between Standard 571 and Standard 573?
Standard 571 covers the standards for maintenance performed on aircraft, aircraft components, and engines. This includes inspection standards, maintenance practices, testing procedures, and the acceptance criteria for determining whether a component is serviceable. Standard 573 covers the standards for manufacturing, modification, and repair of aircraft and aircraft components. It includes requirements for repair design, material substitution, process specifications, and the approval of technical data. Think of Standard 571 as "how to maintain what exists" and Standard 573 as "how to change or repair what exists." Both standards are tested on the same exam, and you need to know which standard applies to different scenarios.
Which topics within Standards 571/573 are most heavily tested?
Based on Transport Canada exam blueprints and candidate feedback, the most heavily tested areas include: maintenance release categories and who can sign each category (571.02–571.07); inspection standards for airframes, engines, propellers, and appliances; acceptance and rejection criteria for components; requirements for functional tests after maintenance; repair design approval requirements (573.01–573.07); material substitution rules; process specifications for welding, heat treatment, and NDT; and technical data approval requirements. The maintenance release categories are particularly important — many candidates lose marks by confusing who is authorized to sign A, B, C, and D category releases.
Is the Standards exam harder than the CARS exam?
Most AME candidates find the Standards exam somewhat easier than the CARS exam because the content is more directly related to hands-on maintenance work. While CARS tests abstract regulatory knowledge, Standards tests the technical procedures and criteria you will use every day as an AME. However, the Standards exam has its own challenges: it requires attention to detail on acceptance criteria, repair limits, and process specifications. The density of technical information can be overwhelming if you try to memorize everything at once. Sky Licence breaks down the Standards syllabus into manageable topic areas with adaptive difficulty, so you can build knowledge progressively.
Do I need to memorize specific standard numbers from 571 and 573?
Yes, you should know the major section numbers and what each covers. For example, you should know that 571.02 covers the aircraft maintenance release categories, 571.03 covers who can sign each category, and 571.06 covers the content of a maintenance release. Similarly, you should know that 573.02 covers approval of data used for repairs and modifications, and 573.07 covers the content of a major repair or modification report. While you do not need to memorize every subsection number, knowing the main organizational structure of both standards is essential for navigating the exam. Sky Licence includes reference tables and flashcards for key standard numbers.
What is a maintenance release and why is it so heavily tested?
A maintenance release is the certification statement that maintenance has been performed correctly and the aircraft or component is fit for return to service. It is arguably the most important legal document in aircraft maintenance, and it is heavily tested for good reason. Standard 571 defines four categories of maintenance release (Categories A, B, C, and D), each with different signing authority requirements. Category A covers elementary work and can be signed by an apprentice under supervision. Category B covers approved maintenance schedules. Category C covers unscheduled maintenance. Category D covers specialized work like NDT. Sky Licence has dedicated practice sets for maintenance release questions because this is one of the most frequently tested — and most frequently missed — topics.
How does the Standards exam relate to the practical aspects of AME work?
The Standards exam is the most practical of the regulatory exams because it directly mirrors the standards you will apply in your daily work. When you inspect a landing gear component and need to decide if it meets serviceable limits, you are applying Standard 571. When you design a repair for a skin panel and need to get it approved, you are applying Standard 573. The exam ensures you know the criteria and procedures before you are given the legal authority to apply them. Sky Licence reinforces this connection by including scenario-based questions that describe real maintenance situations and ask you to identify the correct standard and procedure.
Can I use Standard 571 and 573 documents during the exam?
No, the Standards exam is closed-book. You cannot bring printed copies of Standard 571 or 573 into the exam. Some testing centers provide a basic reference card with selected standard numbers, but you should not rely on this. The exam is designed to test whether you have internalized the standards to the point where you can recall them without reference. This is a realistic expectation — as a licensed AME, you will need to know many standards from memory to make quick decisions on the hangar floor. However, you will also have access to the full standards in your workplace for reference. Sky Licence helps build this recall through spaced repetition and progressively harder practice questions.
How much time should I allocate for Standards exam preparation?
Most candidates spend 3 to 6 weeks preparing for the Standards exam, depending on their background. If you are currently working in a maintenance environment, you may find the material more intuitive because you see these standards applied daily. For full-time students at an ATO, the Standards material is typically covered over several months as part of your training. For self-study, a focused 4-week plan with daily practice sessions is recommended. Sky Licence performance analytics help you track your accuracy by Standard section so you can identify which areas need more attention and allocate your study time efficiently.
What happens if I fail the Standards exam?
If you fail, you can retake the exam after 30 days, following the same retake policy as all Transport Canada written exams. There is no limit on the number of attempts. Each attempt requires a new exam fee. The 30-day waiting period should be used to study the sections you struggled with. Sky Licence tracks your performance by topic within Standards 571 and 573, so you can see exactly which sections — whether maintenance release categories, repair design approval, or inspection standards — need additional review before your next attempt.
How does Sky Licence help me prepare for the Standards exam?
Sky Licence offers a dedicated Standards exam module with over 250 practice questions covering both Standard 571 and Standard 573. Key features include AI-powered adaptive difficulty that increases as your performance improves, scenario-based questions that simulate real maintenance decisions, detailed explanations for every answer choice with direct references to the applicable standard, timed mock exams matching the real 50-question/90-minute format, and topic-level analytics that show your accuracy by Standard section. Whether you are studying for your initial license or brushing up on standards knowledge, Sky Licence adapts to your level. Create a free account at Sky Licence to start practicing today.
For a deeper look at the regulatory side, check out our CARS exam FAQ and CARS exam guide. Visit the main Sky Licence FAQ for platform-related questions.
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