CASA Part 66 vs EASA Part-66: Is Your Study Material Valid in Australia?
If you are preparing for an aircraft maintenance engineer licence in Australia, you may wonder whether EASA Part-66 practice questions and textbooks apply to you. For the theory exams, the answer is largely yes. Here is the plain-English explanation, with official sources at the foot of the page.
The bottom line
Australia's CASA built its Part 66 system “in line with the EASA system”, and CASA's own self-study pathway has candidates study from commercially available Part 66 textbooks and sit exams that “align to the 17 Part 66 basic knowledge modules”. So practising EASA Part-66 questions is valid preparation for the CASA basic-knowledge exams. What is not shared is the licence itself — an EASA and a CASA licence are separate and not mutually recognised.
At a glance
Aligned with EASA
- Framework adopted “in line with the EASA system” (2011)
- Exams align to the same 17 basic-knowledge modules
- CASA self-study uses commercial Part 66 (EASA-equivalent) textbooks
- Same licence codes: A1–A4, B1.1–B1.4, B2, C
Australia-specific
- Separate authority (CASA) and a separate licence
- EASA and CASA licences are not mutually recognised
- Module 10 (Aviation Legislation) is Australian air law
- EASA's B2L, B3 and L categories do not exist here
Does Australia use Part 66?
Yes. CASA states that “Part 66 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 (CASR) and its Manual of Standards (MOS) prescribes our licensing system for aircraft maintenance engineers.” The Part 66 Manual of Standards is registered Commonwealth legislation (originally F2011L00280) made under the CASR.
Part 66 was first introduced in June 2011, transitioning aircraft maintenance licensing from the older Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (the CAR 31 AME/LAME system) to the CASR. CASA's own review records that the system “adopted A, B1, B2 and C licence categories and aircraft type ratings in line with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) system,” with the MOS “intended to be equivalent to the EASA Part 66.”
Are the modules and exams the same?
For the basic-knowledge theory, they are closely aligned — which is why EASA study material works for the CASA self-study pathway. Here is the side-by-side:
| What | EASA Part-66 | CASA CASR Part 66 | Aligned? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic-knowledge modules | Modules 1–17 | Exams align to the 17 modules | |
| Self-study material | EASA Part-66 textbooks | Same commercial Part 66 textbooks | |
| Exam pass mark † | 75% | 75% | |
| B1 subcategories | B1.1–B1.4 | B1.1–B1.4 | |
| Licence categories | A, B1, B2, B2L, B3, C, L | A, B1, B2, C | |
| Module 10 (Aviation Legislation) | EU/EASA air law | Australian air law — study locally | |
| Licence recognition | — | Not mutual — convert via Form 544 |
† The 75% pass mark and exam format are reported by CASA's contracted exam provider Aspeq and Australian training providers; confirm the current exam parameters directly with CASA / Aspeq before relying on them. CASA's exams are delivered by Aspeq for the self-study pathway.
The Australian licence structure
CASR Part 66 defines four aircraft maintenance engineer licence categories. The subcategory split is the same Aeroplane/Helicopter × Turbine/Piston grid as EASA:
Category A & B1 subcategories
- A1 / B1.1 — turbine aeroplane
- A2 / B1.2 — piston aeroplane
- A3 / B1.3 — turbine helicopter
- A4 / B1.4 — piston helicopter
Category B2 & C
- B2 — avionics (electrical / instrument / radio), all aircraft, no subcategories
- C — base maintenance certifying engineer (large aeroplanes)
Holding an EASA licence? Converting to CASA
There is no automatic swap between EASA and CASA licences — they are not mutually recognised. To base a CASA licence on a foreign (e.g. EASA) qualification, CASA uses Form 544 (“Aircraft Engineer Licence — Foreign Civil Qualifications”), and the application must include:
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1. MTO assessment
Your foreign licence is assessed by a CASA-approved Part 147 Maintenance Training Organisation (Form 465 / Document of Record).
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2. NAA verification
CASA requires verification of your licence from the issuing National Airworthiness Authority.
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3. Recent experience
In the 2 years before applying: at least 6 months exercising the privileges, or 6 months additional practical experience.
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4. Lodge Form 544
Submit the completed application to CASA. Incomplete applications are refused.
Conversion rules and forms change — always check the official CASA Form 544 page (linked below) for your exact situation before you start.
What this means if you're studying in Australia
For the CASA Part 66 basic-knowledge exams, EASA Part-66 practice questions are valid preparation — CASA's own self-study pathway points to the same Part 66 textbooks and its exams align to the same 17 modules. Our question bank covers all 17 modules, ready for CASA self-study candidates and EASA candidates alike. Just remember that Module 10 (Aviation Legislation) is Australia-specific and should be studied from local material.
Sources
Primary statements on this page come from CASA and the Federal Register of Legislation. Exam-format details (marked † above) come from CASA's exam provider and Australian training providers and are labelled as secondary. Verify each point directly:
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CASA — Aircraft maintenance engineer licence (Part 66) · the official Part 66 hub (categories, regulation citation).
casa.gov.au/…/aircraft-maintenance-engineer-licence-part-66 -
CASA — Part 66 modular AME licence: career pathways · subcategories, basic knowledge/experience, self-study.
casa.gov.au/…/part-66-modular-…-career-pathways -
CASA — Part 66 self-study training and examination pathway · EASA textbooks, 17-module alignment, exam provider.
casa.gov.au/…/part-66-self-study-training-and-examination-pathway -
CASA — Post-Implementation Review (PIR 1703MS) · 2011 introduction, “in line with the EASA system,” absence of B3.
consultation.casa.gov.au/regulatory-program/pir1703ms/ -
Federal Register of Legislation — Part 66 Manual of Standards · the registered MOS instrument (F2011L00280).
legislation.gov.au/Details/F2011L00280 -
Federal Register of Legislation — Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998 · the CASR series (F1998B00220).
legislation.gov.au/Series/F1998B00220 -
CASA — Form 544 (Foreign Civil Qualifications) · the foreign-licence conversion application.
casa.gov.au/application-…-foreign-civil-qualifications-fcq-form-544 -
Aspeq — CASA exams (candidate portal) · secondary: exam delivery, pass mark and format.
casa.aspeqexams.com -
Aviation Australia — Part 66 exams & study materials · secondary: 75% pass mark, Module 10 Aviation Legislation.
aviationaustralia.aero/…/part-66-exams-study-materials
Information last verified against the sources above: June 2026.
This page is general information to help you prepare, not legal advice. Regulations can change — always confirm your own licensing situation on the official CASA website before making decisions.