UK CAA Part-66 vs EASA Part-66: What's the Same, What Changed
If you are training for an aircraft maintenance licence in the United Kingdom, you may be wondering whether EASA Part-66 study material still applies to you after Brexit. The short answer is yes. Here is the plain-English explanation, with links to the official sources at the bottom of the page.
The bottom line
The licences changed — a UK and an EASA licence are no longer accepted in each other's airspace. But the exams and the syllabus did not. UK CAA Part-66 still uses the same 17 modules, the same licence categories and the same 75% pass mark as EASA Part-66. So practising with EASA Part-66 questions is exactly the right preparation for UK CAA Part-66 exams.
At a glance
Stayed the same
- The 17 basic-knowledge modules
- Licence categories A, B1, B2, B2L, B3, C (and L)
- The 75% pass mark and exam format
- The clause numbering (e.g. 66.A.25)
- 10-year validity of exam passes
Changed after Brexit
- A UK licence is no longer recognised in the EU
- An EASA licence is no longer recognised for UK aircraft
- The licence "swap" (conversion) window has closed
- The authority is now the UK CAA, not EASA
Is the UK still on Part-66?
Yes. When the UK left the EU, it did not throw out the rulebook — it kept it. The EU rules for aircraft maintenance licensing, Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014 (its Annex III is the part called "Part-66"), were copied into UK law and still apply today. The UK CAA refers to it as "UK Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014, Annex III (Part-66)".
The only structural change made for Brexit was to put the UK CAA in charge: a 2019 Statutory Instrument (in force on 31 December 2020) replaced EASA and the EU national authorities with the UK CAA as the body that sets exams and issues licences. The technical content of the licence framework was carried over unchanged.
Are the modules and exams the same?
Yes — this is the important part for anyone studying. Because the UK kept the EU regulation word-for-word, the syllabus and the exam standard are identical. Here is the side-by-side:
| What | EASA Part-66 | UK CAA Part-66 | Same? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic-knowledge modules | Modules 1–17 | Modules 1–17 | |
| Licence categories | A, B1, B2, B2L, B3, C, L | A, B1, B2, B2L, B3, C, L | |
| Multiple-choice pass mark | 75% | 75% | |
| Answers per question | 3 options, 1 correct | 3 options, 1 correct | |
| Negative (penalty) marking | Not used | Not used | |
| Essay questions | Modules 7, 9, 10 | Modules 7, 9, 10 | |
| Exam-pass validity | 10 years | 10 years |
Essay pass mark is also 75% (your answer must cover 75% of the required key points with no significant error). Source: Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014, Annex III, Appendix II — as retained in UK law.
What actually changed: licence recognition
The exams stayed the same, but the two systems no longer accept each other's licences. The recognition between the UK and the EU is not mutual, and licences are not covered by the UK–EU aviation safety agreement (the "BASA"). Here is the timeline of what happened:
-
1 January 2021
The EU/EASA stopped recognising UK-issued Part-66 licences. A UK licence can no longer be transferred to an EU country.
-
31 December 2022
The window that let EASA licence holders convert to a UK licence closed permanently. It is no longer available.
-
1 January 2023
The UK stopped recognising EASA-issued licences for work on UK-registered aircraft. An EASA Part-66 licence can no longer be the basis of a UK Part-145 authorisation.
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31 December 2025
A narrow "reactivation" route — only for licences that were originally UK-issued and later moved to an EU state before Brexit — also closed.
Hold an EASA licence and want a UK one (or the other way round)? There is no automatic swap or mutual recognition any more. You apply through the normal route of the country you want the licence in — which means meeting that authority's exam and experience requirements. Always check the official CAA pages linked below for your exact situation.
Has the UK changed the syllabus since Brexit?
No — not the part you study for. As of 2026, the UK has not changed the 17 modules, the 75% pass mark, or the licence categories. The UK does have the legal power to change its Part-66 rules in future, but it has not used it to move the basic exams away from EASA.
The UK updates since 2021 have been small and technical. For example, the Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (in force 1 December 2025) only changed exam-retake timing for the light-aircraft Category L — and that change actually matched a correction EASA made, so the two systems moved closer together, not further apart.
What this means if you're studying in the UK
Studying EASA Part-66 material is the correct preparation for UK CAA Part-66 exams. The modules, the syllabus, the question style and the 75% pass mark are the same, so the question banks are effectively identical. Our practice questions cover all 17 modules for categories A, B1, B2, B2L and B3 — ready for UK CAA candidates and EASA candidates alike.
Sources
Every statement on this page comes from official primary sources — UK legislation, the UK CAA and EASA. We do not rely on forums or third-party training providers. You can verify each point directly:
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UK CAA — UK Part-66 (Aircraft Maintenance Licence) · the CAA's official UK Part-66 hub.
caa.co.uk/…/engineer-licences/uk-part-66/ -
UK CAA — Engineer licensing requirements after 1 January 2023 · UK no longer recognises EASA licences for UK aircraft.
caa.co.uk/…/engineer-licencing-requirements-after-1-january-2023/ -
UK CAA — Applying for a UK Part-66 licence with an EU Part-66 licence · confirms the conversion window closed 31 December 2022.
caa.co.uk/…/apply-for-a-uk-issued-part-66-…-with-an-eu-part-66-licence/ -
legislation.gov.uk — Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014, Annex III (Part-66) · the retained law itself, kept up to date with UK amendments.
legislation.gov.uk/eur/2014/1321/annex/III -
legislation.gov.uk — Annex III, Appendix II (Basic Examination Standard) · the 75% pass mark, three-option questions and "no penalty marking" rule.
legislation.gov.uk/eur/2014/1321/annex/III/appendix/II -
legislation.gov.uk — The Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2025 · the latest UK change (Category L exam-retake timing; in force 1 December 2025).
legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2025/9780348274066 -
EASA — Brexit FAQ · confirms UK-issued licences are no longer recognised in the EU from 1 January 2021.
easa.europa.eu/en/faq/121060 -
UK CAA consultation — Part-66 e-propulsion requirements · the open proposal mentioned above (not yet law).
consultations.caa.co.uk/…/part-66-e-propulsion-requirements/
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 UK CAA website before making decisions.