Yes sir, it surely is. 18 months of practical experience for either the airframe, or powerplant ratings, or a combined 30 months of practical experience to be able to test for both.
The FAA has determined that it should be full time experience, defined as eight hours a day, 40 hours a week. However, typically if you have a letter from a mechanic attesting to your experience, it's adequate.
I achieved my certificate based on experience. When I applied, I had 54 months documented. I had the registration and serial numbers of every aircraft I'd worked on, the work I'd done, and statements attesting to all of it from various mechanics, employers, etc, from eight or so different companies. I had copious amounts of documentation ready, and prepared in a full brief that was bound, with cover sheet and letter, preface, and a table of contents.
When I presented it to an inspector with the FAA, the inspector looked through it and asked where I got it. I told him I spent a year putting it together, and had all the origional letters sent to former employers, all original documents, etc, in a brief case right there if he wanted to see them.
He called several other inspectors into the room. They took turns going through my paperwork. Each asked the same questions. Where did I get that documentation? Who had shown me how to produce it that way? Etc.
Then they asked me questions about the various operations in the book. How had I done this? What type engine was that in NXXXX aircraft? And so forth.
They told me they'd never seen that kind of documentation, and that it far suprassed anything they'd ever expected to see. They were amazed. They said that normally, they got a crumpled letter or two from mechanics attesting to the experience. In my case, I had employment records, letters of reference, affadavits, etc. But normally, no.
At that moment, I had a sinking feeling I'd just wasted a year of effort, though I didn't care...I had my endorsement, and I passed each test with 100%, as well as the oral and practical. I tested for the certificate, incidentally, with the examiner who ran the AMT program at a community college, right in their training department one weekend. He used their training props for the exam. I balanced a propeller, shot rivits, timed a mag, researched an AD, inspected an airplane, and other such things...all in their facility, using their equipment, etc.
My suggestion would be to be as thorough in documentation as you can be...I understand that the administration has tightened up a bit on simply allowing a crumpled paper with an A&P signature on it...but don't kill yourself documenting every hose clamp removed and every locknut torqued. I did, and I've since used that documentation on request in interviews, etc...but it's not necessary.
You'll need documentation showing the 30 months practical experience, and then you'll get authorization to take the three knowledge exams ("writtens"); General, Airframe, and Powerplant. You can then schedule a practical test, and take the oral and the hands-on practical. Some folks do the two week course; bakers, or any of the others you see in Trade A Plane as a finishing program. They'll prep you for the exam and often administer it on sight, knowledge (writtens) and all. Some programs are only a few days. A friend of mine is just finishing up his at a two week program in California, after turning wrenches on cars, motorcycles (he's a Harley PHd),and aircraft (20 years cropdusting). He's probably got more to teach the instructor and examiner than the examiner has to teach him.
So yes, it's still available to do. Several years ago the FAA had discussed the idea of removing this route to certification, and I believe a NPRM existed on the subject. However, to the best of my knowledge, 14 CFR 65.77 still provides that it can be done from experience.
§ 65.77 Experience requirements.
Each applicant for a mechanic certificate or rating must present either an appropriate graduation certificate or certificate of completion from a certificated aviation maintenance technician school or documentary evidence, satisfactory to the Administrator, of -
(a) At least 18 months of practical experience with the procedures, practices, materials, tools, machine tools, and equipment generally used in constructing, maintaining, or altering airframes, or powerplants appropriate to the rating sought; or
(b) At least 30 months of practical experience concurrently performing the duties appropriate to both the airframe and powerplant ratings.
