Founded less than 30 years after the first sustained aircraft flight, National Aviation Academy (NAA) has a rich tie to the history of the industry. The school offers both education and hands-on experience to those interested in the process of flight. Most courses center around maintenance technology.
Programs & Courses
Aviation
- Aircraft Mechanic
- Aviation
Communications and Media
Campus Locations
Clearwater, FL 6225 Ulmerton Rd., Clearwater, FL 33760
Concord, MA 130 Baker Ave. Ext., Concord, MA 01742
Financial Aid Services
Financial aid available at NAA includes a mix of scholarships, loans, and grants. Online and in-person resources help applicants calculate their need and navigate the steps of applying. For those who need to take out a loan, the student finance office even has a default prevention department to supply information.
Student Services
The goal of Student Services is to help attendees adjust to the higher education lifestyle. As such, National Aviation Academy provides info on the area surrounding the campus, as well as counseling. Enrollees also get discounts at participating local stores.
Career Services
Students and alumni may schedule an appointment to get advice on resume writing and proper interview etiquette. The Career Services department offers relocation assistance too. Each year, NAA also hosts three job fairs at both of their campuses. At these, current and past students can meet employers and other aviation professionals.
Veteran and Military Services
Over one-fourth of the students and three-fourths of the instructors at NAA have served in the military. This proves the institution’s commitment to helping veterans transition back to civilian life. The school provides services like special housing and financial aid.
Alumni Services
Graduates have continued access to Career Services. National Aviation Academy encourages grads to join the alumni relations Facebook group as well. There, they can connect with former classmates and view job listings.
Reviews
Overall Score: 3.4/5 Stars
Common Praises
Career Success and High Salaries: The strongest positive sentiment comes from graduates who report making “6 figures” in their first year out or quickly securing employment in the aviation field. They credit NAA for giving them the FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certification needed to start a lucrative career.
Effective for Certification: Graduates who succeeded emphasize that the school prepares you for the FAA certification tests (general, airframe, and powerplant). One reviewer specifically praised the two-week refresher course for helping them pass “everything the first time.”
Supportive Staff (Initial/Early Experience): Some reviews, particularly older ones, praise the instructors and “front staff” as “top notch,” “incredible,” and “very caring people that really just want to help you.”
Good for Experienced Mechanics and International Students: The program is noted as valuable for experienced mechanics seeking official FAA certification and for international students needing the FAA credentials to transfer to their home countries.
Common Criticisms
Extreme High Cost and “Scam” Allegations: The most frequent and intense criticism is the high tuition cost (cited as $35,500 to $40,000 for the basic A&P license), with many graduates feeling they were “ripped off” for a certification that could be obtained cheaper.
Poor Instructional Quality and Large Class Sizes: Recent reviews criticize the curriculum as being delivered by inexperienced “intern” instructors who “read from a slide verbatim.” A very recent review (5 days ago) stated a class had “84 students in one class with two teachers,” despite being told class size limits were 50, supporting the claim that the school is “all about money, not the students.”
Substandard/Missing Equipment: Students complain that the tools are “broken or missing,” planes “need to be scrapped,” and lectures are “out of date and littered with misspelling.” Some major labs were allegedly skipped due to missing equipment.
Financial/Contractual Traps (Veterans/Withdrawal): Multiple veterans warn others to “stay away from this school,” alleging that if you leave the program early, NAA will claim you owe thousands, even if the VA covered the tuition, a fact allegedly not disclosed beforehand.
Avionics Course is a “Waste”: Multiple experienced technicians and former students stated the extra Avionics course was a “waste of 7 months of GI Bill,” as they or their classmates could obtain the necessary element certifications (Element 1, 3, 8) without attending the expensive course.
Momentum
The recent momentum is heavily tilted toward the negative. The most recent reviews (within the last 5 months) focus intensely on the massive class sizes, poor instruction, and the school’s apparent focus on maximizing enrollment/profit over quality. While the positive outcome of getting a high-paying job is a compelling counterpoint, the recent complaints about broken equipment and administrative/financial issues are highly severe and suggest significant and growing operational problems.