3 ways...
Hello Randy, you need to of built a major portion of your RV-x to get the repairman's cert for that SERIAL number aircraft. So if you have found one already built, there are three ways for you to get your A&P
1. The FAA will let you credit certain Armed Services jobs towards the mechanical experience needed. You visit the local FSDO and talk to an administrator, they (if you meet the requirement from the military) will then issue you a permission slip to go take the test. (I believe you need a letter from an IA as part of the application process) You then go to a prep school like Bakers in TN and study and take the General, the Airframe and the Powerplant test. Then what follows is an oral quiz, and then the practical test.
2. Go be an apprentice for 3 years at an aircraft maintenance facility and get a letter from an IA and repeat the above steps for your license.
3. Go to a college that has the A&P program for their 18 month program and repeat the above steps.
Or... you can work closely with an AP or IA and gain their trust and work with them on the mx on your aircraft. Even though only an A&P is required for your yearly conditional inspection, I'd personally go get an IA to do it. You need a minimum of three years as an A&P to be authorized to take the IA test. Supposedly there is a 50/50 pass fail on the IA test. Most of the guys in my IA class were 50+ and had been aircraft mechanics for a loooooong time. Those IA's have that ticket for a reason and may spot something an A&P might not be aware of. Somehow... buying coffee and donuts and trading flight time to a mechanic seems a lot cheaper than the other steps if you are only looking to maintain only your own aircraft.
ps.. If the aircraft is already flying.... being a PRIVATE pilot... not a student pilot... will let you do a surprising number of things... although you need to understand what you are doing before you do it... I'd say have a mechanic on hand each time for the first time you do a job. Go read the 43 and I also have a very complete checklist for doing your own condition/annual inspection that I give away for free.
If your feeling really generous, you could buy me an RV-3 and I'll do your next conditional inspection for free!
I'm available for questions at 404-405-1315 if you have any.. or I'm at brianpwallis at hotmail.com
Best of Luck!!!!
Brian Wallis