The academic differences between FAR Part 65 and EASA Part 66
are quite large. This is what EASA's Mr P.Goudou recently stated
in a letter to a US national living here in the UK, asking the same
question you are now.
It would appear on the outside that no conversion of these Engineer/Mechanic Licences can or has taken place.
This is in fact not completely true.
Around 2001 pre-EASA and the year of JAR66 introduction, A large
Dutch Airline converted many of its FAA licenced personnel through the Dutch CAA. Limited 'bridging examinations' took place, certainly not the
full EASA Part 66 (then JAR66) plethora required now.
Moving forwards to 2006, the UKCAA converted 20+ 'approval holders'
of a large UK airline that happened to have FAA A&P Licences to
restricted Part 66 B1.1 Licences. The official line is - 'the FAA licence
was not used in this conversion as it is not recognised'
It would seem that you will have to attack the books, re-learn the
wheel and attempt the modular exams. They are not structured like
FAR65 examinations, indeed, we have no full computerised technology
for such exams.
The core focus of Part 66 is on quantity, not quality. The practical requirement, which CAN be acheived simply by observing. There are a few bright chaps (academically and practical) coming through now but longterm, the UK MRO industry continues to suffer as a result with an arrogant complacency. This will have consequences.
Good luck whatever you decide.
BAe146??
