How to Become an Air Traffic Controller

If you are a U.S. citizen, there are three ways to become an air traffic controller:
Path 1: You have prior experience as an air traffic controller
Path 2: You have no prior air traffic control experience
Path 3: You want to enroll in an Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program

Path 1: You have prior experience as an air traffic controller
The FAA values and hires men and women who already have air traffic control experience. We hire three types of experienced controllers:

Veterans with military air traffic control experience
Retired military controllers
Current and prior civilian air traffic controllers
At a minimum, experienced controllers must have:

52 consecutive weeks of air traffic control experience in a military or civilian air traffic control facility that shows you have the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform air traffic controller duties
Comprehensive knowledge of air traffic control laws, rules, and regulations
Veterans with Military Air Traffic Control Experience
The FAA can use a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) to hire veterans with military air traffic control experience. Some veterans with this experience can apply for a VRA appointment but they must be discharged from active duty or on terminal leave, and have not reached age 31. These types of veterans are eligible to apply for a VRA appointment:

Disabled veterans
Veterans separated from active duty within 3 years
Veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war declared by Congress, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized
Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a military operation for which the Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded
Retired Military Controllers
The FAA hires former military air traffic controllers who retired from the United States armed forces. Retired military air traffic controllers can apply if:

They are on terminal leave pending retirement from active duty military service, or
They retired from active duty on or after September 17, 1999
Current and Prior Civilian Air Traffic Controllers
The FAA hires current federal air traffic controllers or individuals previously employed as air traffic controllers. You can apply if you are eligible to be transferred from another agency to FAA or can be reinstated to an FAA air traffic controller position. Note: If your experience was as a civilian air traffic controller with the Department of Defense (DOD), you must have been hired for that job before you reached the age of 31


Path 2: You have no prior air traffic control experience
We invite the general public to apply for air traffic controller positions at various times during the year. You do not need prior air traffic control experience to apply. These positions are located in air traffic control facilities across the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.

If I have no prior air traffic control experience and want to be selected, what must I do?

Be a United States citizen
In most cases, not have reached age 31
Pass a medical examination
Pass a security investigation
Have three years of progressively responsible work experience and/or a full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, or some combination of the two
Achieve a score of at least 70 on the FAA pre-employment test
Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment
Complete an interview

Path 3: You want to enroll in an Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program
Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative Program
The FAA has partnerships with many colleges and universities. These schools offer two- and four-year non-engineering degrees that teach basic courses in air traffic control. We call this program the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. The program is designed to provide qualified applicants to fill developmental air traffic control specialist positions.


If I am interested in the AT-CTI program and want to be an air traffic controller, what must I do?

Graduate from an FAA approved AT-CTI program
Receive an official school recommendation
Be a United States citizen
In most cases, not have reached age 31
Pass a medical examination
Pass a security investigation
Achieve a score of at least 70 on the FAA pre-employment test
Speak English clearly enough for others to understand you on communications equipment
Complete an interview
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ahr/jobs_careers/occupations/atc/

After you apply for a position, you may need to take a pre-employment test called Air Traffic Selection and Training (AT-SAT). Some applicants must take this eight-hour, computer-based exam that will tell us your aptitude to become a successful air traffic controller.

Questions about Pre-Employment Testing

Do all job applicants applying for an air traffic controller position take the pre-employment test?
No. Only general public applicants and students enrolled in the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program are required to take the pre-employment test. Applicants with prior air traffic control experience do not need to take the test. The FAA will test as many applicants as possible to meet its hiring goals.

When do I take the pre-employment test?
Our goal is to test applicants as quickly as possible. This will generally occur about 4-8 weeks after a vacancy announcement closes.

How will I be notified to take the pre-employment test?
Our Aviation Careers Division will tell you that your name has been referred for testing. An FAA contractor will contact you to provide specific test scheduling information, including the date, time and location of your test.

Can I reschedule the date of my pre-employment test?
Our contractor will work with you to establish a firm date for you to take the test. However, if you do not appear on or reschedule before your test date, you may be considered for future tests.

Can I choose the location of my pre-employment test?
In most cases, you will be able to choose one of the pre-established test locations that is convenient to you. Test sites are typically located in major U.S. cities or near AT-CTI schools.

Does FAA pay for my pre-employment test?
Yes.

Does FAA pay for my pre-employment test travel expenses?
No. You must pay all your travel expenses to and from the pre-employment test site.

Does FAA provide any materials to prepare me for the test?
No.

What is a passing score on the pre-employment test?
To pass, you must score 70 or above on the pre-employment test.

Can I retake the pre-employment test if I want to improve my score?
Yes. No matter what your score, you may retake the test one year after the first time you took the test. Your second test score will always replace your first score.

How long is my pre-employment test score valid?
Pre-employment test scores are valid for three years.

Special Note for AT-CTI Air Traffic Controller Applicants
All AT-CTI students in good standing in their programs will be given the FAA pre-employment test
Normally, you will be tested six months prior to your graduation date
Your pre-employment test scores are valid for three years from your AT-CTI program graduation date
If you fail the pre-employment test two times, you may not retake the test under the AT-CTI program

Questions about Job Offers & Accepting a Position

Are all applicants who have met the eligibility requirements and qualifications for an air traffic controller guaranteed employment with FAA?
No. The FAA cannot guarantee employment of all qualified applicants.

How does FAA consider candidates for air traffic controller positions?
After FAA determines that candidates have successfully met all eligibility and qualification requirements we put the names of those eligible candidates on a referral list, and rank them into groups.

What is a referral list and how are candidates ranked?
A referral list contains eligible candidates from which tentative job selections are made. In most cases, candidates are divided in "qualified" and "well-qualified" groups. Veterans may be selected over both of these groups.

What determines a qualified and well-qualified candidate?
Applicants who have achieved a score of 70-84.9 on the FAA pre-employment exam are considered qualified. Well-qualified applicants have achieved a score of 85 and above. Candidates who are not required to take the pre-employment exam are placed in a qualified or well qualified group based on established criteria that assesses their knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position.

What if I am referred on a list of eligible candidates but not selected?
You may be considered for future employment until you are no longer eligible, e.g., you have reached age 31.

If selected for a position, where will I be assigned to work?
We will consider your geographic preferences when we assign you to a facility, but we must also consider that our facilities most in need must be staffed. Our first priority is to insure the safety of the National Airspace System.

If I decline a position, will I receive future consideration for an ATC job?
Yes. You may be considered for future employment by reapplying to other air traffic controller vacancy announcements until you are no longer eligible, e.g., you have reached age 31. In some cases, you are not required to reapply.