Air
Traffic Controller Training!
We at American Airman, do
not offer Air Traffic Controller Training.
However, we often get calls from people interested in
a career as a Air Traffic Controller. In an effort to
try and help those people, I have started compiling
a list of schools that you can contact. This page is
for informational purposes ONLY - I know very little
about any of the programs listed below, and therefore
I cannot make any recommendations! If you are interested
in a career as a Air Traffic Controller, good luck,
and do your research!
Useful Links to Other Websites
I found:
FAA website for Air Traffic Contollers CLICK
HERE
Bureau of Labor Statistics - See their very helpful
Summary
Below:
How to Become an Air Traffic Controller
To become an air traffic controller, a person must
be a U.S. citizen, complete an air traffic management
degree from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
certified school, achieve a qualifying score on the
FAA preemployment test, and complete a training course
at the FAA Academy. Controllers with previous air
traffic control experience, such as from the military,
may not need to complete the FAA education requirements.
Those without previous air traffic control experience
must be younger than 31 to become an air traffic controller.
Air traffic controllers often work
in semi-dark rooms.
To become an air traffic controller, a person must
be a U.S. citizen, complete an air traffic management
degree from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
certified school, achieve a qualifying score on the
FAA preemployment test, and complete a training course
at the FAA Academy. Controllers with previous air
traffic control experience, such as from the military,
may not need to complete the FAA education requirements.
Those without previous air traffic control experience
must be younger than 31 to become an air traffic controller.
Controllers also must pass a physical
exam each year and a job performance exam twice a
year. In addition, they must pass periodic drug screenings.
Education and Training
There are two main pathways to becoming an air traffic
controller:
Previous controller experience. Candidates
with previous experience with the FAA or the U.S.
Armed Forces are automatically eligible to apply for
air traffic controller positions. They do not need
to take the FAA preemployment test.
AT-CTI degree. Those without previous
experience must obtain an air traffic management degree
through the FAA Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative
(AT-CTI). AT-CTI schools offer 2- or 4-year degrees
that teach courses in aviation and air traffic management.
Candidates who complete an AT-CTI
program of study are automatically eligible to take
the FAA preemployment test. Applicants who pass the
test can then become eligible to enroll in a 2-month
training course at the FAA Academy. The invitation
to attend the training course is dependent on the
number of available job openings.
After graduating from the Academy,
trainees are assigned to an air traffic control facility
as developmental controllers until they complete all
requirements for becoming a certified air traffic
controller.
Advancement
New air traffic controllers, referred to as developmental
controllers, begin their careers by supplying pilots
with basic flight data and airport information. They
then advance to different positions within the control
room.
As the developmental controllers master
various duties, they earn increases in pay and advance
in their training. Generally, it takes new controllers
2 to 4 years to complete the on-the-job training that
leads to full certification. Those with previous controller
experience may take less time to become fully certified.
Trainees who fail to complete the
Academy or their on-the-job training are usually dismissed.
There are limited opportunities for
a controller to switch from an en route position to
an airport position. However, within these categories,
controllers can transfer to jobs at different locations
or advance to supervisory positions.
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