High School

Because it is highly recommended that all air traffic controllers have a college degree, high school students interested in the field will be best prepared by pursuing a college prep curriculum. Mathematics and science courses are most directly related to air traffic control work.

Postsecondary Training

To become an air traffic controller, a person must have completed a college degree and three years of work experience or an aviation-related program in the FAAs Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI). Currently, 30 schools are in the AT-CTI program, and enrollment is open to new students. Visit https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/air-traffic-cti-schools_0.pdf for a list of schools. All candidates (except those with prior air traffic control experience) must also pass a pre-employment test that gauges their aptitude for the career. Entry into civil aviation is also possible through the military.

Those who complete an AT-CTI program of study become eligible to enroll in a two-month training course at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. There, they receive training in the fundamentals of airway systems, civil air regulations, radar, and aircraft performance characteristics. They practice using software designed to simulate emergencies to determine their emotional stability under pressure. The standards for those who complete this program are very high; about 50 percent of the trainees are dropped during this period. Those who complete the program are guaranteed jobs with the FAA.

Other Education or Training

The Air Traffic Control Association offers workshops, seminars, and other continuing education (CE) opportunities at its annual conference, exhibition, and technical symposium. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association also hosts an annual conference where CE workshops and seminars are available. Contact these organizations for more information.

Certification or Licensing

Training continues on the job, and new controllers also receive classroom instruction. Depending on the size and complexity of the facility, a new hire may require between two and four years to become a fully certified air traffic controller. Controllers must be certified at each progressive level of air traffic control, usually within a certain period. Failure to be certified within the time limit is grounds for dismissal. Air traffic controllers must also pass annual physical exams and performance reviews.

Other Requirements

Applicants for airport tower or en route traffic control jobs must be 30 years of age or younger, pass physical and psychological examinations, be U.S. citizens, and have vision that can be corrected to 20/20. Flight service stations will accept applicants who are over the age of 30.

Aspiring air traffic controllers must have a college degree and three years of aviation-related work experience or have completed an aviation-related program. Several years of on-the-job experience are necessary to become certified controllers.

Those hoping to enter the field must be articulate, have a good memory, and show self-control. They must be able to express themselves clearly, remember rapidly changing data that affect their decisions, and operate calmly under very difficult situations involving much strain. They must also be able to make good, sound, and quickly derived decisions. A poor decision may mean the loss of a large number of lives.