What is required to be an air traffic controller?

What Training Is Required to Be an Air Traffic Controller?

• Answer:

  As of 2008, 26,200 people in the United States worked as air traffic controllers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). At that time, the field was predicted to grow by 13 percent through 2018, resulting in the creation of 3,400 new jobs. The amount and type of training necessary to become an air traffic controller vary based upon your work experience and education. Experienced Controllers Under the policies of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which employs air traffic controllers in the United States, receiving military training is often sufficient to become an FAA controller. To qualify, individuals must have previously worked as a military air traffic controller or control tower operator. They must also have been previously discharged from active duty due to retirement or permanent disability. Applicants who meet these qualifications do not need to take the otherwise mandatory preemployment screening test for the FAA. Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative Another way to obtain the requisite education for air traffic controller employment is to participate in the FAA's Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI). For this program, students attend a postsecondary institution that carries the approval of the FAA; as of 2010, 35 schools in the United States had this accreditation. Students pursue a two-year associate's or four-year bachelor's degree in air traffic control and aviation from one of these schools. After graduation, they complete the FAA preemployment test and must pass a physical examination and criminal background check to gain employment consideration. Other Members of the Public Members of the public who do not participate in the FAA's AT-CTI can also qualify for employment, provided they meet other educational prerequisites. FAA regulations allow individuals who have four years of postsecondary education and three years of full-time work experience in any field to apply for air traffic controller jobs, provided they can pass the employment test and required physical and background checks. Alternatively, individuals who do not meet either the full educational or work experience requirements may still qualify for employment if they have additional years of work or education, respectively. New Hire Training Once hired, air traffic controllers attend the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The first five weeks of this program include the air traffic basics course, which only members of the public with no military or AT-CTI program experience must complete. The remaining seven weeks of the 12-week program are mandatory for all controllers. After completing the academy, graduates become trainees, gradually receiving more complex duties until they reach full controller status. Most trainee controllers require two to four years of on-the-job training to become proficient at their job duties, according to the BLS.