So you want to know how to become an air traffic controller? You’ve come to the right place, if you have decided becoming an air traffic controller is something you may be interested in pursuing, we can help you learn more about this exciting and high paying career. If you are a citizen of the United States of America there are 3 ways in which one can become and air traffic controller.

Option 1 – You already posses prior experience as an air traffic controller

The Federal Aviation Administration values and employs women and men whom already posses air traffic control expertise. There are three varieties of experienced air traffic controllers:

• Veterans who posses military air traffic control expertise
• Retired military air traffic controllers
• Prior and current civilian air traffic controllers

At the very least, experienced air traffic controllers will need to have:

• 52 successive weeks of controller experience within a civilian or military air traffic controller facility center that demonstrates you possess the skills, knowledge, and capability to carry out air traffic controller responsibilities
• Extensive understanding of air traffic control laws, rules and regulations

Military veterans with air traffic control experience

The Federal Aviation Administration can make use of the Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) to employ veterans who posses military air traffic control expertise. A number of veterans that posses this knowledge may apply for a VRA appointment however they need to be released from active duty or need to be on terminal leave, and also have not reached the age of 31. These kinds of veterans meet the criteria in order to apply for a VRA appointment:

• Handicapped veterans
• Veterans who are separated from active duty inside of three years
• Veterans who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces throughout a war declared by Congress, or in a expedition or campaign where a campaign badge has been approved
• Veterans who during serving on active duty in the Armed Forces took part in a military procedure in which an Armed Forces Service Medal was granted

Military controllers who are retired

The Federal Aviation Administration employs previous military air traffic controllers who have retired from the U.S. armed forces. Military air traffic who have retired can apply if:

They’re on a terminal leave pending retirement from active military service duty; or
they have retired from active duty on or after September 17, 1999

Prior and Current Civilian Air Traffic Controllers

The Federal Aviation Administration employs existing individuals or federal air traffic controllers formerly employed as controllers. You are able to apply if you’re permitted to be moved from another agency to Federal Aviation Administration or may be re-instated to an Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controller job.

Notice: In the event your practical experience was as a civilian air traffic controller within the Department of Defense (DOD), you need to have been employed for that work prior to reaching the age of 31.

Option 2 – You do not posses any previous air traffic control experience

The general public is able to apply at various time frames during the year to become air traffic controllers. Having prior controller experience is not needed to apply, when one wants to learn how to become an air traffic controller. The positions available are at locations all across the United States of America, Guam, The Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

In order to be considered for one of these positions you must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a United States citizen
• In most situations not have reached the age of 31 years old
• Must pass a medical evaluation
• Must pass a security background clearance check
• Must have 3 years of progressively increasing work experience and/or a full 4 year course of studies which has lead to a bachelor’s degree, or a combination of the two
• Must acquire a score of no less than 70 on the Federal Aviation Administration pre-employment examination
• Must speak English at a level where you can be easily understood over communications devices and equipment
• Must pass and interview

Option 3 – Signing up for an air traffic controller collegiate training initiative (AT-CTI) course

The Federal Aviation Administration has relationships with many different universities and colleges. These types of institutions provide 2 and 4 year non-engineering aviation degrees which instruct fundamental classes in air traffic control. This program is called the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. This system was created to offer competent candidates to fill developing air traffic control specialist jobs.

I hope this article has given you a better understanding of how to become an air traffic controller. For more controller related information please visit some of our other web pages.