How to become an air traffic controller in the US: FAA hiring and the ATSA test
FAA requirements, the ATSA aptitude test, the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, and what US air traffic controllers earn. A controller's guide.
The short answer
In the US, the FAA hires and trains controllers. You must be a US citizen, under 31 when you apply, and speak English clearly. You apply through USAJobs, pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA), clear medical and security checks, then train at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City and on the job for 1 to 3 years. The FAA says certified controllers average over $155,000 a year.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) runs air traffic control across the United States, and it hires and trains its own controllers. Here’s the route, based on what the FAA publishes.
Basic requirements
- US citizen.
- Under 31 when you apply.
- Fluent English, spoken clearly.
- Able to pass medical, psychological, drug and security checks.
Some applicants come through a Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) school or from the military, but neither is required for the general public hiring route.
The five steps
- Apply on USAJobs when the FAA opens a hiring window. A resume of up to two pages, plus documents such as transcripts.
- The ATSA: the Air Traffic Skills Assessment, a 3.5-hour computer-based test taken in person at a Pearson VUE centre. You need a “Well-Qualified” result to progress.
- Medical and security clearance: fingerprints, background checks, medical exam, psychological evaluation and drug testing.
- The FAA Academy in Oklahoma City: several months of paid, simulator-based training.
- On-the-job training at the facility you’re assigned to, anywhere in the country, for 1 to 3 years until you’re a Certified Professional Controller.
What’s on the ATSA
The FAA describes it as a test of cognitive skills. Expect tasks like quick mental maths, spatial reasoning, memory, and managing several moving targets at once. Our 10 practice questions give you a feel for the style. They’re not real ATSA questions.
Pay
According to the FAA:
- Training at the Academy starts at $22.61 an hour, with benefits.
- Certified controllers average over $155,000 a year within three years of graduating from the Academy.
Pay depends a lot on the facility: busy centres and approach facilities pay more.
The honest bit
- You don’t choose where you go. Placement is nationwide.
- Retirement comes early. Controllers can retire at 50 with 20 years of service, and there’s a mandatory retirement age.
- Shifts and overtime. Many facilities are short-staffed, which means overtime.