How to become an air traffic controller
Answer
To become an FAA air traffic controller, you apply before age 31 with a bachelor's degree, an associate or bachelor's degree from an AT-CTI school, or qualifying work experience, pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment, medical and security checks, complete training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, then spend 1 to 3 years in on-the-job training to become certified.
- Total time
- 4-7 years including a degree
- Fastest path: About 2 years after hiring
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's degree in any field, an associate or bachelor's degree from an FAA AT-CTI school, up to 3 years of progressively responsible work experience, or a combination
- Exam or license
- Air Traffic Skills Assessment, a 3.5-hour computer-based aptitude test given at Pearson VUE centers
- + 3 more · Federal, not state: FAA credential with a tower rating or a control tower operator certificate under 14 CFR Part 65, or qualified and supervised status; FAA hiring rules apply to FAA controllers
- Typical cost
- $0–$37.9K
- Tuition and fees before aid
Median pay once qualified: $148,080 a year ($71.19 an hour), BLS OEWS, May 2025. See air traffic controller pay in every state.
Steps to become an air traffic controller
6 steps
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1Check that you meet the FAA's basic requirements
FAA controller applicants must be US citizens, must be under 31 at the time they apply, and must speak English clearly and fluently. You also need to pass a medical exam, drug test, psychological evaluation and federal background check. Veterans who controlled air traffic in the military may qualify even if they are past the age cutoff. Before you invest in a degree, make sure none of these would rule you out.
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2Qualify through education, experience or both
Time: 2-4 years (degree) or up to 3 years (work)Cost: $4,917-$9,472/yr median public in-state tuitionSources 1, 3, 6
One route is an associate or bachelor's degree from an FAA Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) school, which teaches airspace, clearances, charts and federal aviation rules. Graduates of Enhanced AT-CTI schools, such as Tulsa Community College and the University of Oklahoma, can skip the academy. A bachelor's degree in any field also qualifies, as can up to 3 years of progressively responsible work experience.
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3Apply on USAJOBS during an FAA hiring window
Time: Weeks to monthsSources 2, 3
The FAA posts trainee openings on USAJOBS. Applications need a resume of no more than two pages showing dates and hours worked, plus transcripts or an AT-CTI endorsement letter and a DD-214 if you claim veterans' preference. Apply before you turn 31. Experienced controllers from the military and private industry can apply year-round under a separate hiring track.
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4Pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment
Time: One 3.5-hour testSources 2, 3
Qualified applicants are invited to take the ATSA, a computer-based test of the cognitive skills controllers need, used by the FAA to predict aptitude for the job. It is given in person at Pearson VUE test centers, and you need a Well-Qualified result to move on. Enhanced AT-CTI graduates still have to take and pass the ATSA. Those who pass then complete medical, psychological, drug and security screening.
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5Complete training at the FAA Academy
Time: Several monthsCost: — (trainees are paid)Sources 2, 3, 1
Most new hires train at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, where coursework is combined with tower and radar simulators. The length depends on your background and the type of facility you will work in. Standard AT-CTI graduates skip the introductory Air Traffic Basics Course; Enhanced AT-CTI graduates go straight to their facility. Completing the academy is a condition of the job.
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6Certify at your assigned facility
Time: 1-3 yearsSources 2, 4, 1
The FAA assigns graduates to a tower, TRACON or en route center as developmental controllers. You start with basic positions, such as flight data and clearance delivery, and pass a practical test on each position before working it alone; at towers, 14 CFR Part 65 requires that test for every operating position. Certification as a Certified Professional Controller usually takes 1 to 3 years, longer at busier facilities.
How long it takes to become an air traffic controller
Education options
| Option | Length | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhanced AT-CTI degree | 2 or 4 years | Selected colleges, including Tulsa Community College and the University of Oklahoma | The fastest route into a facility: graduates with an endorsement go straight to on-the-job training without the FAA Academy, but must still pass the ATSA and screening. |
| Standard AT-CTI associate or bachelor's degree | 2 or 4 years | FAA-partnered colleges and universities | Graduates still attend the FAA Academy but can skip the introductory course. An associate degree only qualifies if it is from an AT-CTI program. |
| Bachelor's degree in any field | 4 years | Any accredited college | Qualifies you to apply even without aviation coursework. Suits people who decide on air traffic control during or after college. |
| Military air traffic control | Length of service | Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard | Military controllers can join the FAA with experience and may qualify even past the age cutoff. |
Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings
| Field and credential (College Scorecard) | Programs | Tuition, public (in-state, per year) | Tuition, private (per year) | Median federal loan debt | Graduates’ median earnings after 4 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Transportation, associate's degree | 136 | $4,917 | $34,298 | $17,613 | $75,495 |
| Air Transportation, bachelor's degree | 120 | $9,472 | $36,454 | $21,136 | $85,825 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.
Licensing, exams and certification
Air traffic controllers are not licensed by states. They are credentialed by the FAA under 14 CFR Part 65. To act as a tower operator, a person must hold an FAA credential with a tower rating or a control tower operator certificate, plus a facility rating for that tower or qualification for the position while supervised by a rated controller. Eligibility for the tower operator certificate includes being at least 18, reading, writing and speaking English clearly enough for two-way radio, and, for controllers who do not work for the FAA or the military, holding at least a second-class FAA medical certificate. Each operating position requires passing a practical test.
FAA hiring adds its own rules: US citizenship, applying before age 31, the ATSA, a medical exam, drug testing, a psychological evaluation and a background check. FAA controllers face mandatory retirement at 56 and are eligible to retire at 50 with 20 years of service. For any related state requirements, see the CareerOneStop License Finder.
| Exam or credential | Issued by | Required? | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Traffic Control Tower Operator Certificate or FAA Credential with tower rating4,1 | Federal Aviation Administration (14 CFR Part 65) | Required | See issuer |
| Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA)2 | Federal Aviation Administration | Required | See issuer |
| Certified Professional Controller (CPC) status2,1 | Federal Aviation Administration (facility certification) | Required | See issuer |
| Second-class FAA medical certificate (controllers outside the FAA and military)4 | FAA aviation medical examiners (14 CFR Part 67) | Required | See issuer |
Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.
Skills and qualities that matter
- Spatial awareness
- Controllers have to picture several aircraft moving in three dimensions at different speeds and see a conflict minutes before it happens.
- Clear, brief radio phrasing
- Instructions must be understood the first time on a crowded frequency, often by pilots for whom English is a second language.
- Calm under pressure
- A go-around, a medical emergency or a sudden thunderstorm can change the whole traffic picture in seconds.
- Short-term memory
- Controllers keep track of each aircraft's call sign, altitude and clearance while issuing new instructions to others.
- Quick, firm decisions
- Hesitation creates delays and risk, so controllers must pick a plan and commit to it.
- Teamwork across positions
- Every aircraft passes between ground, tower, approach and center, and each handoff depends on precise coordination.
O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: active listening, speaking, critical thinking, monitoring, reading comprehension.
What it costs and what it pays
Compare careers- Training cost
- $0–$37.9K
- Before financial aid
- Time
- 4-7 years including a degree
- Typical path
- Median pay
- $148,080
- All US jobs: $50,980
- Payback once qualified
- Under 1 year
- Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost
Low: $0 for candidates who qualify through work experience or military air traffic control, since FAA Academy training is paid. High: a 4-year AT-CTI bachelor's degree at the College Scorecard median public in-state tuition for air transportation programs, 4 x $9,472 = $37,888. A 2-year AT-CTI associate degree at the median $4,917 a year comes to $9,834. Not included: fees, books, housing and living costs, and travel for testing.
Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.
Where the career can lead
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Front-line manager or air traffic manager
Years as a Certified Professional Controller, then FAA supervisory and management selection and training.
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Controller at a higher-level facility
Apply to transfer to a busier tower, TRACON or en route center, then recertify on its positions.
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Commercial pilot$123,220 median
Flight training to a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating; controllers already know the airspace and radio procedures.
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Airline pilot$232,140 median
A commercial certificate plus the hours and training for an airline transport pilot certificate.
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Air traffic training or quality assurance specialist
Experience as a certified controller, then selection into FAA training, procedures or safety roles.
Can you become an air traffic controller online?
Only small parts can be done online. Some AT-CTI programs offer general education or aviation theory courses online, but air traffic control training depends on in-person simulator work. The ATSA is taken in person at a Pearson VUE center, the FAA Academy is in Oklahoma City, and certification happens on live positions at your assigned facility.
FAQ: becoming an air traffic controller
How long does it take to become an air traffic controller?
From the day you are hired, usually 2 to 4 years: several months at the FAA Academy and 1 to 3 years of on-the-job training to become a Certified Professional Controller. Before that, most people spend 2 to 4 years on an AT-CTI or bachelor's degree, or build up to 3 years of qualifying work experience. Waiting for a hiring window, the ATSA and clearances adds more.
What is the age limit to become an air traffic controller?
For FAA trainee jobs, you must be under 31 when you apply. The cutoff exists because controllers face mandatory retirement at 56. The main exception is for people with air traffic control experience in the military, who may be hired even past the cutoff. Private contract towers follow different hiring rules, but controllers there still need an FAA tower credential.
Do you need a degree to be an air traffic controller?
Not necessarily. The FAA accepts a bachelor's degree in any field, an associate or bachelor's degree from an AT-CTI school, up to 3 years of progressively responsible work experience, or a mix of education and experience. An associate degree counts only if it comes from an AT-CTI program. An AT-CTI degree also shortens or skips the FAA Academy.
What is the ATSA test?
The Air Traffic Skills Assessment is the FAA's aptitude test for controller applicants. It takes about 3.5 hours on a computer at a Pearson VUE test center and measures the cognitive abilities the FAA uses to predict who will succeed in controller training. You need a Well-Qualified result to advance. Even Enhanced AT-CTI graduates must pass it.
Can you choose where you work as an air traffic controller?
Not at first. The FAA assigns academy graduates to facilities nationwide based on staffing needs, and new controllers often start somewhere they did not pick. After certification, controllers can request transfers to other facilities, including busier ones, but each move means training and certifying again on the new facility's positions.
Sources for this guide
Checked October 28, 2026
- Air Traffic Controllers, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- Air Traffic Controller Hiring, Federal Aviation Administration · checked October 28, 2026
- FAA Announces First Two Schools for Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative Program, Federal Aviation Administration · checked October 28, 2026
- 14 CFR Part 65, Subpart B: Air Traffic Control Tower Operators (65.31, 65.33, 65.37), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
- College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education · checked October 28, 2026
- FAA and NATCA Reach Agreement to Address Controller Fatigue by Providing More Rest Between Shifts, Federal Aviation Administration · checked October 28, 2026
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 53-2021
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- O*NET 31.0 Database (53-2021.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
Careers and Salaries is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Found an error? Tell us; corrections are listed on the editorial policy page.