How to become and Air Traffic Controller?

Requirements

  • Age: 18-30
  • Education: High school diploma or equivalent
  • English proficiency
  • Physical health
  • Background check
  • FAA medical certification
  • Permanent Residency or citizenship

Stages

  • Monitor the ATCAT website for application dates
  • Apply online: Bio-q / Personality Evalution, Aptitude Testing: Spatial Reasoning, Pattern Recognition, Math and Decision Making
  • Medical Clearance: Checks for vision, hearing, cardiovascular, neurological and physical health
  • Security Clearance: Background check
  • Interview: Scructured quesitons
  • Offer of Employment: Pre-employment processing (security, medical, background, etc)
  • Academy Training: 6-18 months depending on the course
  • Field Trainging: 2-6 months, depending on the location
  • Certification: Passing Practical and Theory exams
  • Start your high-earning ATC career

How ATCAT Helps

    1

  • Centralized Eligibility & Application Hub
  • Provides a dashboard tracking hiring announcements, listing eligibility requirements (age, education, citizenship), and helping users organize application documents and resume details to meet specific agency criteria.

    • 2

  • Personality Assessment Guidance
  • Offers insights into traits assessed in biographical questionnaires (stress tolerance, rule adherence), sample questions, and guidance on approaching these evaluations authentically while understanding screening goals.

    • 3

  • Interactive Aptitude Test Simulation (AT-SA Prep)
  • Features modules simulating aptitude test components (spatial reasoning, memory, logic, multitasking) with practice exercises, performance tracking, and feedback to prepare for tests like the AT-SA.

    • 4

  • Medical & Security Clearance Roadmaps
  • Includes detailed checklists, explanations of medical standards (vision, hearing, psychological), common disqualifiers, guidance on navigating security checks, and links to resources.

    • 5

  • Structured Interview Preparation Module
  • Curates common ATC interview questions (behavioral, situational), offers answer structuring frameworks (like STAR), provides communication tips, and potentially includes mock interview scenarios.

    • 6

  • Academy Knowledge Base & Study Tools
  • Creates a resource center covering core academy topics (regulations, procedures, weather) with digital flashcards, quizzes, summaries, and simplified explanations to supplement official materials.

    • 7

  • Phraseology Practice & Simulation
  • Develops interactive tools for learning standard ICAO/FAA phraseology, including flashcards, audio drills, and basic simulations for practicing clearances and readbacks.

    • 8

  • Field Training (OJT) Foundational Support
  • Offers general resources useful during OJT, such as guides on shift work adaptation, strategies for learning complex airspace, advanced phraseology refreshers, and training log templates.

    • 9

  • Progress Tracking & Timeline Management
  • Allows users to track their progress through application and training stages, providing estimated timelines, deadline reminders, and a visual representation of their journey.

    • 10

  • Community Forum & Peer Support Network
  • Integrates a platform for aspiring and current trainees to connect, share experiences, ask questions, offer encouragement, and provide peer-to-peer support.
Sign me up FREE!