How to Become an Air Traffic Controller
An overview of the air traffic control hiring process in the United States
If you've found this page, you're on a promising path. Air traffic control is a highly unique and rewarding career. It is relatively unknown but highly sought after due to excellent pay, federal benefits, and job security. However, getting hired is not quite as simple as submitting a traditional résumé. This page will explain the hiring pipeline and guide you through your first steps.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) periodically conducts hiring campaigns to recruit the next generation of air traffic controllers. Below is a structured roadmap detailing the phases of this journey, followed by specific requirements, eligibility guidelines, and preparation resources.
TBA
The date of the next FAA All-Sources hiring bid has not yet been announced.
- Confirm qualifications
- Set up USAJobs alerts
- Start ATSA preparation
The Air Traffic Controller Hiring Journey
A step-by-step roadmap outlining the path from prospective applicant to certified controller.
Phase 1: Eligibility Check
Verify you meet the strict criteria: U.S. citizenship, under 31 years of age, and either 3 years of full-time work experience, a 4-year degree (or equivalent combination), or a CTI/military background.
Phase 2: Federal Resume & USAJobs Profile
Create an account on USAJobs.gov, build your federal profile, and utilize the site's official Resume Builder to document your credentials in detail before a hiring window opens.
Phase 3: The All-Sources Hiring Bid
Apply immediately during an active All-Sources ("Off-The-Street") hiring bid window. Because the FAA periodically caps incoming applications, prompt submission is highly recommended.
Phase 4: Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA)
Receive your invitation (typically 8–10 weeks post-bid closure) to take the computer-based ATSA exam. Your score category determines your priority for receiving a tentative offer.
Phase 5: Clearances & Medical Vetting
Navigate the pre-employment clearance process, which includes a comprehensive medical evaluation, psychiatric assessment, background investigation, and drug testing.
Phase 6: The FAA Academy & Placement
Attend the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City for intensive training (approx. 3–4 months). Upon graduation, select your facility placement based on class performance and begin on-the-job certification.
Employers
FAA
In the United States, the National Airspace System is operated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), making it the primary employer of air traffic controllers. The FAA offers the best pay and benefits, and hires people without any prior experience or education in air traffic control. Due to these factors, this website focuses heavily on getting hired by the FAA.
Military
The U.S. military trains enlisted service members as air traffic controllers across various installations globally. Many of these controllers transition into employment with the FAA after completing their military service commitments, bypassing off-the-street requirements. Military ATC careers require enlistment and follow distinct service-specific channels.
Contract & DoD
The FAA contracts out operations at low-activity control towers to private contractors. The Department of Defense (DoD) also hires civilian controllers on a contract basis. These roles typically require active certified experience (CTO/FAA credentials) and may entail international assignments, including operational support overseas.
FAA Hiring Announcements
The FAA does not accept applications continuously. Instead, they release periodic hiring announcements (known as "bids"). Applications are processed in batches, with the FAA recruiting several thousand candidates from a single bid. The FAA issues two distinct types of bids:
Prior Experience Bids
These announcements are tailored specifically for experienced controllers. Applicants must document at least 52 weeks of full-time, post-certification experience as a controller in either civilian or military air traffic facilities.
All-Sources (AKA "Off the Street") Bids
If you do not have prior certified controller experience, this is the bid you must watch for. Candidates from any career background can apply, provided they meet the basic requirements. Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) graduates and veterans receive special consideration categories.
How to Apply to an All-Sources Bid
All FAA air traffic control vacancies are posted on the federal government's official jobs portal, USAJobs.gov. To apply, you must establish a personal profile. We recommend preparing your resume using the portal's online Resume Builder tool, rather than uploading an external PDF, to ensure federal parsing compliance.
Key Details to Expect in the Announcement:
- 1 Title: Typically listed as Air Traffic Control Specialist - Trainee.
- 2 Status: Initial appointment is temporary; it transitions to permanent status only upon passing the FAA Academy.
- 3 Salary: Trainee rate (approx. $47,000/yr) is paid while at the Academy, augmented by a non-taxable lodging/food per diem of approx. $100/day.
- 4 Location: Listed as "United States". Permanent facilities are selected during Academy graduation based on final class standing ranking.
Hiring Projections
Every year, the FAA outlines its hiring projections and recruitment targets in its official Controller Workforce Plan. The latest plan targets hiring 2,000 new controllers annually to mitigate retirements and staffing shortages.
When is the Next Hiring Announcement?
The FAA typically releases bids with minimal advance notice. Reviewing historical timeline windows helps estimate future cycles:
Tip: In USAJobs, you can save searches for "2152" (the federal job classification code for Air Traffic Control) to receive instant email notifications of new vacancy announcements.
Requirements
The requirements below represent the standard criteria set by the FAA during off-the-street hiring cycles. These criteria are strictly enforced.
Applicants must qualify under either Pool 1 or Pool 2 as defined below:
Pool 1: Collegiate & Military
Pool 2: General Experience & Education
What to Expect After Applying
The FAA reviews applications to establish basic eligibility. Because minimum qualifications place candidates on equal footing, the primary differentiator in the hiring pipeline is the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam. High performance on this aptitude test is crucial to receiving a tentative offer of employment.
Prepare for the ATSA Exam
The ATSA measures critical cognitive abilities: short-term memory, spatial orientation, rapid decision making, math aptitude, and reading comprehension. Because test performance determines your score category (Best Qualified, Well Qualified, Qualified), dedicated preparation is highly recommended.