NCEPT Guide

Primary NCEPT is the main transfer pathway for controllers moving to Non-Academy Sourced facilities (large TRACONs, busy towers, etc.). Primary panels run monthly.

Releasing Criteria (your current facility must meet):

Gaining Criteria (the destination facility must meet):

Transfer timeline: Upon selection, controllers choose an effective date of transfer between 6 and 12 weeks from the beginning of the pay period following selection.

TETRA requirement: If the gaining facility requires TETRA, the FOL is contingent on enrollment and successful completion (minimum 70% final grade). Failure to pass results in transfer back to the prior facility.

Failure to certify: Controllers who do not certify at the new facility (except hardship cases) are transferred back to their prior facility. They are not processed through NEST. No PCS benefits.

Secondary NCEPT covers all voluntary movement not handled by Primary: this includes movements between Academy Sourced facilities, tower-to-tower lateral moves, and any other combination. Panels run quarterly, commencing 7 months after the first Primary panel (January 2027).

Releasing Criteria:

Gaining Criteria:

Per Section 12(A) of the MOU, both current and projected staffing are evaluated against the TSL.

Selection cap: Total Secondary selections are limited to 10% of the cumulative Primary selections made since the preceding Secondary session.

Transfer timeline: Same as Primary: 6 to 12 weeks from the pay period following selection. TETRA and failure-to-certify rules also apply.

Mutual reassignments (swaps) are evaluated annually, commencing 10 months after MOU execution (April 2027), then every 12 months. There are two types:

Standard Swaps

• Two controllers agree to swap facilities
• Both must have at least 1 year certified at their current facility
• Both facilities must have Current Staffing and Projected Staffing at or above 95%
• No more than 3 facility pay levels above current level (unless previously certified higher)
• Processed under Article 42 of the CBA (no PCS benefits)

Non-Standard Swaps

• Must be between the same type of facility (e.g. tower↔tower, center↔center)
• No more than 3 pay levels higher than current facility (unless previously certified higher)
• Minimum 2 years certified as CPC at current facility
• Both facilities at or above 90% Current and Projected staffing
• Capped at 20 pairs per session, processed first-come, first-served
• Only 1 release per facility per session
• Must not require FAA Academy courses (excluding TSEW)

A Zero-NCEPT Facility is one that has not released a controller via NCEPT in the past 3 years and cannot meet the standard releasing criteria. Zero-NCEPT releases are processed during Secondary NCEPT sessions with these special rules:

• May release a BUE regardless of current or projected staffing
• Releases to Non-Academy Sourced facilities are not subject to the Secondary cap
• Releases to Academy Sourced facilities are subject to the cap and subordinate to other Secondary placements
• Non-Academy Sourced facilities are initially excluded from Zero-NCEPT; subject to review 12 months after MOU execution
• Failure to certify results in transfer back to prior facility (not processed through NEST)

See which facilities may currently qualify →

Incentive awards are available for controllers who accept placements at certain facilities under Primary or Secondary NCEPT. Tier designations were fixed at MOU execution based on each facility's projected staffing percentage at that time. See the full tier list in the MOU.

* C90, N90, and PHL are permanently Tier 3 regardless of staffing.

† ZNY is eligible for Tier 3 for En Route → En Route transfers only.

Payment structure: $15K upon FOL acceptance + remainder upon CPC certification. Both require a 12-month retention period or the award may be recouped.

Geographic bonus: An additional $10,000 is available for transfers to facilities in high-cost areas, payable on top of the tiered award upon FOL acceptance: BOS, EWR, JFK, LAX, LGA, LGB, MIA, MYF, N90, S46, SCT, SEA, SFO, SNA, TEB, VNY, ZNY. See Appendix I.

Incentive sunset: Incentives stop when a facility's projected staffing exceeds 95%. Once removed, a facility cannot regain incentive eligibility, even if staffing drops back below 95%.

To request a transfer, controllers submit an Employee Requested Reassignment (ERR) by going to err.faa.gov, which will redirect you to USAJobs to begin your application. Key rules:

• ERRs remain active for 90 days from submission date
• You can update or withdraw an ERR at any time before expiration
• Once you accept a TOL to a facility, all other active ERRs are cancelled
• If you decline a TOL for a facility, you must re-submit an ERR for that facility to be reconsidered
• After the June 2026 panel, ERRs not submitted through AVIATOR will not be considered
• No PCS benefits unless the selection was tied to a vacancy announcement that authorized them