How Do You Get Into The FAA Academy?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Be a United States citizen.
  2. Be age 30 or under (on the closing date of the application period)
  3. Pass a medical examination.
  4. Pass a security investigation.
  5. Pass the FAA air traffic pre-employment test.
  6. Speak English clearly enough to be understood over communications equipment.

How long is FAA ATC Academy?

FAA Academy training takes

two to five months

to complete depending on one’s experience, and it can take two to four years of on-the-job training to become fully certified. Some may become fully certified in as few as five years, while others can take eight years or more.

Do you get paid at the FAA Academy?

As of January 2016, the initial pay for entry-level air traffic controllers while receiving initial training at the FAA Academy is

$18,343 per annum

, not including locality pay.

Is Air Traffic Control School Hard?

Question: How tough is the training to become an air traffic controller? Answer:

Training is very tough

. The training process depends on which facility a person is assigned. … However, ARTCCs have a different training process that is more conducive to new hires starting there and progressing successfully.

How much does the FAA academy cost?

Training Training is available through the FAA, the military, or a college training program approved of by the FAA Degrees Avionics, aircraft maintenance, air traffic control and aviation management degrees are available Cost

(60 Credits)


$10,000 – $35,000

Is the FAA academy free?

The cost to attend

FAA Academy is $100

. When asked how they paid for their training, most reviewers responded, “My company paid for my training”.

What is the starting salary of an air traffic controller?

The average salary for an Air Traffic Control Trainee is

$66,512 per year

in United States, which is 40% higher than the average FAA salary of $47,385 per year for this job.

Why do air traffic controllers have to be under 31?

Almost universally, trainee controllers begin work in their twenties and retire in their fifties. This is due to an FAA requirement that

trainees begin their training at the Academy no later than their 31st birthday

, and face mandatory retirement at age 56.

Do air traffic controllers make more than pilots?


Most pilots have higher salaries than ATC

. According to FAA (2012) the average commercial airline pilots received $US110, 000 per year. This shows that most pilots may have less worry about their financial problems and therefore less stress.

How many days a week do air traffic controllers work?

Air traffic controllers usually work

between 37 and 40 hours a week

, but this is spread out over days, nights, weekends and public holidays. Air traffic control has to be manned 24 hours a day, so shift work is used to ensure there is always cover.

Is air traffic control a good career?

Air traffic control (ATC) is

a unique career

, unlike many others. … However, despite the long list of requirements that are needed to become an air traffic controller, it can be an incredibly rewarding career with many perks and perhaps only a few drawbacks.

Is there a shortage of air traffic controllers?

According to the International Federation of Air Traffic Control Associations (IFATCA), there is

a global shortage of controllers by 10%

while another 15% are needed to transition to SESAR and NextGen.

What happens if an air traffic controller messed up?

An air traffic controller could be responsible for

a crash based on the legal theory of negligence

. Negligence lawsuits are the most common in aviation accidents that stem from human error, such as an incompetent pilot making a bad landing.

What do you have to study to become an air traffic controller?

Candidates typically need an

associate’s or a bachelor’s degree from the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative program

. Other applicants must have 3 years of progressively responsible work experience, have completed 4 years of college, or have a combination of both.

How long does it take to become a air traffic controller?

FAA academy generally takes two to five months to complete, depending on your experience. It then takes another two to four years of on-the-job training to become fully certified. Air traffic controllers may become fully certified in as

little as five years

, or as many as eight.

Where is FAA Academy located?

FAA Academy is located in

Oklahoma City, OK

, but also offers classes online.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.