The best way to become an air traffic controller is to start at a college or university that offers a program that is recognized by the FAA. There are currently 23 FAA accredited schools that offer an air traffic control College Training Initiative (CTI) program, as of November 2007. (see list below) The receipt of your college degree does not guarantee that you will be hired by the FAA, but it definitely gives you your best shot.

I went to a 2-year program at Miami Dade College, in Florida. I received a phone call from the FAA about a month after I graduated. Not all graduates are this lucky, although as much as the government needs controllers, I can’t imagine that in the coming years, it would be too long of a wait. I believe the higher your grade-point-average (GPA)…the closer to the top of the best-qualified list you will be placed. So plan to keep you nose in the books.

A few notes to consider prior to trucking off to school, you must:
1) Be a U.S. citizen,
2) Be hired prior to your 31st birthday,
3) Pass the FAA’s air traffic control exam,
4) Pass a medical exam which includes, but not limited to:
vision (ensure you are not color blind prior to dedicating
your time and money to this career), hearing, and substance
abuse/dependency, and
5) Pass an extensive background check.

The following is the basic process for being hired:
1) Get a degree from a college with an air traffic control (CTI) program,
2) Take and pass the FAA’s air traffic control exam,
3) When FAA initiates their interest in you: pass a medical exam and
background check,
4) Pass a simple interview and psychological test,
5) Select a facility that is offered to you,
6) Get hired,
7) Go to the FAA Academy for air traffic control school*, and
8) After completion of the academy, report to your facility.

*Depending on the college program you graduated from and the facility you chose to work for, you may be able to bypass the FAA academy and go straight to your facility and begin on-the-job-training (OJT).

Arizona State University
Mesa, AZ

Community College of Beaver County
Beaver Falls, PA

Daniel Webster College
Nashua, NH

Dowling College
Shirley, NY

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Daytona Beach, FL

Florida Community College at Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL

Green River Community College
Auburn, WA

Hampton University
Hampton, VA

InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico
San Juan, PR

Kent State University
Kent, OH

Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Miami Dade County College
Homestead, FL

Middle Georgia College
Cochran, GA

Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN

Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Minneapolis, MN

Mount San Antonio College
Walnut, CA

Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN

The Community College of Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD

The Metropolitan State College of Denver
Denver, CO

University of Alaska, Anchorage
Anchorage, AK

University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND

University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
Flushing, NY