How do you become an Air Traffic Controller?

If you want to be a controller you have three options in the US.





Joint the military. Self explanitory. Talk to a recruiter, and if you want, when your tour is up, apply to the FAA.





Join off the street (OTS). Apply to the FAA, take the entrance exam and get an academy class date.





Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI). Complete a degree, 2 or 4 year, at one of the 14 schools www.atccti.com for a list, and you'll be directly hired to the FAA.





OTS hires have a much tougher road ahead of them statistically that military or CTI hires, especially if you have no aviation experience, so there is a reason to think about spending some time learning ATC before making the plunge since you only get one shot.





Additionally you've got to be 31 by the tiem you get yoru offer and not have any medical conditions that might hurt your ability to control traffic safely. As a rule of thumb you also cannot be on any meds that would carry a don't operate heavy machinery warning or that alter your phychology aeven if they are commonly prescribed drugs.





Regardless of your decision, best of luck.How do you become an Air Traffic Controller?
First, give up your day job at McDonalds. The way the air traffic is backed up these days, there must be a clown running it. I spend 1 1/2 hours on the ground yesterday at JFK in a long line of planes waiting to take off. But we left the terminal on time!How do you become an Air Traffic Controller?
My husband joined the Army and learned by doing, then he applied with the FAA. Went to work in a very small town at a Flight Service station, moved twice. Ended up in Wichita, Kansas. Went to OKC, for 6 weeks training, then back to Wichita....smaller facilities are better, not as stressful....Live near the larger cities, but work in a smaller facility...better living, less costly, better education, go play and come back home...Good Luck
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