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The FAA Academy is a major step in the training pipeline for many new FAA air traffic controller candidates. After applying, taking the ATSA, and clearing required screening, selected candidates may attend FAA Academy training before continuing to an assigned facility.

Academy training is not simply an orientation. It is a formal training environment where candidates begin learning the procedures, phraseology, decision-making habits, and operational discipline required for air traffic control.

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What is the FAA Academy?

The FAA Academy provides technical and managerial training for the FAA workforce and the aviation community. For air traffic control, the FAA’s Air Traffic Division provides technical training in the Air Traffic Control Specialist occupation.

The FAA describes air traffic training as including classroom instruction, real-life simulation, state-of-the-art air traffic control simulators, and instruction from experienced instructors.

For many entry-level controller candidates, Academy training is the bridge between selection and facility-based on-the-job training.

Where is the FAA Academy?

The FAA Academy is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Candidates selected for applicable FAA air traffic controller training may be sent there for initial training before reporting to an operational facility.

Do not make travel or housing assumptions based on old forum posts. Follow the official instructions provided by the FAA for your class, track, and hiring pathway.

Who goes to the FAA Academy?

Many entry-level FAA controller candidates attend the Academy. However, requirements can vary by hiring pathway, prior experience, announcement type, and FAA policy.

For example, a candidate applying through a general entry-level announcement may follow a different route than someone with prior certified air traffic control experience. Always rely on the specific instructions in your official FAA communications.

What happens before the Academy?

Before a candidate reaches the Academy, the process may include:

  1. confirming eligibility;
  2. submitting a USAJOBS application;
  3. taking the ATSA;
  4. completing medical screening;
  5. completing security screening;
  6. receiving selection and training instructions.

Read the full sequence in our FAA hiring process guide.

What does FAA Academy ATC training include?

FAA Academy air traffic training can include:

  • classroom instruction;
  • aviation terminology;
  • airspace concepts;
  • ATC procedures;
  • phraseology;
  • separation concepts;
  • simulation exercises;
  • performance evaluation;
  • track-specific instruction.

The FAA notes that its air traffic technical training includes both Terminal Tower and En Route options. These tracks reflect different operational environments.

FAA Investment in Controller Training and Simulation

Our FAA FY 2027 controller hiring and training guide describes continued funding for controller training beyond basic hiring numbers. For candidates, the takeaway is that training capacity and modernization remain budget priorities-not that every trainee will use the same equipment on day one.

According to that summary, FAA funding in the controller hiring and training area can support:

  • Academy and field training;
  • training support contracts;
  • major course revisions;
  • ATSA testing and related applicant screening steps;
  • MMPI testing used in the medical clearance process for applicants.

The budget also includes investment in ATC Advanced Training Technologies, including tower simulators. The document requests $100 million for ATC Advanced Training Technologies – Tower Simulators, described as supporting FAA Academy and ATC training and as a potential way to help reduce training time.

Simulation-based training is part of the FAA’s broader effort to improve training throughput and consistency. Individual class schedules, simulator exposure, and facility assignments still depend on FAA training policy and operational needs. Do not assume you will train on a specific simulator model unless your official FAA training instructions say so.

If you are earlier in the pipeline, connect this stage to FAA controller hiring targets and ATSA test preparation before Academy placement.

FAA Academy and field training capacity

The FAA Controller Workforce Plan 2026–2028 describes FAA Academy capacity, instructor availability, and field training absorption as practical limits on how many controller trainees move through the pipeline each year-even when annual hiring targets are high.

According to that summary, hiring can also be constrained by:

  • aptitude testing throughput (including ATSA);
  • medical and security clearance processing;
  • Academy seat availability in Oklahoma City;
  • contract instructor capacity;
  • each facility’s ability to train new hires on the job.

The plan notes that new controllers are often hired on timelines that plan two to three years ahead of expected attrition. That means selected candidates may wait for class dates or facility assignments even after receiving a tentative offer.

Do not assume that higher hiring targets guarantee immediate Academy start dates.

Terminal vs. En Route training

FAA controller training may involve different tracks depending on assignment and workforce needs.

Terminal Tower

Terminal tower controllers work with aircraft at and near airports. Training may emphasize airport movement, takeoffs, landings, local traffic patterns, ground control, runway use, and visual coordination.

En Route

En route controllers work aircraft across larger sectors of controlled airspace, often at higher altitudes and over longer distances. Training may emphasize radar separation, sector management, coordination, and sustained traffic flow.

Both paths require accuracy, communication, and workload management. Neither should be treated as easy.

Is FAA Academy training difficult?

Yes, it can be demanding. Candidates are expected to learn quickly, apply procedures accurately, communicate clearly, and perform under evaluation.

The Academy environment may feel different from college or private test prep because the goal is operational readiness. Performance matters, and candidates who cannot meet required standards may not continue.

Good preparation before the Academy includes building strong study habits, learning basic aviation concepts, and taking the hiring process seriously from the beginning. However, do not try to memorize unofficial procedures from random sources. FAA training standards and current course materials control.

How long is FAA Academy training?

The length can vary by track, course, FAA policy, and operational needs. The FAA’s current hiring page describes Academy training as lasting several months. Candidates should follow their official class instructions for exact dates.

After Academy training, candidates generally continue training at an assigned facility. Becoming a Certified Professional Controller can take additional time.

Are candidates paid during FAA Academy training?

Yes. The FAA air traffic controller hiring page states that Academy training is paid, references an hourly training rate, and notes a reported 30% increase to Academy trainee starting pay. The FAA trainee pay FAQ states that ATCS trainees at the Oklahoma City Academy receive hourly salary and may receive long-term per diem.

Pay steps and locality rules may appear in FAA ATSPP pay tables. Figures can change-verify on official FAA pages. Paid training does not guarantee certification or a specific annual salary after the Academy.

For a broader compensation overview, read our FAA air traffic controller salary guide.

What happens after the FAA Academy?

After Academy graduation, candidates may be assigned to a facility for on-the-job training. This phase is where candidates learn local procedures, sectors, traffic patterns, facility equipment, and operational expectations.

The FAA describes post-Academy experience as a period in which graduates gain one to three years of experience to become Certified Professional Controllers. Actual timelines can vary by facility and individual performance.

How to prepare for the FAA Academy

Before the Academy, candidates can prepare by focusing on fundamentals:

  • build disciplined study routines;
  • practice clear verbal communication;
  • review basic aviation terminology;
  • understand tower, TRACON, and en route differences;
  • improve mental math and scanning habits;
  • sleep consistently before training;
  • take official instructions seriously;
  • avoid relying on outdated unofficial materials.

If you are earlier in the process, your immediate focus should be eligibility and the ATSA. Start with ATSA test prep and ATSA practice test.

What the FAA Academy is not

The Academy is not a guaranteed path to certification. It is also not a replacement for the full facility training pipeline. Passing earlier steps does not mean you are finished.

The Academy is one stage in a larger process:

  • application;
  • ATSA;
  • medical and security clearance;
  • Academy training;
  • facility training;
  • certification.

Each stage can affect whether a candidate continues.

Optional vendor shortcuts (commercial)

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Preparation resources

Official FAA hiring steps change over time. Commercial prep may help some candidates practice aptitude-style tasks, but it cannot replace authorized FAA, USAJOBS, or testing communications.

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Bottom line

The FAA Academy is a serious professional training environment. Candidates should arrive ready to study, communicate clearly, follow procedures, and perform under evaluation. It is a major milestone, but it is not the final step in becoming a certified FAA controller.

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