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The FAA air traffic controller hiring process is a multi-stage federal selection process. Candidates usually move from an online application to aptitude testing, medical and security screening, FAA Academy training, and facility-based on-the-job training.

The exact timeline can change from one hiring announcement to another. Always verify deadlines, eligibility rules, and required documents on the official FAA and USAJOBS pages before applying.

Independent site notice: ATCPracticeTest.com is an independent educational website. We are not affiliated with the FAA, USAJOBS, Pearson VUE, the U.S. Department of Transportation, or any official aviation authority.

Who this guide is for

This guide is for U.S. candidates who want to understand how the FAA hires entry-level air traffic control specialists. It is especially useful if you are preparing for the ATSA, deciding whether you meet the basic eligibility requirements, or trying to understand what happens after you submit an application.

If you are still researching the career itself, start with our ATC career hub. If your immediate concern is test preparation, read our ATSA practice test guide.

FAA air traffic controller hiring process overview

For entry-level applicants, the process generally includes these stages:

  1. Confirm you meet the basic eligibility requirements.
  2. Apply during an open FAA hiring announcement, usually through USAJOBS.
  3. Submit the required resume and supporting documents.
  4. Take the Air Traffic Skills Assessment, commonly called the ATSA.
  5. Complete medical, psychological, drug, and security screening.
  6. Receive a tentative offer or placement instructions if selected.
  7. Attend FAA Academy training in Oklahoma City, when required.
  8. Continue training at an assigned facility.
  9. Certify as a controller after successful on-the-job training.

The FAA describes a streamlined process that includes applying on USAJOBS, taking the ATSA, completing medical and security clearance, attending Academy training, and then entering on-the-job experience. The official FAA hiring page also notes that announcements can close early, so candidates should not wait until the final day to apply.

FAA hiring process changes in 2025

Our FAA Controller Workforce Plan 2026–2028 guide summarizes the current FAA workforce strategy; the 2025–2028 edition documents an official FAA process update: the agency moved from a linear eight-step hiring model to a continuous-flow five-step process.

According to that summary, the redesign may reduce time-to-hire by more than four months by allowing some steps to proceed in parallel. The exact step names and order can change—always confirm the current model on FAA air traffic controller hiring and your official candidate communications.

This change does not remove major milestones. Candidates still typically face application screening, ATSA testing, medical and security clearance, training placement, and facility certification pathways.

Step 1: Check basic eligibility

Before spending time on application materials, confirm that you are likely to meet the baseline FAA requirements. Entry-level FAA air traffic controller applicants generally need to be U.S. citizens, be under age 31 when applying, speak English clearly, pass the required medical examination, pass a security investigation, pass FAA pre-employment tests including the ATSA, and meet the FAA’s education or work-experience threshold.

The FAA describes the work-experience/education threshold as one year of progressively responsible work experience, a bachelor’s degree, or a combination of post-secondary education and work experience that totals one year.

For a fuller breakdown, read our FAA ATC requirements guide and FAA age limit guide.

Step 2: Watch for an FAA hiring announcement

The FAA does not accept entry-level applications every day of the year. Candidates normally apply during specific hiring windows. These announcements are typically posted through USAJOBS and may have strict closing dates, applicant caps, or document requirements.

Before an announcement opens, prepare:

  • a USAJOBS account;
  • a federal-style resume;
  • transcript information, if applicable;
  • veteran documentation, if claiming preference;
  • CTI documentation, if applicable to that announcement;
  • accurate work-history dates and hours worked per week.

FAA hiring announcements can be competitive and time-sensitive. Treat the application like a formal federal hiring document, not a casual private-sector resume submission.

Step 3: Submit the USAJOBS application

The application usually requires a resume and supporting documentation. Read the announcement carefully. Federal resumes often require more detail than standard one-page private-sector resumes, including dates, hours worked per week, duties, and qualifications.

Common mistakes include leaving out required documents, using vague work descriptions, missing the deadline, or submitting a resume that does not clearly show eligibility.

A strong application should make it easy for reviewers to understand that you meet the announcement’s requirements. Do not exaggerate experience, but do not undersell responsibilities that demonstrate judgment, multitasking, communication, reliability, or decision-making.

Step 4: Take the ATSA

The Air Traffic Skills Assessment is a pre-employment aptitude test used in the FAA controller selection process. The FAA describes it as a computer-based test of cognitive skills taken in person at Pearson VUE.

The ATSA is not a knowledge test about aviation regulations. It is designed to assess aptitude-related skills that matter in air traffic control, such as memory, attention, spatial reasoning, decision-making, multitasking, and work-style fit.

Useful ATSA preparation pages:

Preparation should focus on becoming familiar with question types and reducing avoidable mistakes. No practice product can guarantee a passing score or FAA selection.

Step 5: Complete medical and security screening

Candidates who continue after testing may need to complete additional screening. This can include fingerprinting, background checks, drug testing, a medical exam, and psychological evaluation.

The FAA states that controller candidates must be physically and mentally fit and meet standards related to vision, hearing, cardiovascular, neurological, and psychiatric health. These standards exist because air traffic control is safety-critical work.

Do not rely on third-party summaries for final medical eligibility. Use official FAA instructions and communicate honestly during medical screening.

Step 6: Attend the FAA Academy, if required

Many entry-level candidates attend the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City before reporting to a facility. FAA Academy training includes classroom instruction and simulation-based training. The FAA’s Air Traffic Division provides courses for both Terminal Tower and En Route options.

Academy training is not a formality. Candidates must demonstrate that they can apply procedures, communicate clearly, manage workload, and perform in simulated operational environments.

Read more in our FAA Academy guide.

Step 7: Continue on-the-job training at a facility

After Academy training, candidates who continue in the process are assigned to operational facilities. On-the-job training can take significant time. The FAA hiring page describes a path in which graduates gain one to three years of experience before becoming Certified Professional Controllers.

Facility training depends on the type and complexity of the facility, staffing, training progress, and operational needs. Some candidates train in tower environments, while others train in en route or radar environments.

How long does the FAA hiring process take?

The timeline varies. Some phases depend on hiring-window timing, ATSA scheduling, medical review, security processing, Academy class availability, and facility placement. Candidates should be prepared for a process that may take months or longer from application to facility training.

The most important practical point is to respond quickly to official communications. Missing a deadline can remove you from consideration.

How to prepare before the next FAA announcement

If no entry-level announcement is currently open, use the time productively:

  • confirm eligibility;
  • create or update your USAJOBS profile;
  • prepare a detailed federal resume;
  • gather transcripts and supporting documents;
  • study the ATSA format;
  • practice cognitive test tasks;
  • learn the difference between tower, TRACON, and en route control;
  • read official FAA pages regularly.

Candidates who prepare before the announcement opens are less likely to rush the application or make avoidable document errors.

Optional vendor shortcuts (commercial)

If you want optional paid prep aligned with this page topic, compare these options:

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FAA controller hiring targets and applicant volume

Our FAA Controller Workforce Plan 2026–2028 guide summarizes official FAA hiring targets through FY 2028. These figures describe workforce planning—not a guarantee that every applicant will be selected.

Fiscal year Controller hires (per workforce plan)
FY 2024 1,811 (actual)
FY 2025 2,000 (planned)
FY 2026 2,200 (planned)
FY 2027 2,300 (estimated)
FY 2028 2,400 (estimated)

The plan also states the FAA intends at least 8,900 new controller hires through FY 2028 and that more than 16,450 applicants responded to vacancy announcements in FY 2024.

For congressional budget-request figures (which may differ slightly by fiscal year labeling), see FAA FY 2027 controller hiring and training.

What this means for applicants

  • The FAA continues to plan for substantial air traffic controller hiring, but each announcement remains competitive.
  • ATSA performance still matters for most pathways, including many Enhanced AT-CTI graduates.
  • Hiring is still limited by aptitude testing, medical and security clearance, FAA Academy seats, instructors, and field training capacity.
  • Strong preparation should cover the full pathway: application materials, ATSA test prep, medical and security screening, FAA Academy air traffic controller training, and facility-based on-the-job training.
  • Plans can change with appropriations, attrition, and operational needs. Treat these numbers as official context, not personal hiring odds.

Independent site notice: ATCPracticeTest.com is an independent preparation resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the FAA. Candidates should always verify current hiring requirements, application windows, and testing procedures through official FAA and USAJOBS sources.

Preparation resources

If you are comparing commercial catalogs while researching FAA hiring, treat them as optional—not authoritative.

You may skim: FEAST-style practice, NAV CANADA–oriented prep, and FEAST 2–oriented notes from JobTestPrep. Publisher: JobTestPrep.

Compare paid products using our guides: Best ATSA Practice Tests, JobTestPrep ATSA Review, SkyTest Review, and ATC Preparation Review. For ATSA-style interactive practice: ATC Preparation ATSA software. If you also research FEAST pathways, See our SkyTest Review and SkyTest® FEAST editions: European ATCO, UK & Ireland, and Germany, Austria & Switzerland. Always verify current vendor details before purchasing.

Bottom line

The FAA hiring process is structured, competitive, and highly procedural. The best preparation is to understand the steps early, keep official documents ready, prepare seriously for the ATSA, and treat every deadline as firm.

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