On-the-job training (OJT) is the final supervised phase in NAV CANADA’s published operational training pathways. Trainees move from earlier classroom and simulator work to instruction at their assigned facility. The employer pairs controller trainees with licensed controllers, and flight service specialists with certified specialists. OJT is not the same as watching a simulator video, taking a selection test or independently controlling traffic.
Reviewed November 7, 2026. The following are published training ranges, not guaranteed personal completion dates, instructor schedules or licensing criteria.
Official OJT durations: four different roles
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| Training stream | Published OJT duration | Location and schedule |
|---|---|---|
| ACC controller | 8-12 months | Area control centre; 34 hours per week |
| Tower controller | 6-18 months | Assigned tower; 34 hours per week |
| FIC flight service specialist | 9-11 months | Assigned flight information centre; 37.5 hours per week |
| AAS flight service specialist | 3-5 months | Assigned flight service unit; 37.5 hours per week |
Controller durations and hours come from NAV CANADA’s Air Traffic Control Selection and Training page; FIC/AAS durations and hours come from its distinct Flight Service Selection and Training page. The employer explicitly notes that training times can vary with location and course complexity.
Who supervises trainees?
An ACC trainee is paired with a licensed ACC controller serving as the on-the-job instructor. A tower trainee is paired with a licensed tower controller at the assigned tower. The two controller streams operate in different environments; neither instructor designation is interchangeable by assumption.
For FIC and AAS trainees, NAV CANADA describes an instructor who is a certified flight service specialist. The FIC trainee works in a flight information centre, while an AAS trainee works at an assigned flight service unit. These are specialist qualifications, not controller licences.
Actual instructor assignment, local unit standards, access permissions, supervision ratios and assessment thresholds are employer-controlled. This guide does not reproduce internal checklists or operational procedures.
When does operational training start?
OJT follows earlier classroom, simulator and any relevant specialty courses. For an ACC controller, NAV CANADA publishes generic training followed by a specialty-specific simulator course before OJT. For a tower controller, an additional complex-tower course may be required for certain assignments.
For FSS trainees, FIC and AAS each have their own initial course followed by separate OJT. Their initial courses and operational functions are not the same as ATC controller qualifications. For phase lengths, see basic training and the complete training timeline.
An assessment-centre exercise from the recruitment process is not OJT. Only selected trainees who meet the employer’s conditions enter the training programme.
How the work schedule changes
During initial controller classroom and simulator phases, NAV CANADA lists 37.5 hours per week, generally Monday through Friday. When controllers move to OJT, the published workweek changes to 34 hours and shift schedules apply.
Flight Service Specialists do not adopt the 34-hour controller OJT schedule. The official FIC and AAS programme tables give 37.5 hours per week for their OJT, even when working shifts. The NAV CANADA Careers in Aviation FAQ confirms this distinction.
Actual rosters, assignments and time off are set by the training provider and applicable policies. These figures do not describe every shift length or authorise unsupervised operational work.
What happens after OJT?
The employer describes OJT as lasting until trainees meet the applicable licensing or certification standard for independent work. Simply completing a number of months does not create a licence or job guarantee. NAV CANADA states trainees undergo evaluations throughout training.
For context, NAV CANADA publishes 20-27 months as an ACC controller’s total training duration and 12-18 months for a tower controller; FIC total training lasts 14-17 months and AAS 8-11 months. These totals and phase ranges are not a personal schedule you should compute by adding every maximum.
NAV CANADA and the applicable licensing bodies determine standards, required experience and qualification outcomes. Do not rely on a practice site’s invented pass threshold or on anecdotes from different facilities.
Two free original interpretation exercises
These are independent educational questions, not real NAV CANADA operational situations, training assessments, radio instructions or confidential scenarios.
Example 1 - Which schedule applies?
A fictional FIC trainee reads that controllers switch to 34 hours a week during OJT. Can the FIC trainee assume the same weekly schedule?
Show the FIC schedule explanation
No. NAV CANADA publishes 37.5 hours per week for FIC on-the-job training, while 34 hours applies to controller OJT. A trainee must follow the actual employer roster.
Example 2 - Does the upper duration guarantee a licence?
A fictional tower trainee reads “6-18 months OJT” and thinks the eighteenth month guarantees qualification even if required standards have not been met. Is that supported?
Show the qualification boundary
No. The published 6-18-month range is descriptive, not a guaranteed qualification date. Independent operational work depends on the employer's assessment and applicable licensing requirements.
Preparing responsibly for supervised work
A useful preparation routine is to review authorised course material, note topics you do not yet understand, and ask instructors for clarification. Keep personal learning notes accurate and protect confidential operational information. Do not try to copy internal assessment rubrics, share restricted simulator scenarios or construct unsanctioned replicas of local control procedures.
This is an educational article, not a replacement for supervised operational training. Follow the assigned instructor and official training plan whenever guidance conflicts.
Official sources and editorial neutrality
- NAV CANADA - Air Traffic Control Selection and Training: ACC and tower instructor types, workweeks, OJT ranges and training totals.
- NAV CANADA - Flight Service Selection and Training: FIC and AAS certified instructors, OJT durations, shifts and programme totals.
- NAV CANADA - Careers in Aviation: training shift-hours distinction and regular evaluations.
- NAV CANADA - Air Traffic Controller: full-time training and role-specific operational assignment.
- NAV CANADA - Flight Service Specialist: distinct flight-service certification paths.
There are no direct commercial or affiliate links on this page. FEAST, ATSA and third-party products marketed for pre-employment tests are not substitutes for authorised NAV CANADA on-the-job training.