The Federal Aviation Administration has set a target of 2,200 new air traffic controller hires in fiscal year 2026, followed by targets of 2,300 in FY 2027 and 2,400 in FY 2028.
The figures appear in the FAA’s 2026-2028 Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan. They are agency hiring targets, not a forecast of how many individual applicants will pass the selection process.
ATCPracticeTest.com is an independent preparation resource. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA. Applicants should confirm current vacancy windows and requirements through the FAA and USAJOBS.
What the FAA announced
The plan is built around three priorities:
- expanding controller hiring and training;
- improving scheduling and workforce efficiency;
- modernizing the National Airspace System and controller technology.
The FAA said it had approximately 11,000 Certified Professional Controllers deployed as of April 2026, plus roughly 4,000 controllers in the training pipeline. The agency identified a longer-term full-staffing target of 12,563 Certified Professional Controllers.
The plan also calls for expanded simulator-based training, additional collegiate partnerships, improved Academy graduate placement, and targeted training for candidates assigned to more complex facilities.
What this means for applicants
Higher hiring targets can create more opportunities, but they do not remove the normal screening stages.
Most entry-level applicants should still expect:
- an eligible FAA vacancy announcement;
- the Air Traffic Skills Assessment;
- FAA selection and suitability review;
- medical and security clearance;
- Academy or approved pathway training;
- facility-specific training and certification.
Applicants who are unfamiliar with the assessment should begin with What is the ATSA? before choosing any preparation strategy.
Hiring targets are not acceptance rates
The FAA’s published numbers describe how many new controllers it aims to hire. They do not reveal an applicant acceptance rate and do not guarantee that every vacancy will remain open for a fixed period.
The FAA has previously closed announcements after reaching a stated application cap. Candidates should therefore monitor the FAA hiring process and official USAJOBS notices rather than relying on an annual timetable alone.
Training capacity remains a bottleneck
Hiring is only the first stage of workforce growth. New controllers require extensive training, and certification can take more than two years depending on facility complexity.
The workforce plan addresses this constraint through expanded simulations, higher Academy capacity, additional instructors, collegiate pathways, and improved placement. Even so, hiring targets and fully certified staffing levels are not interchangeable.