How to Enroll at an Air Traffic Control School

Air traffic control school can teach you everything you need to know to direct planes safely from takeoff to landing. But becoming an air traffic control officer is not easy. It takes a commitment to getting a 4-year degree and the extra training to gain certification. If you're really interested in becoming an air traffic controller, direct yourself down the runway to your career by following these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Find a school with an aviation technology major. There are 14 schools in the United States that support the Federal Aviation Administration's College Training Institute Initiative. These schools are usually preferred if you want to work for the government.
2. Make sure you have the grades in high school to attend one of these schools. The curriculum will be tough, and it takes dedication.
3. Select a school that has a job placement opportunity with the FAA. All 14 Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative schools have a placement program. If you chose another school with an aviation technology degree, check with your advisor or the head of the department to see how you can maximize your job opportunities.
4. Choose a school close to an airport, so you can land a summer internship to practice your craft and gain valuable experience.

Tips & Warnings

• After your 4-year education, you will be required to pass an FAA aptitude test and then complete 12 to 15 more weeks of FAA training.
• Air traffic controllers are in demand and can make upwards of $95,000 a year.
• Choose a school with an air traffic control simulation lab for hands-on learning.
• Be prepared for possible high stress levels. As an air traffic control officer, you are responsible for the lives aboard every time a plane takes off or lands.
• You must be a US citizen and less than 30 years old at the time of hiring by the FAA to be an air traffic control officer.