Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative Program (AT-CTI)

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The FAA Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program is designed to establish partnerships with higher educational institutions to broaden the employment opportunities in the aviation industry, including air traffic controllers. AT-CTI graduates are not guaranteed jobs as air traffic controllers although the FAA considers AT-CTI graduates a valuable hiring source for air traffic control specialist (ATCS) positions.

The goal of the program is to encourage high school graduates to pursue aviation related degrees that will benefit the FAA and aviation as a whole. A number of those pursuing a career as an air traffic controller will not be eligible for employment for various reasons including not passing the prerequisite Air Traffic Skills and Training (ATSAT) test, an aptitude test given to candidates with no previous air traffic control experience. All students should carefully consider a degree that provides them qualifications for other aviation related careers.

The FAA has agreements with 36 institutions across the country that have included curriculum that we consider the fundamentals of aviation within their degree programs. The fundamentals include basic information such as aircraft characteristics, weather; airspace; teamwork in aviation, navigation including charts, and search and rescue just to name a few. The degree programs contain much more aviation related material than we require.

Each school submits degrees to be part of the program. Currently the 36 institutions offer 15 different Associates, 37 Bachelors, and 3 Masters degree programs. A complete list can be found at AT-CTI Schools.

In addition to successful completion of your degree, there are other requirements that you should consider before committing yourself. In order to be considered, you:

• MUST be United States citizens and, if required, registered for the selective service.
• Receive an official school recommendation. Each school determines the criteria for recommendation to the FAA, which could include grade point average, attendance, and/or a Capstone project or test.
• In most cases, not have reached age 31 prior to appointment (offered a job as an air traffic controller).
• Pass a rigorous medical examination.
• Successfully pass both a background and a security investigation.
• Achieve a score of at least 70 on the FAA pre-employment test (ATSAT).
• Speak English clearly enough for others to understand you on communications equipment.
• Successfully complete an interview to determine whether the candidate possesses the personal characteristics necessary for the performance of air traffic control work and that the candidate is able to speak English clearly enough to be understood over radios, intercoms, and similar communications equipment.

Provided you meet all the requirements above, you will be allowed to apply for a job as an air traffic controller under the "CTI Announcement." Selection for a job as an air traffic controller is dependent on your application and resume, experience, where you are willing to work and your ATSAT score. Once you have been selected and have received a Firm Offer Letter, you will be scheduled to begin your training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City to become an air traffic controller.

As a graduate of the CTI Program you will bypass the otherwise required course of "Air Traffic Basics" and be placed in "Initial Training" for the facility option for which you were selected. The length of training is 37 days for Tower and 62 days for En Route. After successful completion of the initial training, you will go to your first facility for on the job training.

For questions related to the AT-CTI Program, contact Terry Craft at (202) 385-6788 or email 9-ato-atcti@faa.gov. For questions about the specific CTI schools, contact the schools directly.

For more information on applying and maintaining your eligibility once you have applied under the CTI Announcement visit Jobs & Careers - AT-CTI.

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