Perched in a tower overlooking the airport, the air traffic controller regulates and controls commercial airline flights to ensure safety. Currently the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employs more than 14,000 Air Traffic Controllers. Each day they safely guide over 50,000 aircraft and provide air navigation services in U.S. domestic and international oceanic airspace. Broward College’s new Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) program in Air Traffic Control (ATC), developed by industry Air Traffic Operator professionals, follows FAA standards for knowledge and skills to ensure success in the field.Click here for complete plan of study.

What it's like to be an air traffic controller? Click here to see FAA's video.

The FAA has partnerships with selected colleges and universities. These schools offer two- and four-year degrees that teach basic courses in air traffic control. This is called the Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program. The program is designed to provide qualified applicants to fill developmental air traffic control specialist (ATCS) positions.

FAA will hire and train more than 15,000 new Air Traffic Controllers over the next ten years. To meet future training needs the they requires assistance of designated college programs. Projections for BC are for 100 full-time registered students with 40 students graduating each year.

To find out more about Air Traffic Control job's nature go to US department of labor at: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos108.htm

If a student is interested in the AT-CTI program and wants to be
an air traffic controller, what must she/he do?

• Graduate from an FAA approved AT-CTI program such as Broward College
• Receive an official school recommendation. BC’s minimum passing score is 82%  in ATC classes
• Be a United States citizen
• In most cases, not have reached age 31
• Pass a medical examination
• Pass a security investigation
• Achieve a score of at least 70 on the FAA pre-employment test
• Speak English clearly enough for others to understand you on communications equipment
• Complete an interview

Please go to FAA web site and look at How To Become an Air Traffic Controller by enrolling in an Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) Program.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will conduct a criminal background check and drug testing before hiring. For more information on FAA requirements go to their Air Traffic Controller page. Upon completion of BC's program and successfully passing the Air Traffic Selection and Training Aptitude Test (AT-SAT) students may qualify for the FAA Academy.

AT-CTI minimum requirement. In support of the FAA's performance standards, the ATC program of the Aviation Institute requires that all students enrolled in the AT-CTI program maintain a minimum grade a B (82%) or higher in all ATC core courses. This does not mean student can not graduate with an Associate Degree in Air Traffic Control, but it does mean student will not be recommended by the Faculty or Administration of Broward College's Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) to the FAA