Editing Air traffic controller (section)

== Training and qualifications ==
=== Requirements ===
Air traffic controllers are subject to some of the strictest physical and mental health requirements for any profession, reflecting the high responsibility. In Europe and parts of Asia, controllers must hold a [[Medical certifications for pilots|Class 3 medical certificate]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Medical Requirements |url=https://www.caas.gov.sg/personnel-licences-training/air-traffic-controller/medical-requirements |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=CAAS - CWP |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Initial medical certification for air traffic controllers ATCOs {{!}} Civil Aviation Authority |url=https://www.caa.co.uk/commercial-industry/airspace/air-traffic-management-and-air-navigational-services/licences/medical-requirements/initial-medical-certification-for-air-traffic-controllers-atcos/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=caa.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="o4552">{{cite web |title=Licensing and medical certification of air traffic controllers |url=https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/downloads/897/en |access-date=9 Feb 2025}}</ref> which involves evaluations of vision, hearing, physical and mental health. While in the United States there is no required certificate, candidates undergo similar assessments by the FAA; for example, air traffic controllers are required to pass a [[Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory]] (MMPI) before being allowed to work in the profession.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Medical |url=https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/foa_html/chap2_section_8.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250203164038/https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/foa_html/chap2_section_8.html |archive-date=2025-02-03 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=faa.gov |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=Air Traffic Controller Qualifications {{!}} Federal Aviation Administration |url=https://www.faa.gov/air-traffic-controller-qualifications |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206161401/https://www.faa.gov/air-traffic-controller-qualifications |archive-date=2025-02-06 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=faa.gov |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="z222">{{cite web |title=Screening Air Traffic Control Specialists with the MMPI-2: Two New Scales to increase Predictive Utility |url=https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/202103.pdf |access-date=9 Feb 2025}}</ref>

Certain health conditions such as [[diabetes]], [[epilepsy]], [[heart disease]], and many psychiatric disorders (e.g., [[clinical depression]], [[ADHD]], [[bipolar disorder]], [[personality disorders]], a history of [[drug abuse]], etc.)<ref name="d154">{{cite web |title=Skyguide MEDICAL INFORMATION |url=https://api.skyguide.ch/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/medical-information_EN.pdf |access-date=9 Feb 2025}}</ref> may lead to automatic disqualification or require explicit testing and waivers signed by the overseeing medical authority, demonstrating that the disorder does not impact the individuals' ability to do the job. Other conditions such as [[hypertension|hypertension (high blood pressure)]], while not automatically disqualifying, are taken seriously and must be monitored by certified doctors.<ref name="o136">{{cite web |title=Medical requirements for air traffic controllers |url=https://luftfartstilsynet.no/globalassets/dokumenter/flymedisin/medical-requirements-for-air-traffic-controllers.pdf#page=6 |access-date=9 Feb 2025}}</ref> Controllers must take precautions to remain healthy. Additionally controllers must report all medications they are taking, even [[over-the-counter drugs]] to the responsible medical authority.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whall |first=Dan |date=2016-03-01 |title=Fit-for-Duty and Restricted Medications |url=https://www.natca.org/2016/03/01/fit-for-duty-and-restricted-medications/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=NATCA |language=en-US}}</ref> In the US numerous drugs approved by the [[Food and Drug Administration|U.S. Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) are either banned or require an air traffic controller to apply for a Special Consideration Medical Certificate and undergo continuous monitoring of the underlying medical condition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Does the FAA have a list of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that pilots can and cannot take while flying? {{!}} Federal Aviation Administration |url=https://www.faa.gov/faq/does-faa-have-list-prescription-and-over-counter-drugs-pilots-can-and-cannot-take-while-flying |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202235524/https://www.faa.gov/faq/does-faa-have-list-prescription-and-over-counter-drugs-pilots-can-and-cannot-take-while-flying |archive-date=2025-02-02 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=faa.gov |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally excellent verbal communication skills are required, as controllers must be able to clearly communicate and listen to pilots’ requests, even under high-stress conditions.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":10" /> All of these rigorous standards ensure that air traffic controllers  perform their duties safely and effectively.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Institute |first=International Training |date=2024-10-14 |title=Mastering the Skies: 10 essential skills for air traffic controllers |url=https://internationaltraininginstitute.edu.vn/mastering-the-skies-10-essential-skills-for-air-traffic-controllers/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=International Training Institute |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Education===
In the United States trainee controllers begin work in their twenties and retire in their fifties almost universally. This is due to an FAA requirement that trainees begin their training at the academy no later than their 31st birthday, and face mandatory retirement at the last day of the month they turn 56.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=5 USC 8335: Mandatory separation |url=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5-section8335&num=0&edition=prelim |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=uscode.house.gov}}</ref> At the discretion of the [[United States Secretary of Transportation|Secretary of Transportation]], the retirement age can be extended to 61.<ref name=":9" /> However, already experienced controllers, such as retired military air traffic controllers may qualify for appointment before 35 years of age.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What are the age requirements for individuals with at least 52 weeks of previous air traffic control (ATC) experience? |work=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] |url=https://www.faa.gov/faq/what-are-age-requirements-individuals-least-52-weeks-previous-air-traffic-control-atc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202092233/https://www.faa.gov/faq/what-are-age-requirements-individuals-least-52-weeks-previous-air-traffic-control-atc |archive-date=2025-02-02 |access-date=2025-02-09 |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Experienced Air Traffic Controllers |work=Federal Aviation Administration |url=https://www.faa.gov/jobs/career_fields/aviation_careers/experienced_controllers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202081944/https://www.faa.gov/jobs/career_fields/aviation_careers/experienced_controllers |archive-date=2025-02-02 |access-date=2025-02-09 |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> These controllers also may work longer than age 56 in order to be able to receive their pension.<ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=5 USC 8336: Immediate retirement |url=https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?hl=false&edition=prelim&req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title5-section8336&num=0&saved=%7CZ3JhbnVsZWlkOlVTQy1wcmVsaW0tdGl0bGU1LXNlY3Rpb244MzM1%7C%7C%7C0%7Cfalse%7Cprelim |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=uscode.house.gov}}</ref> While other countries  have different regulations, a similar concept is used in many countries, such as a maximal age to start training of 24 in Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The job of an air traffic controller. {{!}} DFS Karriereportal |url=https://www.dfs.de/dfs_karriereportal_2016/en/Becoming%20an%20air%20traffic%20controller/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=www.dfs.de |language=en}}</ref>

Civilian Air Traffic Controllers' licensing is standardized by international agreement through the [[ICAO]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vision and Mission to 2025 |url=https://www.icao.int/about-icao/Council/Pages/vision-and-mission.aspx |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=icao.int}}</ref> Many countries have Air Traffic Control schools, which are often operated by the provider of air traffic services in that country or sometimes privately. These institutions provide training to individuals without any prior air traffic control experience.<ref>{{Cite web |last=marklloydbinar |title=Advanced ATC Homepage |url=https://advancedatc.com/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=Advanced ATC |language=en-US}}</ref> At the completion of academic training, the graduating student will be granted an Air Traffic Control license, which will include one or more Ratings.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2024-07-08 |title=Easy Access Rules for Air Traffic Controllers' Licensing and Certification {{!}} EASA |url=https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/easy-access-rules/online-publications/easy-access-rules-air-traffic-controllers?page=5 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=easa.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref> These are sub-qualifications denoting the air traffic control discipline or disciplines in which the person has been trained. The ICAO defines five such ratings:<ref name=":5" />

* Area (procedural)
* Area Radar
* Approach (procedural)
* Approach Radar
* Aerodrome

In the United States, controllers may train in several similar specialties:

* Tower
* Ground-Controlled Approach (GCA)
* Terminal Radar Control
* En route Control (both radar and non-radar)

This phase of training takes about 3–5 months.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=How to Become an Air Traffic Controller: Step-by-Step Guide - JobTestPrep |url=https://www.jobtestprep.com/becoming-an-air-traffic-controller |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=jobtestprep.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> Whenever an air traffic controller is posted to a new unit or starts work on a new sector within a particular unit, they must undergo a period of training regarding the procedures peculiar to that particular unit and/or sector. The majority of this training is done in a live position controlling real aircraft and is referred to as On the Job Training (OJT).<ref name="b026">{{cite web | title=The On-the-job Training Instructor (OJTI) |website=SKYbrary Aviation Safety |date=29 Dec 2022 |url=https://skybrary.aero/articles/job-training-instructor-ojti |access-date=9 Feb 2025}}</ref> In this phase trainees are always with a fully qualified and trained mentor or an On the Job Training Instructor (OJTI), who will also be 'plugged into' the position to give guidance and is ready to immediately take over should it become necessary.<ref name="b026" /> The length of this phase of training usually varies between one and three years, depending on the complexity of the sector.<ref name=":6" /> Only once a person has passed all training stages they will be allowed to control a position alone.