Editing Air traffic controller (section)

===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.