A career like no other
What do Controllers do?
Meet a Controller
Becoming a Controller - Altitude webcast
Eligibility and application process
The path to becoming a Controller is not a quick and easy one. It takes time and commitment but the rewards at the end make it all worth while.
An overview of the steps you need to follow to qualify is laid out below.
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Eligibility
You will be commencing training in a safety critical role and as such must meet our eligibility requirements. If you don’t we will reject your application from the outset.
You must:
- Be aged 18+
- Have the right to work in the UK, without requiring sponsorship. If you’re unsure, check the Home Office guidance.
- Possess 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 or Scottish National 5’s Grade A-C including English and Maths. Equivalent qualifications are accepted.
- Applicants will need to pass security clearance to SC level and undergo an initial Class 3 medical assessment in entirety. Please refer to the CAA website for medical standards.
- Adhere to the NATS drug & alcohol policy from the point of signing your contract.
Be 100% honest with all your answers, failure to declare something important may impact your clearance.
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Assessment
Please be prepared to attend a virtual assessment centre by the end of July. You could be booked onto an assessment centre as soon as 1 week after a successful application.
Stage 1 online assessments
Having successfully registered and been approved, you’ll be invited to sit nine online tests. These are designed to assess skills such as spatial awareness, logical thinking and reaction speed.
Stage 2 online assessments
If you pass the stage 1 assessments, you’ll be invited to an online Situational Judgement Test and Personality Questionnaire.
Stage 3 assessment centre
If you pass the stage 2 assessments and meet the minimum requirements, you'll be asked to attend a 1 day assessment day. This is held virtually (via Microsoft Teams). You will take part in an interview, a group exercise and two online tests – an Air Traffic Control knowledge test and a retest of the stage one tests.
If you pass the assessment centre, you will be made a conditional offer of employment (subject to achieving relevant security and medical clearances).
Once you have achieved your Class 3 medical clearance, we will assign you to a training course, provide you with an employment start date and the security clearance process will begin a maximum of 6 months in advance of your start date.
If you don't pass one of these stages, you can reapply after 12 months. You can apply to become a Controller a maximum of three times.
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Training
Complete the college-based training
If you pass the assessment centre, you will begin the medical and security clearance processes immediately, with employment start dates beginning from September 2025. After a short induction period at our Corporate and Technical Centre in Hampshire, you will attend one of our initial training organisations to embark on your journey towards gaining a Student Air Traffic Control licence.
The length of college-based training varies depending on a host of factors, including the specialism you take and how quickly you can complete different phases. Most college-based training is completed within a year to eighteen months and includes a combination of practical and theory based sessions.
Complete the operational training
Once you have gained your Student Air Traffic Control licence, you will be posted to an operational unit where your hands-on training continues until you validate and are issued your full Air Traffic Controller licence.
Please remember that Air Traffic Controllers are mobile grades, which means that you may be required to work anywhere in the UK and ultimately this will be determined by the needs of the Company.
Congratulations!
Now you are ready to play your critical part in advancing aviation and keeping the skies safe!