ATSA Retake Rules and How Long Your Result Stays Valid

According to the FAA's testing page at Pearson VUE, an ATSA result is valid for three years from the date you completed the test, and it's applied automatically to a new application if you don't test again. If you do retake it, your latest result is the one used, even if it's lower. You can't book a retake on your own; you can only take the ATSA after applying to a trainee announcement and being invited.

How long an ATSA result stays valid

Pearson VUE's FAA page says previous ATSA results "are valid for three (3) years from the date the test was completed." The same wording appears on archived copies of the page from 2022 and 2024, so the three-year rule has been stable for several hiring cycles.

If your result is still valid when you apply to a new announcement and you're invited to test, you have two choices:

• Keep your previous result. Do nothing. The page says you simply don't register, and "your previous results will be applied automatically to this testing cycle."
• Test again. Register and schedule the test. From then on, only the new result counts.

For example, if you had tested on May 10, 2024, that result would be valid until about May 10, 2027 under the three-year rule. The sources we reviewed don't say exactly how the FAA handles a result that expires partway through a hiring cycle. If your result is close to its three-year mark, ask the FAA at atsa.questions@faa.gov, the address listed on the Pearson VUE page, before deciding not to retest.

The most-recent-result rule

This is the rule that catches people out. The FAA doesn't keep your best attempt; it keeps your last one. The wording has been consistent:

"Most recent ATSA results will be utilized for referral, regardless if they are higher or lower than previous result." (FAA-ATO-23-ALLSRCE-84315, May 2023)

"Your most recent ATSA score will be used for referral, even if it is lower than a previous score." (FAA-ATO-26-ALLSRCE-97350, April 2026)

Pearson VUE's page puts it more bluntly: "If you complete the exam again, your LATEST results will be used. You will NOT be able to use previous results." Once you finish a new attempt, there's no going back to the old category.

When you can retake the ATSA

The ATSA isn't a test you can schedule whenever you like. Pearson VUE's page says you must first apply to an air traffic control trainee announcement on USAJOBS, and "only invited candidates are authorized to complete this test." In practice, that means your chance to retake comes with the next announcement you apply to and qualify for. See the hiring window tracker for how often those have opened.

We didn't find a published waiting period between attempts or a published limit on the number of attempts in the FAA, Pearson VUE or USAJOBS sources we reviewed. The real limits are the frequency of announcements and the age limit: trainee announcements require you to be under 31 on the closing date, so the number of retake chances you have depends partly on your age. See the age limit guide.

Retakes have also been used broadly before. The DOT Inspector General's 2023 report notes that when testing sites reopened after pandemic closures in 2020, all applicants were eligible to retest.

The FAA encourages some candidates to retake

Recent announcements have said this directly. The February 2025 announcement stated: "If you have taken the ATSA and did not receive a well-qualified result, we encourage you to retake the ATSA." The April 2026 announcement said: "If you previously took the ATSA and did not receive a best or well-qualified result, you are encouraged to retake the test."

That makes sense given how selection worked in those cycles. Both announcements said only Best or Well-Qualified results would be considered, so a Qualified result wasn't enough to move forward. See ATSA score bands for the details.

Should you retake? A way to think it through

This isn't advice for your specific case, and no one can tell you what category a retake would produce. But the rules above point to some general logic:

Your current result	Still valid?	What the rules suggest
Best Qualified	Yes	There's no higher category to reach, so retaking can only keep you level or lower you. Keeping the result is the lower-risk choice.
Well Qualified	Yes	This has been enough to be considered recently. Retaking risks a drop to Qualified, which hasn't moved forward in recent cycles. Weigh that risk carefully if the FAA is prioritizing Best Qualified.
Qualified	Yes	Recent announcements didn't move Qualified results forward and encouraged a retake.
Not Referred	n/a	You'll need a new result to move forward.
Any	No (over three years)	You'll need to test again.

Practical details for a retake

• Cost: Invited candidates aren't charged for the ATSA; the FAA covers it.
• Travel: The FAA doesn't pay or reimburse travel or parking to reach the test center.
• Rescheduling: If you can't make your appointment, cancel or reschedule at least 48 hours in advance.
• Length: Nearly 3.5 hours are allotted, including a maximum test duration of 2 hours 49 minutes plus up to 30 minutes of breaks.
• ID: The first and last name on your ID must match the name in the testing system.
• Accommodations: Request them by email to atsa.questions@faa.gov before scheduling, with supporting documentation less than a year old.

Preparing for a second attempt

The FAA's testing page says that because the ATSA is an aptitude assessment, "no studying or preparation is necessary," and that it doesn't endorse any practice test. Its own suggestions are practical: a good night's sleep, comfortable clothes, a meal beforehand and plenty of time to get to the test center.

If your first attempt felt rushed or confusing, you may still want fewer surprises the second time. Getting familiar with how the fast-paced sections work is one reasonable way to do that. You can try short demos of Number Differences, Memory Variables and ATC Simulation, and read how to prepare for the ATSA. Our items are original practice material, not the real test, and they can't guarantee a better category. Full access is on the pricing page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose my old ATSA result if I retake the test?

Yes. Once you complete a new attempt, only the latest result is used, even if it's lower than your previous one.

Can I choose to use my old result instead of retesting?

Yes, if it's still within three years of your test date. Don't register for the new test, and your previous result is applied automatically.

How many times can I take the ATSA?

We didn't find a published limit. You can only test when invited after applying to a trainee announcement, so your chances depend on how often announcements open and whether you still meet the age requirement.

How do I find out what my previous ATSA result was?

Pearson VUE's page says to check the USAJOBS status for the earlier announcement you applied to, or email atsa.questions@faa.gov.