How to Apply for FAA ATC Jobs on USAJOBS

The FAA does not screen controller applications gently. Its own checklist opens with "incomplete applications will be rejected", and the things that get people rejected are almost all formatting and paperwork rather than merit.

This page is the application stage only: what to have ready before the window opens, and the specific rules the FAA publishes. For when the window opens, see our hiring window tracker.

Everything goes through USAJOBS

"All applications must be submitted through USAJOBS." There is no other route, no paper form and no email submission. The FAA's five-step summary of the process makes step one "Apply on USAJobs", followed by the ATSA, medical and security clearance, the Academy, and on-the-job training.

The deadline may not be the deadline

This is the single most important thing on this page. The FAA's applicant checklist states:

"This announcement will remain open until 8,000 applications have been received. Once this limit is reached, the announcement will close and no additional applications will be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early; waiting may result in the announcement closing before you've had the opportunity to submit your application."

A published closing date is therefore an outside limit, not a plan. Recent nationwide trainee windows have been short — one in February 2025 opened and closed inside two days. Treat the opening date as the date you submit, which means every document has to be ready beforehand.

The 8,000 figure is what the FAA's checklist page states at the time we last checked it. Caps have differed between announcements in the past, so read the announcement you are applying to.

The resume rules

The FAA asks for a "2-page maximum resume" and is specific about what each job entry must contain:

• Hours. "The exact number of hours worked per week for each employer."
• Dates. "Complete employment dates in mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy format."
• Duties. "A detailed description of your daily responsibilities and past work experience."

The announcement itself goes further, asking that each work history entry include the job title (with series and grade for federal jobs), duties, the employer's name and address, a supervisor name and phone number, start and end dates including month and year, and full-time or part-time status with hours per week. It warns that "determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible."

The FAA also says it "strongly encourage[s] applicants to utilize the USAJOBS resume builder in the creation of resumes" — which is sensible advice mainly because the builder prompts for the fields graders look for.

Documents, by background

Which files you need depends on how you qualify. The FAA's checklist splits it four ways:

• Applying based on education: "a copy of your official or unofficial transcripts showing your degree confer date."
• Applying based on CTI: transcripts with the confer date, plus "an official endorsement letter from the institution certifying you have met the CTI requirements on official CTI school letterhead (signed by POC)." See our CTI endorsement letter guide — it is not a reference letter and people get this wrong.
• Previous federal experience: "a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action)" and any ATC certifications or ratings.
• Claiming veterans' preference: "DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)" or certification of honorable discharge within 120 days, plus "SF-15 and supporting docs (for 10-point preference)."

One extra case that is easy to miss: applicants who already served in the 2152 series and are now past 31 must supply the initial SF-50 proving they entered the series before the age limit. The announcement states they "MUST provide a copy of a Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) that verifies original appointment to the civilian 2152 occupational series prior to reaching the maximum entry age of 31", and points to the National Personnel Records Center for anyone who no longer holds a copy.

How you qualify

You need one of the following, per the trainee announcement:

• One year of full-time (40 hours per week) work experience, with part time pro-rated against a 40-hour week; or
• A full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree — "an associate degree alone does not meet the minimum requirement"; or
• A combination, where the work experience percentage and the education percentage together total 100%. Undergraduate study that has not produced a degree is credited against 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours.

Schools "must be accredited as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education", and transcripts must show the institution name, hours earned and the confer date.

Pools

Trainee announcements split applicants into Pool 1 and Pool 2, and the election is exclusive: "Pool 2 applicants may not apply for Pool 1 unless they meet the eligibility requirements outlined for Pool 1. If eligible for Pool 1, may elect consideration for Pool 2; but not both." Choosing wrongly is not something you can undo after the window closes. Our Pool 1 vs Pool 2 guide covers who belongs where.

The mistakes the FAA lists

Its "avoid common mistakes" section is short enough to quote in full. Before submitting, make sure you:

• "Upload and attach your resume."
• "Include the exact hours worked per week for your previous jobs."
• "Format your employment dates as mm/yyyy."
• "Provide a complete description of your past work experience."
• "Upload required documents (transcripts, DD-214, disability letter, etc.)."

There is one more that trips people every cycle, from the announcement rather than the checklist: "If you make any changes to your application, you must resubmit it. If you make changes to your application and do not resubmit it, your changes will not be considered part of your application package, and only your previously submitted application will be evaluated."

Timing and confirmation

"Applications will be accepted online until 11:59PM Eastern Time on the closing date" — subject to the application cap closing it sooner. After submission, the Human Resources Office evaluates qualifications and refers eligible candidates onward.

What happens next

Everyone found qualified sits the Air Traffic Skills Assessment: "All applicants found qualified for the position will be required to complete the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA)." Note the cost line in the announcement — "travel to & from testing locations will be at the expense of the applicant." The FAA's hiring page describes the ATSA as a 3.5-hour computer-based test taken in person at Pearson VUE, and says a Well-Qualified result is required to move on.

Clearing the paperwork is the easy half. The ATSA is where most applications end, and it is the part you can actually prepare for: start with our preparation guide, try the free section demos, and see pricing for full access.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the FAA controller application open?

Recent nationwide windows have been short, and the checklist says the announcement closes once 8,000 applications are received regardless of the published closing date. Apply on the day it opens.

How long should my FAA ATC resume be?

Two pages maximum, with exact weekly hours, mm/yyyy dates and a full description of duties for every entry.

Does an associate degree qualify for FAA ATC jobs?

Not on its own. The announcement states an associate degree alone does not meet the minimum requirement; it must be combined with qualifying work experience so the two together total 100%.

Can I apply to both Pool 1 and Pool 2?

No. If you are eligible for Pool 1 you may elect Pool 2 instead, but not both.

Do I need to pay to take the ATSA?

The announcement says travel to and from testing locations is at the applicant's expense. The test itself is part of the FAA hiring process.

What happens if my application is incomplete?

The FAA states plainly that incomplete applications will be rejected, and that missing the required work-history details "may result in a finding of ineligible".