To qualify for entry-level air traffic control specialist positions, applicants must achieve a qualifying score on the current FAA authorized pre-employment test.

NOTE: The pre-employment test is currently ONLY offered to students in the Student Intern Program, Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) Program, and Mid-America Resource Consortium (MARC) Program. It is NOT anticipated that this test will be open to the general public for several years.

GENERAL WORK EXPERIENCE
General work experience is defined as any progressively responsible work. For example, a person working a full-time (40 hours per week) for 3 years would meet the 3-year general work experience requirement. A person who works part-time (20 hours per week) for 6 years would also meet the 3-year general work experience requirement.)

EDUCATION
Qualifying education is successfully completed study in any field leading to a bachelor's or higher degree, at an accredited college or university

In combining education and experience, 1 year of undergraduate study (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) is equivalent to 9 months of general experience. Thus, if you had 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of college study, substitute for 18 months of general experience, and you would need an additional 18 months of general work experience to meet the 3-year work requirement.

Students who will complete the amount of education needed to qualify within 9 months of the test date may apply and be selected, but they must complete the study before they begin work.

• VISION STANDARDS - Applicants for ATCS employment in an en route center or an terminal must have distant and near vision of 20/20 or better in each eye separately, without correction, or have lenses that correct distant and near vision to 20/20, each eye separately. Applicants for a flight service station specialist position must have distant and near vision of 20/20 or better in at least one eye, without correction, or have lenses that correct distant and near vision to 20/20, in at least one eye.
• COLOR VISION STANDARDS � Applicants must have normal color vision.
• HEARING STANDARDS � Applicants must have no hearing loss in either ear of more than 25 db at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz, and no more than a 20 db loss in the better ear by audiometry, using ANSI (1969) standards.
• CARDIOVASCULAR STANDARDS - Applicants must have no medical history of any form of heart disease. A history of high blood pressure requiring medication will require special review.
• NEUROLOGICAL STANDARDS - Applicants must have no medical history or clinical diagnosis of a convulsive disorder, or a disturbance of consciousness, without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause, and must not be under any treatment, including preventive, for any condition of the nervous system.
• PSYCHIATRIC STANDARDS - Any medical history or clinical diagnosis of a psychosis, or other severe mental disorders, is disqualifying.
• DIABETES - A medical history or diagnosis of diabetes mellitus will require special review.
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE/DEPENDENCY - A history of substance abuse/dependency, including alcohol, narcotic, non-narcotic drugs, and other substances will be extensively investigated.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAM [16PF] - Individuals must take and pass a psychological exam.
• GENERAL MEDICAL - All other medical conditions will be evaluated on an individual basis. All applicants' medical histories and current examinations will be carefully reviewed. This includes past medical records and, if applicable, a review of military medical records.

• general or dishonorable military discharge
• statutory debarment issue
• Government loyalty issues
• evidence of dishonesty in an application or examination process (e.g., falsification of application)
• drug-related offenses
• felony offenses
• firearms or explosives offenses
• alcohol-related incidents
• willful disregard of financial obligations
• derogatory employment terminations
• patterns and/or combinations of incidents which lead to questions about your behavior and intent