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Best Air Traffic Controller certifications
The best certifications for an air traffic controller are Air Traffic Control Tower Operator (CTO), Traffic Control Design Specialist (TCDS), and Certified Aviation Manager (CAM).
Air traffic controller certifications demonstrate your competency as an air traffic controller to employers. However, not all air traffic controller certifications provide the same value.
Below is a list of the best air traffic controller certifications. Obtaining an air traffic controller certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
7 best certifications for air traffic controllers
Rank  | Air Traffic Controller certification | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Traffic Control Tower Operator (CTO) | FAA |
| 2 | Traffic Control Design Specialist (TCDS) | ATSSA |
| 3 | Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) | NBAA |
| 4 | Tower Crane Operator | NCCCO |
| 5 | OSHA Safety Certificate | Delaware Tech... |
| 6 | Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX) | FAA |
| 7 | First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor | NSC |
Air Traffic Controller Jobs
7 best air traffic controller certifications
1. Air Traffic Control Tower Operator (CTO)
A Control Tower Operator (CTO) is a tower-rated controller, meaning the individual is rated and tested on ground control, tower flight data, and local control within the tower. Before receiving a CTO permit an individual will normally attend the FAA Air Traffic Control Academy. Equivalent training could be with the U.S. Military or civilian equivalent schools. All Air Traffic Controllers will take the Airman's Written Test (AWT) before controlling aircraft. Once arriving on station or airport, the trainee will sign on position with qualified controllers known as On-the-Job Training Instructors (OJTIs) until the trainee can handle the normal facility traffic and any contingency situations that may arise. At this point the trainee undergoes a 'check ride,' where he or she is observed under normal operating conditions and traffic load. If the check ride is favorable on all positions within the tower, then he or she will be issued a CTO permit by the FAA to work all Tower positions (radar positions entail separate training) within the control tower at that particular facility.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? No
2. Traffic Control Design Specialist (TCDS)
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 4 year(s)
3. Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)
NBAA's Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) Program identifies qualified professionals to lead flight departments and companies that use business aircraft. Join the ranks of esteemed aviation professionals who have already been recognized as Certified Aviation Managers and apply for the CAM Exam today.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
4. Tower Crane Operator
The purpose of CCO is to set standards for measuring the knowledge and proficiency required for the safe operation of cranes.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
- Renewal Required? Every 5 year(s)
5. OSHA Safety Certificate
This 40-hour program covers both the Construction 1926 and General Industry 1910 Standards, how to effectively interpret the Federal Register, health issues related to a work environment, recognition of physical hazards related to the violation of OSHA standards, and employer implementation of their own pro-active safety and health procedures.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required? No
- Renewal Required? No
6. Aircraft Dispatcher (ADX)
Aircraft Dispatcher is an entry level certification and is required for all Aircraft Dispatchers to demonstrate and pass a written and oral exam to receive their license. This certificate also introduces the applicant to an array of crucial components within the FAA and airport operations. Most applicants will attend an Aircraft Dispatchers five (5) week course and take multiple field trips to local area airline operational control centers. Upon completing the course, the student will be an expert in reading and interpreting Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR), Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) forecasts, and many important aviation weather maps, which are used in daily airline Flight Dispatch offices. Both Domestic and Global Navigation Systems are covered thoroughly, as well as the North Atlantic Track System (NATS). NOTAMs and Pilot Reports are also covered during the course.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? No
- Renewal Required? No
7. First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor
Knowing how to respond to a first aid or CPR emergency is one of the most important skills a person can possess. The Standard First Aid, CPR and AED course meets the OSHA requirements and is your tool for training employees or the general public on the latest skills, techniques and expertise in life-saving procedures. The practice and feedback of using related skills in a realistic situation is integrated into the actual teaching experience.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or Written Exam Required? No
- Renewal Required? No
Air Traffic Controller Jobs
What is the best certification for an air traffic controller?
The best air traffic controller certification is Air Traffic Control Tower Operator (CTO). The Air Traffic Control Tower Operator (CTO) is awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration. This certification corresponds to a specialty within a recognized occupation.
Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this air traffic controller certification:
- To become a certified Air Traffic Control Tower Operator (CTO), you need to pass the exam.
- This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
- No renewal for certification, if you earn it once it is valid all time.
What are some of the most in-demand certifications for air traffic controllers?
The most in-demand air traffic controller certification is Air Traffic Control Tower Operator based on all active job postings. Having this air traffic controller certification will give you access to more air traffic controller jobs with higher salaries.
The most common combination of air traffic controller certifications include: Air Traffic Control Tower Operator (CTO), Traffic Control Design Specialist (TCDS), and Certified Aviation Manager (CAM).
Online courses for air traffic controllers to earn certifications
1. Fundamentals of Flight mechanics
How do planes take off? How do they fly? How do pilots maintain control of them? And how high can airplanes fly? Get answers to all these questions and more with this specialization exploring the fundamentals of flight mechanics. You will learn how the laws of physics apply to airplanes and discover important concepts in aviation including lift, drag, and propulsion...
2. Introduction to Indoor Air Quality
Course Overview: https://youtu.be/LLVb4FOn4uU This course provides a basic knowledge of an emerging area – Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in buildings. Learners will realize the importance of maintaining proper IAQ. Characteristics associated with indoor air contaminants (IAC) are demonstrated, such as • Particulate matters (PM2.5, PM10) • Radon • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) • Asbestos • Bio-aerosols, and more Safe exposure levels, resulting health effects, measurement techniques, mitigate and...
3. Airline Operations: Flight Planning and Flight Dispatch
Airline Operations: Master the essentials of aviation - aircraft operational control and dispatch...
4. MikroTik Traffic Control with LABS
Learn advanced Mikro Tik Firewall, QOS HTB, Packet flow, DHCP and DNS topics & be ready for the Mikro Tik MTCTCE exam...
5. VPC Flow Logs - Analyzing Network Traffic
This is a self-paced lab that takes place in the Google Cloud console. In this lab, you configure a network to record traffic to and from an apache web server using VPC Flow Logs. You then export the logs to BigQuery to analyze them...
6. Applied Control Systems 3: UAV drone (3D Dynamics & control)
Modeling + state space systems + Model Predictive Control + feedback control + Python simulation: UAV quadcopter drone...
7. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID Control
Learn the mathematics that will allow you to model and control any engineering system. Make machines do what you want!...
8. PID Controllers - Intro to Control Design
Learn to write your own control software while learning fundamental control theory...
9. Flight Mechanics - From Theory to Certification of Aircraft
Modeling theory, aircraft 6DOF simulation, flight dynamics, flight simulators and aircraft certification...
10. Facebook Marketing: Drive Highly Targeted Facebook Traffic
The One Thing That Everybody Wants is Traffic. You Simply Cannot Have Enough Traffic!...