The first steps in becoming an Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO), will require a prospective controller to undertake an approved course of initial training at an Air Traffic Control College. On successful completion of this initial training, the newly qualified trainee will be issued with a Student Air Traffic Controllers licence. This allows the holder to undertake unit training at an operational air traffic control unit under the supervision of a qualified controller.

There are no formal educational qualifications required to enter an ATC college. However, some sponsors may set down a minimal acceptable standard of qualifications or experience.

Licence Age Requirements
To be granted a Student ATC licence, a candidate must be at least 18 years of age. To be granted a Full ATC licence, a candidate must be at least 20 years of age. (Licences are issued by the Civil Aviation Authority.)

Medical Requirements
A current medical certificate of the appropriate class must be held before a Student ATC licence can be issued. It is therefore advisable that prospective trainees obtain a medical certificate prior to presenting themselves at an ATC college for initial training.

Sponsorship
Usually, trainees at ATC colleges are either sponsored by an ATC provider or they have elected to self-sponsor and pay for their own training.

Anyone who is thinking of self-sponsoring would be advised to ensure that they have arranged for employment to start on completion of their initial training. It is a requirement that unit training must be commenced within six months of leaving the ATC college.

Trainees who are being sponsored by an ATC provider may find themselves 'bonded' to the sponsor for a period of time. It is a common practice and allows the ATC provider to recoup the cost of the initial training. This usually takes the form of a 'promissory note'. Should the ATCO leave the ATC providers employment, then they would be expected to pay back a proportion of the costs. However, as the length of service at the unit increases, then the costs will similarly decrease, until eventually nothing is repayable.

Alternative Start
An alternative method of becoming an ATCO is to start as an Air Traffic Control Assistant (ATCA). The ATCA will work alongside colleagues who are qualified ATCO's and will gain valuable experience about air traffic control and aviation in general.

It also allows the ATC provider to evaluate the individual as to their suitability to become an ATCO and those that are selected usually go on to have long and successful careers as controllers. The other benefit is that as a 'trusted' employee, the trainee is not so likely to be bonded.

Career Path
A full ATC licence will contain what are known as ratings. A rating specifies the type of control service that may be provided by the ATCO. It has always been traditional to start an ATC career by firstly obtaining an Aerodrome Control rating. This allows the holder to provide ATC services from the Visual Control room on the top of the control tower.

Then, with a few years experience, the controller would return to the ATC College to learn new skills. Normally this would be how to control aircraft away from the aerodrome without using radar, (Approach Control Procedural rating). Finally, they would return once more to the ATC College and learn how to use radar in the application of ATC services, (Approach Control Surveillance rating).

The career path does not end here. The ATCO will return to the ATC College and learn how to be an On-Job-Instructor or Local Competence Examiner. The ATCO may then decide to retire from operational controlling altogether and enter into the world of ATC management or perhaps become an ATC Instructor, ATC Examiner or ATC Regulator.