Hiring Bid Air Traffic Control Specialist - Trainee: FAA-ATO-18-ALLSRCE-57792

After inquiring for an update, I received a response from RC saying I did not clear the MMPI and need a Tier 2 evaluation. Is there a formal response that’s supposed to be sent out to schedule that or am I supposed to reach out for another update?

This was early April. I don’t want to bug because he did say it was a lengthy process and I am aware this takes a while, but it seems reaching out gets answers.
Reaching out once you're tier 2 will get you the same response until they email you telling you to schedule an eval with a provider that they find. All you'll get back is "they are really busy, and backed up. Keep waiting". It will likely be 6+ months before you hear back.
 
Hey all, i found this thread awhile back after looking for some info on the application process. I got referred but never heard anything. I ended up calling one of the numbers listed earlier in this post and the kind lady told me that i had placed pretty middle of the road in band 2? I believe. She also mentioned that they might be taking a few more people soon but I may have misunderstood her. So I'm kind of assuming at this point I will have to try again next year, so I am asking if anyone has any advice they could give that might help me become better qualified.

I'm 21 and mostly been working retail, I have a 2 year college degree, but nothing special outside of that. I'm most of the way through being hired at the TSA (doing med check then I'm in the hiring pool), after not hearing anything I figured that would be better than the work I'm doing now. I've also considered the National Guard, but not sure if that's worth it if my end goal is to be hired at the FAA. I will probably try to start taking classes to a 4 year degree in a math related field while I am employed at the TSA.

I guess I will also add I also passed everything and am in the waiting list to be hired as an Electrical Apprentice at my local IBEW 48, but this is likely to be a year plus out and ATC would be my first choice.

The lady I talked to did say my scores from the ATSA could be kept for 3 years. Should i retest next year? Or just keep what I have?

Not sure if this is the best place to ask, but any other opinions or insight would be awesome.
Retake the ATSA for sure. If you were referred and scored middle of the road without a TOL, it’s definitely worth retaking in my opinion. And as was mentioned above, I personally would recommend a test prep software to help you study. The one I used cost maybe $20-30 and I found it to be very accurate to the actual test(minus the radar section). You’ll get mixed answers on how useful studying for the test is, but personally, I think it helped a ton.
Go about your life assuming it’s not going to happen. As slow as this process is, it’s really the only option you have. But you have nearly a decades worth of applying available to you before you age out if this is what you want to do. So definitely keep your chin up.
 
Hey all, i found this thread awhile back after looking for some info on the application process. I got referred but never heard anything. I ended up calling one of the numbers listed earlier in this post and the kind lady told me that i had placed pretty middle of the road in band 2? I believe. She also mentioned that they might be taking a few more people soon but I may have misunderstood her. So I'm kind of assuming at this point I will have to try again next year, so I am asking if anyone has any advice they could give that might help me become better qualified.

I'm 21 and mostly been working retail, I have a 2 year college degree, but nothing special outside of that. I'm most of the way through being hired at the TSA (doing med check then I'm in the hiring pool), after not hearing anything I figured that would be better than the work I'm doing now. I've also considered the National Guard, but not sure if that's worth it if my end goal is to be hired at the FAA. I will probably try to start taking classes to a 4 year degree in a math related field while I am employed at the TSA.

I guess I will also add I also passed everything and am in the waiting list to be hired as an Electrical Apprentice at my local IBEW 48, but this is likely to be a year plus out and ATC would be my first choice.

The lady I talked to did say my scores from the ATSA could be kept for 3 years. Should i retest next year? Or just keep what I have?

Not sure if this is the best place to ask, but any other opinions or insight would be awesome.

I would definitely retake the ATSA. If you want, try and use some of the prep software before you do it. It’ll help you understand the test and it’s requirements a bit more. Might not 100% ensure a higher score but whatever helps helps.

As far as the national guard, I know they across the board is hurting for radar controllers, personally that’s what bit me in the ass. Anticipate about 1 year from contract to finishing tech school. Then getting rated at your base could take anywhere from 6-9months. During that time, the guard won’t let you leave for the academy.

It’s possible to get picked up OTS while in the process, we’ve had plenty of folks do it. But you won’t qualify for prior experience due to the 52 weeks requirement. And it states 52 weeks post certification full time. That means AFTER your rated at the base, you’ll need to get picked up full time at the base (pretty hard to do).

Best advice I can give for you is to keep trying OTS. If you really can’t wait to talk to some planes then do the guard, just know that you will need to finish that training completely before you can attend the FAA academy.
 
Just got Tier II'd this morning. Such a sad feeling.

ATSA mid November
Referred mid December
TOL 2/25
CIL 3/1
MMPI 3/7
Medical and drug testing 4/4


I have plans to visit Canada for personal reasons soon (4 days), do I need to notify anyone of international travel?
 
Just got Tier II'd this morning. Such a sad feeling.

ATSA mid November
Referred mid December
TOL 2/25
CIL 3/1
MMPI 3/7
Medical and drug testing 4/4


I have plans to visit Canada for personal reasons soon (4 days), do I need to notify anyone of international travel?

they reach to you, or did you reach out to Medical for an update?
 
So they do have more classes scheduled already but have yet to update the catalogue, good to know ?
I did have a valid reason though not to go until then, my wife and I are both currently AGR and shes in training until the end of june/begining of july so I couldnt just leave our 2 kids alone here. This is the message I got "The ATO has approved you to come to class mid/late July. I can offer you a date of July 31st". So i think they know they will have a class then but just havent updated whatever you are talking about.
 
I did have a valid reason though not to go until then, my wife and I are both currently AGR and shes in training until the end of june/begining of july so I couldnt just leave our 2 kids alone here. This is the message I got "The ATO has approved you to come to class mid/late July. I can offer you a date of July 31st". So i think they know they will have a class then but just havent updated whatever you are talking about.
The class catalogue list all the possible start dates for the en route and terminal options but right now it only shows up to early June dates
 
The class catalogue list all the possible start dates for the en route and terminal options but right now it only shows up to early June dates
ahhh I have never seen this list, guess I'll just wait to see when my classmates join me on here!
 
Think it seems that previous response pages back that being medically cleared is gonna take 2-4 months may be accurate for some of us.

My “stereo typical” response was that it was going to be 4-6 months. ?‍♂️

I’d assume somewhere between now and the future.
 
For what it's worth I emailed my POC today and she said my security and drug clearances were all good, she was just waiting to hear from medical. She said to expect 2-6 months, although it could be sooner.

Just got Tier II'd this morning. Such a sad feeling.

ATSA mid November
Referred mid December
TOL 2/25
CIL 3/1
MMPI 3/7
Medical and drug testing 4/4


I have plans to visit Canada for personal reasons soon (4 days), do I need to notify anyone of international travel?

I took my MMPI 3 days after you and my medical exam 3 days before you, so I guess I'll try emailing them tomorrow, hopefully I won't have the same result.
 
How long did it take you guys to get through security clearance? My security POC was saying at least 6 months, and that seems really long compared to what I've been hearing on here.
 
How long did it take you guys to get through security clearance? My security POC was saying at least 6 months, and that seems really long compared to what I've been hearing on here.
I think that might be the case for the full security clearance, but you get a conditional clearance to go to the academy which generally takes less than a month.
 
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