Timeline for CTI

007hamster Rookie kent.wa

I have completed 30 out of 95 credits for the CTI program, and still know very little about the steps necessary for getting to the FAA Academy.

Can anyone list a general timeline of steps from CTI to ATCS? I think I read it on here before, but my search came back with little.

Underd0g Junior Member Chicago

man your better off getting in off the street if you can. Stop wasteing your money.

aprolla23 Junior Member Raleigh, NC

I wouldn't go as far as to say he's wasting his money. Of course getting in OTS would be a best case scenario, but not guaranteed. I'd say having CTI as a backup is an excellent plan. Plus getting a degree or formal education, in my opinion, is never a waste. I'm biased of course since I'm doing exactly that. Pursuing my CTI degree as well as applying to recent Pubnats is my pathway into ATC.

ksheyman Junior Member Seattle

my understanding is such:

-AT-SAT about 6 months before graduation
-apply within weeks of graduating, as soon as you get your letter of recommendation
-wait until the next selection panel, could be weeks or months
-get selected
-attend PEPC whenever the next one happens (weeks or months)
-attend academy whenever they have room (weeks or months)

i believe the process from applying to starting at OKC for CTI ranges from 5 months to 1 year. it all depends on how your timing is. i am about to graduate myself so I'm sure i'll find this all out first hand soon!

007hamster Rookie kent.wa

The public school district is paying for my tuition

007hamster Rookie kent.wa

And when do you find out which location you are selected for? After you notify them of your preferences, you are allowed to decline once? No?

psloan Rookie Upland, CA

PUBNAT is not always the way to go. For one, there are a lot of people who apply, and of the OTS people accepted, only 20% make it through the acadamy (this is an FAA number). The CTI program will give you far more chances of getting through, not to mention you don't have to do the extra 5 weeks of basic. Furthermore, no matter what, that degree can't be taken away. Once you get the associates from the CTI program, you can easily finish a bachelor's degree... probably before your academy date. The average from graduation to academy is anywhere between 10-18 months.

Another thing worth noting, when you work it ATC, applications for transfers and promotions tend to consider education on a point scale, with associates and bachelors degrees getting more points, so making it easier to advance in your career. Also, CTI students automatically have more seniority than pubnats... so better scheduling, etc.... yes, pubnat is the quick way to go, and if you're close to the age threshold go and do it; Otherwise, take your time, finish the CTI program, apply, continue classes and get a B.S. or B.A..

007hamster Rookie kent.wa

There is a job requirement from CTI to the Academy? I am only 17, 30 credits into the CTI program, and have never had a formal job. I've applied at literally 20 places this summer, and haven't heard squat from anyone. I'm averaging a little above a 3.4 (89%) in the CTI program, so I am by no means a slacker.

What exactly is the requirement, and when is the deadline? Can I be accepted to the Academy before the time is up?

ksheyman Junior Member Seattle

Great work on the 3.4! Where do you go?

If I can give you one piece of advice when applying for jobs - do NOT apply and then just wait to be called. Most employers do not call applicants, they wait for applicants to call and follow-up on the application. I know that because I used to do applications at my old job. 90% of the time we hired the person who showed us that they wanted the job the most. maybe you are already doing that but since you said you haven't 'heard' from anyone i thought maybe you weren't. with this economy employers are not going to go out of their way to hire you. you have to make it happen for yourself!

As for your question, you can look on the FAA website for the detailed requirements. There are no work experience requirements for CTI applicants. There are requirements for OTS applicants. That's one of the benefits of applying under CTI.

And what do you mean about the 'deadline'?

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

Where from?

Uh, no they don't. Seniority is based on the day you begin, with preference given to veterans if there's a tie. That's it.

I see what you're trying to say here about PUBNAT being the quick way to go... but when you consider how much longer the application process is for OTS as compared to CTI, that negates some of that. Besides, for some of the reasons you listed and a few more, CTI is the "safer" option, in terms of having a greater probability of getting selected.

Anybody still advocating OTS over CTI as an application path isn't familiar with how much things have changed the past few months. Back during PUBNAT1 and 2, the competition wasn't as fierce and more OTS's were selected. Then the economy tanked, air traffic dropped, and the system became overloaded with trainees (big surprise), so the FAA was able to slow down their hiring, both in terms of numbers and the number of PUBNATs. The new contract will probably push things even further in that direction. At the same time, OTS applications increased, both due to the economy and advertising (so to speak) on the part of the FAA. With fewer spots available and more people gunning for them, OTS has become a much less reliable way to get in.

If someone's serious about ATC as a career, it'd be foolish to put all of your eggs in the PUBNAT basket. Despite the claims made here and elsewhere about the hiring percentage for OTS applicants -- none have been made public by the FAA, so they're all speculation -- most everyone can agree that they're not great. Better to hedge your bets and pick up some education on the way.