The CTI program at Florida Community College of Jacksonville is starting out great. About 9 students along with myself are the first group to go through the program, which made us the guinea pigs. We're having a few problems with interning around the Jacksonville area but they are slowly working out the problems. Scholarships are available and the professors are very knowledgeable. I would strongly recommend this school

I transferred to this school after struggling for 4 years to pay Embry Riddle tuition. I had to work two jobs to pay for classes and of course that didn't help with my studies. I can't begin to say how ecstatic I was to hear another CTI school was available with tuition UNDER $100/credit for FL. residents!

Cost was the MAIN reason why I chose to transfer. I went and had a long sit down conversation with the ATC program head at ERAU about whether or not it would be detrimental to my being hired by the FAA if I didn't have that ERAU name.

I asked for a no "bs" answer and that's what I got. So now I go to FCCJ.

So far, it's a great up and coming program but not without its pitfalls. I think now in their 2nd year of offering ATC, they are becoming a bit overwhelmed with how many kids actually enrolled and are having a difficult time trying to place them into the necessary classes and internships. Luckily, you don't get the runaround quite as much here as you do at Riddle, but you DO have to stay on top of the advisors to get what you need done. They just have so much on their plates some things get overlooked.

An aviation internship is required to graduate, but so many people are coming due to apply, that there's just no room in the facilities willing to take on interns.

All in all, I think its a great school at an amazing price. Sure, you don't get the big name, but in the end, I just need to get hired. As far as equipment goes, the sims are identical to those of Riddle. They don't have quite as many seasoned professors and resources but it was well worth the change. Now I can hopefully graduate and start my career without having to sell my first born.

I started out going to FCCJ for the pilot program but switched after the ATC program got certification. I graduated on May 3rd as part of the first graduating class and took the AT-SAT about a week later and made a 99 (it was probably a benefit taking the AT-SAT after completing the program). Since we were the first class and things were still being put together throughout the year that was the reason, future classes will test before graduation. The college got a grant for the program from the Department of Labor and they gave scholarships to all students. Everyone in our class (nine of us) had everything payed for through scholarships.

The cirriculum is very good even though there is only one ATC professor that teaches Tower Lab, Nonradar, and Radar Lab. He also teaches book classes on ATC as well. He worked for 33 years as an en route controller at Jacksonville Center. They are planning on hiring another full time ATC professor and adjunct professors as well. I would assume some with terminal and tower experience for those classes.

The facilities are flawless, period. Brand new Radar and Tower Labs as well as a good variety of Flight Simulators. FCCJ just completed in March a $4 million dollar building for ATC and Aviation classes. It is located right at Cecil Field Airport which is a unique airport too.

The internship was probably one of the best experiences I could have gotten out of the program. Jacksonville Center has been very cooperative in accepting many students to intern there to complete the 180 hours necessary for graduation. Seeing day-to-day operations and building connections there was priceless. There are limited positions however and some students were forced to be a teachers assistant in the Tower Lab for the next class coming through. I don't know how they will decide who gets what but I assume the highest grades get first choice. Local non-FAA towers and Jax Approach are not at all cooperative in accepting interns which is really a shame because valuable experiences could be gained at these facilities.

Overall I don't think I could have made a better decision, it is now June and I graduated high school four years ago. I have an A.A., an A.S. in ATC and Aviation Operations, my private license, instrument rating, and lessons away from my commercial license. I have gotten all of this for under $25,000, and almost 100 percent of that was toward flight school. Tell me a four-year university where you could get all that for that price. YOU CAN'T!!! If you are going to do ATC this is the way to go. Two years instead of four and much, much cheaper. Get hired quicker and still end up getting payed the same as that person with a 4 yr degree and not have 100 thousand in student loans. All of the adminstration is great and will answer any questions you have. Sam Fischer is the program director and he is very friendly and helpful. The school got our recommendations to the FAA within a month of graduating and I have my application in with the FAA and am waiting to hear from them.

This school was great. I arrived in the Fall of 2010. Graduated December of 2011. I roomed with a fellow VATSIM controller in an apartment down the street from the Cecil campus.

We both took the same classes and graduated with 4.0 GPAs. The school is challenging and definitely fun! Mr. Fischer is the director of the program. He is really nice and helpful once you show how motivated you are to complete the program and NETWORK!!! Go above and beyond and you will go places and meet great people.

We both applied for the scholarship that was being provided for all students. (Not sure why some didn't apply... If you had other scholarships you would get reimbursed money)

The staff is more than helpful. All of the instructors that deal with controller courses are ex-controllers from ZJX and KJAX. Ask and you shall get an answer.

Jacksonville isn't the best city, but there are tons of things to do by the beach and on the east side of town. The school is on the west side which is only about 25 minutes from anything.

If you decide to go there, you won't be disappointed!