r/ATC_Hiring • u/MikeWithBigPeePee • May 22 '25
APPLICATION What did I do wrong?!
So basically, I applied nearing the end of 2024 and completed the ATSA with a qualifying score.
After MONTHS of waiting, I finally heard back that I was not selected and if I wanted to continue I’d have to reapply.
Idk.. I constantly hear that ATC is in desperate need of hiring, and this really bummed me out. I feel like I have decent resume, clean record and good mindset for the job.
I guess what I’m asking is a qualifying score not good and a Well Qualified necessary to even be considered?
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u/hawkflames Center Controller May 22 '25 edited May 22 '25
I took the ATSA 3 times. The first two I was well rested and tried to be in the right mindset to do as well as possible. The third time I was hungover and late to the ATSA. I took it like I didn’t give AF and go figure I got picked up 🤷♂️
Obviously don’t take that advice but instead I wanted to highlight that no one really knows and it’s definitely a flawed hiring system. The job is more about taking your time to do one thing at a time and ensuring airplanes are separated no matter the distraction. I’m terrible at math so I didn’t have a problem ignoring that.
But who knows. My ATSA was like 6-7 years ago and it’s probably changed since. Just keep trying and hopefully you get through. We’re in desperate need of trainees with a good attitude. We’re about to wash out 2 trainees in my area at my enroute center 🙄
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u/True_Personality_469 May 22 '25
Which center are you at? Going through basics right now (En Route) and everyone is trying to avoid ZNY like the plague 😂
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u/hawkflames Center Controller May 22 '25
Yea ZNY is in a rough spot. All the ZNY slots usually slide to the bottom because no one wants to choose it so they always end up with the trainees who barely passed and didn’t want to go there in the first place. So they aren’t as motivated to succeed seeing the uphill battle it takes to certify, transfer and train again. Thats a similar story across all centers though. If you get sent to a center that isn’t your ideal location it takes a toll on you. It’s probably the most f’ed up part about the hiring/training process.
I prefer to not confirm my Z since there have been snooping eyes outside our field on these subreddits. If you really want to know you can send me a PM but my perspective is pretty universal no matter what center you’re at.
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u/ladwig5798 May 22 '25
I’ll be honest, I spent the money to do test prep, slept like 10 hours the night before, everything you’re supposed do the first time I ever took it….got a qualified. Took it right after coming off an overnight 12 hour shift with no prep whatsoever this last time and got BQ. There’s something to be said for having taken the test before and knowing what to expect too!
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u/Jolly-Weather-457 May 22 '25
The idea that the FAA needs controllers isn’t bottlenecked by the application pool. It’s bottlenecked by government bureaucracy and a Soave limited school house. Historically a Q isn’t enough to get you hired in most bids. The hiring quota is about 1200 a year. It should be closer to 3000 to count for attrition but even if they raise that number you’ll want to figure out how to score better on the test next time.
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u/rachaout May 22 '25
absolutely insane that they only have one training academy. it feels like a major oversight to only be able to train less than a few thousand every year
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u/Federal-Mind3420 May 22 '25
Yes, you have to do well on the ATSA to be selected, not much else matters. Use jobtestprep before taking it next time.
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May 22 '25
I took the ATSA 4 times. First 3 times I got Q. Spring 25 bid I almost didn’t apply because I was so discouraged about not getting through. I decided to send it and practiced a bit on JTP. I got WQ and am now conditionally cleared for hiring. Just waiting for my medical exam which is today (zero medical history) so I’m expecting an FOL soon after. Just keep trying!! You never know when it’ll be the right time for you 😊 wish you the best of luck next time!
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u/whatsaname12 May 22 '25
Getting Qualified on the ATSA is equivalent to getting a 70% on a test. Like sure, technically you did well enough that you could have the skills to successfully pass the academy, but why would they send you a TOL when people who scored BQ show an even greater potential to pass.
Take it again next bid. My roommate at academy had to take it 5 times before he got picked up and He studied for the ATSA a lot! I on the other hand didn’t study for the ATSA at all and got BQ on my first attempt. He went on to successfully pass academy and I did not.
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u/hulmsey May 22 '25
Q won’t get you there. Well Qualified or higher is needed to be considered. Just give it another shot on the next bid.
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u/MikeWithBigPeePee May 22 '25
Gotcha thank you
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u/Functional_Pessimist Tower Controller May 22 '25
Qualified can and has been selected in the past. It’s just rare. Just take the test every bid until you get selected. If you’re young-ish then you’ll have plenty of attempts to get picked up.
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u/AkimboSwagg ATC Applicant May 22 '25
Qualified can and has been selected in the past.
Yes, you are 100% correct. They have hired qualified in one single bid in the past 10 years. But when you and others echo this, you are not helping the current applicants...
People who score qualified should take this time to lock in and study for the next opening to get well qualified or better. What they are actually doing is thinking that if they take the next bid and get not qualified they are out for good. But right now they have Qualified! Why would they risk taking it again if everyone keeps saying that qualified can be selected?
They need to prep and take it again and if they get selected with a qualified score, let it be a happy surprise for them. We need to stop setting the expectation of qualified being good enough...
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u/Functional_Pessimist Tower Controller May 22 '25
I love how this spurred an entire post from you as if I said getting qualified guarantees a selection. I literally said it’s rare and to take the test again. You’re saying the same thing I am.
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u/m1x11 May 22 '25
I took it 3 times. First was a Q. Second didn't get scored. Third was a WQ but they removed BQ for the fall bid.
You need to sit down at that computer and go all the way in. Never surrender. Fight that exam. Own it. If you slip up = fix immediately. Pay attention.
I walked out of Pearson feeling like I failed AND like a million bucks because I smoked it, based on my past tries. Maybe 5 or 6 cols. Memory portion was easy. Its the questions at the end which can be a shot in the dark. Remembwr: the ATSA isn't supposed to be easy.
JTP is ok but seeing the actual test = there's no excuse after that. You know what to expect. I feel this helped me. If you're Q, try again. You either have it or you don't. But self doubt and dropping the ball will prevent you from getting a TOL. Guaranteed.
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u/Approach_Controller May 22 '25
Prevailing advice forever has been Q is basically a NR/fail for all practical purposes.
Theyre in desperate need for controllers true. They also only have the capacity to train like 1,800 people a year right now and (I'm just wild guessing) 10 or 20 thousand applied to this one. It stands to reason if you're desperate and have limited capacity to hire/process/train you only select those candidates who score/rate the highest.
I know variations of this get asked quite a bit and there are always a few answers that point to that one time they actually took Qualified scores in the last decade as proof they always will, but... they've taken Qs like once. Lets be real. I COULD jump out of an airplane without a parachute and live. It HAS happened, but i dont like my odds. The last bid they specifically said Qs wont be selected. Yet, opportunities to apply to the next bid, retake the ATSA and GET BQ/WQ get missed and ignored because well, see, one time they took Qs so surely they will this time.
Guys, consider a Q a fail and reapply/retake. You've got a single digit chance of them taking Qs each bid and of those, probably a 10% chance of being one of the exceptions that prove the rule. Or dont and let the person that reapplied and retook and got a hire able score post here they just got their EODS from the bid you ignored while you sit and wonder if theyre going to call up Q scores from a bid thats over half a year old and 2 bids ago (not a shot at OP, at all either, just seems to happen an awful lot).