Rich,
I'm in favor of anything that helps improve the quality of prospective trainees that we receive. I'm tired of trying to train individuals who would not had passed the initial screen if it still existed, who think that we owe them, and don't put forth the effort required to certify, who then end up becoming perputual trainees.
At my facility we went from taking an average of 18 months or less to certify, to taking well over 24 months to certify.
Mike
NATCA FWA