Help! How long is the selection process for ATCO?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: London
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Help! How long is the selection process for ATCO?
I'm applying to see if I'm eligible to train to become an Air Traffic Controller, but I have to know: how long does the three-stage process take? You see I have the option of going to University (in fact, it was the first option before I seriously considered a career in Air Traffic Controlling) but, if the process takes longer than around 7 weeks (1st of September), I have to make a decision of one or the other... My first stage is on July 14th, anyone have any experience of how long it can take? Thanks!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: The South
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't know for sure but I have a feeling you won't have your place at the college confirmed by 1st Sept. What is the harm in applying for NATS while starting your Uni course?
Your interviews only take 1 day each & are staggered so by missing the odd day at uni, it isn't going to cause you lots of harm. If you fail then you are already at uni & can carry on your studies, If you pass then you have a choice to make.......
Your interviews only take 1 day each & are staggered so by missing the odd day at uni, it isn't going to cause you lots of harm. If you fail then you are already at uni & can carry on your studies, If you pass then you have a choice to make.......
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: LHR/EGLL
Age: 45
Posts: 4,390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ke200, it's really up to you; at every stage you are given a list of dates to choose from.
Quite a few candidates take around a month from stage 1 to stage 3.
However, my opinion is that those going through stage 1 now will start in January 2009 at the earliest, obviously depending on how many the college take in on the September/October course (217 I guess).
Quite a few candidates take around a month from stage 1 to stage 3.
However, my opinion is that those going through stage 1 now will start in January 2009 at the earliest, obviously depending on how many the college take in on the September/October course (217 I guess).
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR/Surrey
Age: 39
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You could always drop out if you got accepted, if you thought that was the best thing to do..
Without wanting to start (yet another) debate on here about whether a degree is worthwhile if you're planning a career in ATC - you have to consider that just because you get through the selection doesn't mean you have a job for life. So if you start your degree, get the job, quit the degree, come to the college.. there are many many points at which you can still fall down and whilst it's usual to get a second chance, it's not a guarantee. And then you'd be a bit stuck. Of course you could reapply to Uni again, but you might have a big wait before starting again.
All depends where your priorities lie and what you think is best for you. If you want to make a go of it as soon as possible then do. If you're a bit more wary and want a little more security, I would suggest finishing the degree first and then applying might be the better route.
IMVHO. YMMV. IANAL.
Having said all that, I am jealous of the guys who are at the same stage as me at Heathrow who aren't even 20 yet!
(To answer the question, some people on our course went from stage 1 to starting job within 3 weeks. Others (like me) took 6 months)
Without wanting to start (yet another) debate on here about whether a degree is worthwhile if you're planning a career in ATC - you have to consider that just because you get through the selection doesn't mean you have a job for life. So if you start your degree, get the job, quit the degree, come to the college.. there are many many points at which you can still fall down and whilst it's usual to get a second chance, it's not a guarantee. And then you'd be a bit stuck. Of course you could reapply to Uni again, but you might have a big wait before starting again.
All depends where your priorities lie and what you think is best for you. If you want to make a go of it as soon as possible then do. If you're a bit more wary and want a little more security, I would suggest finishing the degree first and then applying might be the better route.
IMVHO. YMMV. IANAL.
Having said all that, I am jealous of the guys who are at the same stage as me at Heathrow who aren't even 20 yet!
(To answer the question, some people on our course went from stage 1 to starting job within 3 weeks. Others (like me) took 6 months)
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: London
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks, but can anyone give me an answer as to how long it takes to get through the stages? All I want is to have a confirmation of "yes, you are eligible to train for ATCO" before September 1st, not including training itself. As in, does it take (for example) 4 weeks, one week for stage one, two for stage two and another for stage 3? Or is the process much longer, taking a month to receive confirmation for each stage? I'll work out the finer details later, but thanks for the advice - I thought it would be a little unusual to start a degree only to drop out a few months afterwards!
I guess I can always ask the people at the stage one tests - I heard somewhere there's a trained controller there.
@ Gonzo, i'f i'm eligible and can get a confirmed place I'd just work full time somewhere to have a bit of money for living costs until that date arrives
@ timelapse, I'd really want to get a solid career going rather than building up debt by going to University, but all I want at the moment is confirmation that i'm suitable to train. I could always get a job somewhere while waiting for university assuming I don't make the grade - I hope that doesn't happen though.
I guess I can always ask the people at the stage one tests - I heard somewhere there's a trained controller there.
@ Gonzo, i'f i'm eligible and can get a confirmed place I'd just work full time somewhere to have a bit of money for living costs until that date arrives
@ timelapse, I'd really want to get a solid career going rather than building up debt by going to University, but all I want at the moment is confirmation that i'm suitable to train. I could always get a job somewhere while waiting for university assuming I don't make the grade - I hope that doesn't happen though.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: LHR/Surrey
Age: 39
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The problem is that the dates for the stages are made available to you as you pass each previous stage.. sometimes you might have to wait weeks for a date to come available near to you which is the problem with trying to guess it.. If you applied now I would say that on average there is a good chance you'll find out before Sep 1st..
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: London
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah ok, thanks. I applied a week ago for a July 14th stage 1 test (the earliest possible). I think i'll just take every opportunity at the earliest possible time and see if I qualify - if not I can always drop out - i'd rather have as little debt as possible and this career seems perfect to my interests in technology and aviation University seems like a bad choice to be honest - we were rushed into applying for a course and I chose the most generic but (I hope) respected one possible, but... I just want a solid job
Anyway, cheers all!
Anyway, cheers all!
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: LHR/EGLL
Age: 45
Posts: 4,390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks, but can anyone give me an answer as to how long it takes to get through the stages?
Ke200, it's really up to you; at every stage you are given a list of dates to choose from.
Quite a few candidates take around a month from stage 1 to stage 3.
Quite a few candidates take around a month from stage 1 to stage 3.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Highlands
Age: 38
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by ke200
I thought it would be a little unusual to start a degree only to drop out a few months afterwards!
My selection took something in the region of about 2 months. I passed the medical back in November, but I'm only actually starting a Bournemouth next week (eek!).
I'm sure if you applied right now, you'll be done by Sept 1st. Heck, if you don't pass the first stage, you'll know sooner! (That isn't supposed to sound harsh, though I am aware it probably does).
All the best with your application!
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: kent
Age: 48
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"there are too many people on this Island"
"However, my opinion is that those going through stage 1 now will start in January 2009 at the earliest, obviously depending on how many the college take in on the September/October course (217 I guess)."
Gonzo,
I was just wondering what the figure "217" represents? Students??? If so I thought only around 60 get on each course??
Chedchenko.
Gonzo,
I was just wondering what the figure "217" represents? Students??? If so I thought only around 60 get on each course??
Chedchenko.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southampton
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the number is your course number! not the number of people on it but if the college was big enough i'm sure our esteemend management would get as many as possible in!!
I was on course 88, way back in 93. Gonzo was on ........ (i'm sure he'll say!)
the courses did get regraded a few years back when the college was restructured (again!!), i can't remember how many got missed out but the course numbers jumped from 13x something to 200
ps Gonzo, my previous log-on got mysteriously blocked
I was on course 88, way back in 93. Gonzo was on ........ (i'm sure he'll say!)
the courses did get regraded a few years back when the college was restructured (again!!), i can't remember how many got missed out but the course numbers jumped from 13x something to 200
ps Gonzo, my previous log-on got mysteriously blocked
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: LHR/EGLL
Age: 39
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
somewhere around the region of 40 trainees per course number (area and aerodrome combined)
as far as i understand jan 2009 is the earliest start date available as of now, but of course there may be alterations to that. i'd say its 50/50 that you'll find out by sep 1st... thats 6 weeks from stage one to the finish which is pretty quick...
good luck either which way though
as far as i understand jan 2009 is the earliest start date available as of now, but of course there may be alterations to that. i'd say its 50/50 that you'll find out by sep 1st... thats 6 weeks from stage one to the finish which is pretty quick...
good luck either which way though
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Up a bit, up a bit more
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Its been a lot more than 3 months for me. I first was invited for stage 1 on the 15th of Feb and now its July and my stage 3 is tommorow. They say it can take 2 weeks to get your results back and if thats the case thats 6 months exactly