ATSA Test Prep- Complete Guide and Practice for the FAA ATC Exam [2026]

Every year the FAA publishes new opening for the air traffic control trainee position that are open to all US citizens under 30. The announcement can be found on https://www.usajobs.gov/.

With no preparation at all, the Air Traffic Skills Assessment can be very difficult. You may think that because the ATSA is an aptitude assessment, you don't need to practice for it, but this can't be farther from the truth.

Before your upcoming test, get as much information as you can about the test and try to practice using ATSA practice tests that are most similar to the actual test (computerized and similar in their format and difficulty level).

You can take the AT SA exam as many times as you want, but only once per hiring window.

Your ATSA test results are valid for three years after taking the test. So long as you have a valid ATSA score from the last three years, you don't have to retake the assessment. Your latest results will be applied automatically.

If you choose to schedule a new test date, however, your most recent score will supersede all previous results. You will not be able to use a past test score, even if it's better than your latest.

The ATSA test scores are divided into four groups: Best Qualified, Well-Qualified, Qualified, and Not Referred. Your goal is to score high on this challenging test and get a Best Qualified score, optimizing your chances of getting a TOL.

The Air Traffic Controller test does not cost anything for the applicant. However, you should consider travel costs, as sometimes you will need to drive a long way to get to the closest assessment center. The FAA does not reimburse travel costs.

In short, yes. Pool 1 candidates are looked at first, meaning they may get referred and eventually hired, even though they scored lower on the ATC test. That means that if you’re an OTS candidate (Off the Streets), it’s better you score very high on the ATSA.

Your initial score timing depends on when the testing window ends. 

It can take about two weeks after the last date of testing to get a referral status (either “Referred” or “Not Referred”). After that, if you scored high enough, you can get a TOL (Tentative Offer Letter) about 3 months after taking the test. If your score is not quite good, you are put on a waiting list.

The ATSA test is exactly 2 hours and 49 minutes long, plus 30 minutes of break time, which can also be divided into smaller breaks.

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) simulation is one subtest of the ATSA test. It is a game of collision avoidance and basic math questions. You are shown a screen with numbered dots coming in from all angles and your job is to prevent the dots from colliding. When you identify which dots are going to collide, you can press the number of one of the dots, making it disappear, thus preventing the collision.

The ATC simulation test involves different difficulty levels, while in the end the speed of the dots is very high, and you must answer math questions while trying to avoid the collisions. It is considered one of the most difficult parts of the Air Traffic Skills Assessment.

If you cannot make it to your Air Traffic Skills Assessment appointment, you're required to reschedule or cancel it at least 48 hours before the scheduled test date.

Pearson VUE is the official vendor of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the ATSA test and operates its testing system. If your application on USAJobs goes through, you will get an email from Pearson VUE inviting you to schedule a test date to take the ATSA test.

The email will be entitled "Authorization to Test", and it will contain your name and an "aviator ID", which you'll use on test day to identidy yourself.

The test is completely managed by Pearson, and it's important to know FAA representatives will not be present at the testing center.

For more official information about Pearson VUE and Pearson Professional Centers (PPCs), visit this link.

Yes*, the ATSA test is usually done at Pearson Professional Centers (PPCs)** around the country. To find the closest Pearson testing center, write your address here. 

Sometimes testing centers get full, so you want to schedule the test soon after getting the exam invitation email. And make sure you choose a date that fits best. In some cases, you will need to drive a few hours or even fly to the nearest testing center, so take that into consideration.

*In 2020, the AT SA exam was conducted in the candidates' homes, because of Covid-19 restrictions.
**In the past, the aptitude test was taken in PSI centers.

In the past, pool 2 candidates were required to complete and pass the BioQ biographical assessment. Since July 2018 and following a lawsuit about the validity of the assessment, the biographical assessment is no longer relevant for any pool candidates.

Yes. However, you must request them before scheduling a test date.

You can find out more on the Pearson Q&A page.