Student air traffic controller licence
Guidance for applying for a student ATCO licence or adding ratings under UK aviation regulations.
A student Air Traffic Controller Licence (ATCO) permits the holder to provide an Air Traffic Control (ATC) service for the purpose of Unit Training.
The student ATCO licence holder can only provide this service under the supervision of a fully qualified ATCO, who holds an on-the-job training instructor licence endorsement.
The service being provided must be in the ATC discipline for which initial training has been successfully completed at an approved UK initial training organisation.
Requirements to be granted a Student ATCO Licence
Applicants for a Student Air Traffic Controller Licence must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Have successfully completed an approved basic and at least one rating course of initial training at an approved UK initial training organisation.
- Hold a certificate, issued by an approved UK ATCO language assessment body, which demonstrates the competence to speak and understand the English language to at least level 4 of the ICAO Language Proficiency Scale.
- Hold a current UK issued Class 3 medical certificate.
Requirements to add an additional rating to Student ATCO Licence
The holder of a student ATCO licence may add additional ratings to their licence after the completion of the appropriate training course at a UK initial training organisation.
After application this will result in the issue of a new student ATCO licence containing the additional rating.
Applications for a Student Air Traffic Controller (ATCO) licence should be made through the online Manage Personnel Licences service, accessed via the CAA Customer Portal.
Individuals applying for their own licence can refer to the Manage Personnel Licences Service External User Guide: Individuals
Units applying for a Student Air Traffic Controller (ATCO) licence on behalf of a trainee can refer to the Manage Personnel Licences Service External User Guide: Organisations.
To add additional ratings to a Student ATCO licence, applications can be made using form SRG1421. This application will be moving to the Manage Personnel Licences service at the end of September.
The cost of the grant of a student Air Traffic Controller (ATCO) licence is detailed in the Official Record Series ORS 5 - CAA Scheme of Charges (Personnel Licensing)
There is no charge to add additional ratings to a Student ATCO licence.
Applications for a student ATCO licence normally be processed within 10 working days, although for administrative reasons, it may not always possible to meet this target and the application will be processed as soon as possible.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Licensing Assessment will contact you if there are any queries regarding your application.
After all checks have been completed and we are content that application has been completed correctly, it will then be processed and the licence produced and dispatched to the applicant’s unit or home address as appropriate.
A student Air Traffic Controller (ATCO) licence does not expire, but unit training in the rating held must commence within 12 months of having completed the approved initial training course.
Student ATCO licence holders who fail to meet this criterion will be required to complete an assessment of previous competence.