Career guide

Air Traffic Controller

Investigative

Directs aircraft in the air and on the ground, keeping them safely separated. Intense concentration in short shifts, with no tolerance for error.

School subjects

Grade 12 with Mathematics and English; excellent hearing, eyesight and medical fitness.

How you qualify

Entry is by competitive selection to the Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) College - aptitude testing, medical assessment and interviews - not by applying with a degree. Trainees usually start as air traffic service assistants, and full qualification with an Air Traffic Control Officer licence issued by SACAA takes roughly 4 to 6 years. You are employed and paid while training. Confirm current intake requirements with ATNS and your counsellor.

Where to study

ATNS College (sole training provider); SACAA licence required to control traffic

Before you decide. Entry requirements change every year and differ between institutions. We do not publish admission point scores here, because a number that is right for one university in one year is wrong for another. Confirm the requirements directly with the institution before your subject selection form is signed. In KwaZulu-Natal, applications go through the Central Applications Office (cao.ac.za).

Last verified: 2026-08

Book a Career Pathfinder assessment

A qualified career counsellor works through your child's personality, interests, strengths and subjects, and writes them a report on what fits.

← All career guides