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Air Traffic Control

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses

Degrees and Certificates Offered

A.S. in Enhanced Air Traffic Control
Enhanced Air Traffic Control Certificate

Dean Paul Estabrook
Department Chair Sean Tener
Phone (916) 558-2492
Email TenerS@scc.losrios.edu

Associate Degree

A.S. in Enhanced Air Traffic Control

Sacramento City College maintains an Air Traffic Control program in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Collegiate Training Institute program. Our program is designed to provide students with a professional level of aviation knowledge and to allow students to be evaluated for potential direct hiring as air traffic controllers by the FAA.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2026

Degree Requirements

Course Code	Course Title	Units
Enrollment Eligibility Course:
ATC 200	Introduction to Air Traffic Control	1
First Semester:
ATC 300	Basic Air Traffic Control Part 1	3
ATC 301	Basic Air Traffic Control Part 2	3
ATC 302	Basic Air Traffic Control Part 3	3
ATC 303	Basic Air Traffic Control Part 4	3
Second Semester:
ATC 310	Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 1 (3)	3
or ATC 320	Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 1 (3)
ATC 311	Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 2 (3)	3
or ATC 321	Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 2 (3)
ATC 312	Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 3 (3)	3
or ATC 322	Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 3 (3)
ATC 313	Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 4 (3)	3
or ATC 323	Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 4 (3)
Third Semester:
ATC 315	Air Traffic Control Terminal Simulation Training (4)	4
or ATC 325	Air Traffic Control En Route Simulation Training (4)
Total Units:		29

The Enhanced Air Traffic Control Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, and either (a) the Local General Education Pattern or (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), plus sufficient electives for a total of at least 60 units. See SCC graduation requirements.

Enrollment Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

The Federal Aviation Administration requires that all applicants read, write, speak, and understand the English language. FAA guidance on language proficiency can be found in the current version of Advisory Circular AC60-28 and the Level 4 proficiency standards of ICAO Doc 9835.
The Federal Aviation Administration requires that all applicants must be under 31-years-old by tentative job offer after graduation. Employment in Federal contract facilities (Non-FAA) do not have this requirement.
Applicants must have, at a minimum, of one year of general work experience, or one year of full-time college, or any combination of education and experience equaling at least one year of general experience.
Applicants must be able to pass a Federal Security Clearance background check. AT-CTI (Tier 3) Contract Tower (Tier 2)
Applicants must be able to pass a Class 3 Airman Medical Exam to enter program and a FAA endorsed medical exam, drug test, and psychological examination upon graduation.
Applicants must receive a successful qualifying score on the FAA administered Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) test prior to completion of the program, in order to be considered for direct employment with the FAA.

Enrollment Process

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

Student must enroll in the prerequisite class, ATC 200: Introduction to Air Traffic Control, and successfully meet all of the requirements listed in the course curriculum.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

interpret and apply Federal Aviation Regulations that pertain to Air Traffic Control procedures.
utilize correct air-to-ground and ground-to-air communication terminology and phraseology.
interpret, prepare, and disseminate terminal and/or en-route weather reports.
correctly apply Air Traffic Control procedures in simulated terminal, or en-route air traffic control environments.
properly use air traffic control computer data entry systems and voice communication equipment.

Career Information

Employment opportunities exist within the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) National Air Traffic Control system for Air Traffic Controllers. There are also over 250, non-federal air traffic control facilities throughout the country in need of controllers. Opportunity for employment as remote pilot operators, who provide high fidelity air traffic control training, and for military controllers is also available.

Certificate of Achievement

Enhanced Air Traffic Control Certificate

Catalog Date: August 1, 2026

Certificate Requirements

Course Code	Course Title	Units
ATC 200	Introduction to Air Traffic Control	1
ATC 300	Basic Air Traffic Control Part 1	3
ATC 301	Basic Air Traffic Control Part 2	3
ATC 302	Basic Air Traffic Control Part 3	3
ATC 303	Basic Air Traffic Control Part 4	3
ATC 310	Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 1 (3)	3
or ATC 320	Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 1 (3)
ATC 311	Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 2 (3)	3
or ATC 321	Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 2 (3)
ATC 312	Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 3 (3)	3
or ATC 322	Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 3 (3)
ATC 313	Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 4 (3)	3
or ATC 323	Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 4 (3)
ATC 315	Air Traffic Control Terminal Simulation Training (4)	4
or ATC 325	Air Traffic Control En Route Simulation Training (4)
Total Units:		29

Enrollment Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

The Federal Aviation Administration requires that all applicants read, write, speak, and understand the English language. FAA guidance on language proficiency can be found in the current version of Advisory Circular AC60-28 and the Level 4 proficiency standards of ICAO Doc 9835.
The Federal Aviation Administration requires that all applicants must be under 31-years-old by tentative job offer after graduation. Employment in Federal contract facilities (Non-FAA) do not have this requirement.
Applicants must have, at a minimum, of one year of general work experience, or one year of full-time college, or any combination of education and experience equaling at least one year of general experience.
Applicants must be able to pass a Federal Security Clearance background check. AT-CTI (Tier 3) Contract Tower (Tier 2)
Applicants must be able to pass a Class 3 Airman Medical Exam to enter program and a FAA endorsed medical exam, drug test, and psychological examination upon graduation.
Applicants must receive a successful qualifying score on the FAA administered Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) test prior to completion of the program, in order to be considered for direct employment with the FAA.

Enrollment Process

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

Student must enroll in the prerequisite class, ATC 200: Introduction to Air Traffic Control, and successfully meet all of the requirements listed in the course curriculum.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

interpret and apply Federal Aviation Regulations that pertain to Air Traffic Control procedures.
utilize correct air-to-ground and ground-to-air communication terminology and phraseology.
interpret, prepare, and disseminate terminal and/or en-route weather reports.
correctly apply Air Traffic Control procedures in simulated terminal, or en-route air traffic control environments.
properly use air traffic control computer data entry systems and voice communication equipment.

Career Information

Air Traffic Control (ATC) Courses

ATC 200 Introduction to Air Traffic Control

Units:1
Hours:18 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This introductory course is designed for students considering a career in air traffic control. The class is a prerequisite for acceptance into ATC 300-Basic Air Traffic Control 1. The course will give an overview of air traffic control as a career, and will provide guidance for prospective students regarding the requirements for being hired as a controller.

To be hired as a controller, the requirements listed below must be met.

(1) Must be a US citizen and speak English clearly.

(2) Must be under 31-years-old by the tentative job offer after graduation.

(3) Have one year of full-time work experience (full-time defined as a 40 hour work week), or a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, or any combination of education and experience equaling one year of full-time work experience.

(4) Pass the Security Clearance AT-CTI (Tier 3) and Contract Tower (Tier 2).

(5) Pass the Class 2 Airman's Medical Exam recommended to enter program and a FAA endorsed medical and psychological examination upon graduation.

(6) Successful qualifying score on the FAA administered Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) test prior to completion of the program.

ATC 299 Experimental Offering in Air Traffic Control

Units:0.5 - 4
Prerequisite:None.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the experimental courses description.

ATC 300 Basic Air Traffic Control Part 1

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 200 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides lecture on the fundamental concepts of air traffic control operations. Areas such as airports, airport markings, airport operations, airport lighting, roles of various FAA organizations, FAA history, air traffic management systems, the National Airspace System (NAS), types of separation used by air traffic control, NOTAMS(Notices To Air Missions), radar systems, FAA orders, FAA publications, aircraft manuals, LOAs(letters of agreement), and SOPs(standard operating procedures) will be taught and tested.

ATC 301 Basic Air Traffic Control Part 2

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 300 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides lecture on the fundamental concepts of air traffic control operations. Areas such as the basic principles of flight, basic flight instruments, simple flight controls, and beginning aerodynamics, wake turbulence requirements and procedures, aircraft types, designators, and characteristics, recognition of aircraft identifiers and classifications, special use airspace and airspace classes, and Federal Air Regulations from FAA Title 14 and FAA Title 14 Part 91 will be taught and tested.

ATC 302 Basic Air Traffic Control Part 3

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 301 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides lecture on the fundamental concepts of air traffic control operations. Areas such as basic navigation, radio and satellite navigation, pilot's environment, (Visual Flight Rules) VFR and (Instrument Flight Rules) IFR charts, (Standard Instrument Departures) SIDS and (Standard Terminal Arrivals) STARS, approaches, emergencies, and search and rescue, will be taught and tested.

ATC 303 Basic Air Traffic Control Part 4

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 302 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides lecture on the fundamental concepts of air traffic control operations. Areas such as basic aviation weather, hazardous weather, current weather (Meteorological Aerodrome Reports, (METARs)), forecasts and advisories, PIREPs, basic communications, Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearances, and ATC strip marking will be taught and tested.

ATC 310 Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 1

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 300, 301, 302, and 303 with grades of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides lecture on the fundamental concepts of Terminal Air Traffic Control operations. Areas such as tower cab training, aircraft characteristics and recognition, human factors in ATC, fatigue awareness, disseminating weather, intro to ASOS, terminal controller and tower controller equipment, Academy Airport layout, Academy Airport airspace, instrument procedures, and airport conditions, airport usage, and airport lighting will be taught and tested.

ATC 311 Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 2

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 310 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides lecture on the fundamental concepts of Terminal Air Traffic Control operations. Areas such as strip marking, airport conditions, airport lighting, Academy Airport, Academy airspace, Flight Data Input/Output(FDIO), Automated Terminal Information Service(ATIS), flight data, and clearance delivery will be taught and tested.

ATC 312 Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 3

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 311 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides lecture on the fundamental concepts of Terminal Air Traffic Control operations. Areas such as general control procedures, position relief briefings, ground control duties, taxi and ground movement rules, wind shear, and local control duties will be taught and tested.

ATC 313 Enhanced Air Traffic Control Terminal 4

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 312 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides lecture on the fundamental concepts of Terminal Air Traffic Control operations. Areas such as VFR arrivals, VFR departures, IFR arrivals, IFR departures, wake turbulence, visual operations, runway incursions, fatigue, and human factors in aviation will be taught and tested.

ATC 315 Air Traffic Control Terminal Simulation Training

Units:4
Hours:72 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 313 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course will provide instruction and training on air traffic control simulations leading to the final testing of the students by certified Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examiners. Successful evaluations may lead to direct employment as an air traffic controller with the FAA.

ATC 320 Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 1

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 300, 301, 302, and 303 with grades of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides lecture on the fundamental concepts of En Route Air Traffic Control operations. Areas such as Aero Center airspace, radio and interphone usage, holding procedures, vertical, lateral, and longitudinal separation, board management, radar procedures, military operations, computer equipment and messaging, and En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) procedures will be taught and tested.

ATC 321 Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 2

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 320 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides lecture on the fundamental concepts of En Route Air Traffic Control operations. Areas such as holding aircraft, altimeter settings, arrival and approach procedures, map testing, vertical, lateral, and longitudinal separation, initial departure separation, visual separation, and fatigue awareness will be taught and tested.

ATC 322 Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 3

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 321 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This class will familiarize the student with non-radar air traffic control. Simulated non-radar scenarios will be taught and tested.

ATC 323 Enhanced Air Traffic Control En Route 4

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 322 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This course provides lecture on the fundamental concepts of En Route Air Traffic Control operations. All aspects of radar air traffic control such as radar identification, radar handoffs, radar point outs, radar separation and safety alerts, radar vectoring, military operations, position relief briefings, computer equipment and message entry, voice switching and control systems, and radar scanning and awareness will be taught and tested.

ATC 325 Air Traffic Control En Route Simulation Training

Units:4
Hours:72 hours LEC
Prerequisite:ATC 323 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

ATC 499 Experimental Offering in Air Traffic Control

Units:0.5 - 4
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:August 1, 2026

This is the experimental courses description.

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