NATS Air Traffic Controller Selection Tests
NATS trains air traffic controllers from scratch, with no aviation experience needed, and selects them through four stages of testing. Here is what each stage involves and how to prepare.
Who can apply
NATS runs the UK's main air traffic services and trains its controllers through a Level 5 Apprenticeship that needs no aviation background. Because it is a safety-critical role, applications that miss any of these are rejected at the start:
- Aged 18 or over when you apply.
- Indefinite, unrestricted right to work in the UK. Time-limited visas and sponsorship are not accepted.
- Five GCSEs at grade 4, or Scottish National 5s at A to C, including English and maths, or equivalents.
- Able to pass security clearance to SC level and a Class 3 medical.
- Able to follow NATS's drug and alcohol policy from the day you sign.
Recruitment runs in campaigns, and NATS has not confirmed when the next one opens. You can register your interest on its careers page to hear first.
The four selection stages
- Stage 1: eleven online ability tests. They assess skills such as spatial awareness, logical thinking, numerical ability, sense of direction and reaction speed. You have 14 days to complete them.
- Stage 2: an online situational judgement test and a listening comprehension test. Again, 14 days.
- Stage 3: a virtual assessment centre on Microsoft Teams, with an interview, an ATC knowledge test and a retest of the earlier tests while you are observed.
- Stage 4: a practical exercise and ATC knowledge test part 2,held on Teams or face to face at NATS's office in Whiteley, Hampshire.
If you pass stage 4, you receive a conditional offer, subject to your medical and security clearance. If you fail any stage, NATS tells you by email and you cannot reapply until the next campaign, so it is worth preparing before stage 1 rather than treating the first attempt as practice.
How to prepare for each stage
Stage 1: the ability tests
NATS does not publish the individual tests, so prepare the skills it names. Short daily sessions build these better than one long cram:
- Spatial awareness and sense of direction. Rotating shapes in your head, and working out headings and relative positions quickly. See spatial reasoning.
- Numerical ability. Quick mental arithmetic with times, distances and speeds, without a calculator. See numerical reasoning.
- Logical thinking. Spotting the rule in a sequence and applying it. See logical reasoning.
- Reaction speed. Sit the tests when you are rested and alert, with no distractions, and keep your hands on the keys you need.
With 14 days and eleven tests, plan the sittings rather than doing them all in one evening. Concentration fades across a long session, and reaction tests show it first.
Stage 2: judgement and listening
The situational judgement test asks what you would do in work scenarios. NATS describes the controller it wants as someone who thinks about how their behaviour affects others and stays calm and measured through setbacks and pressure, so weigh the options against that. Our situational judgement guide explains how the questions work. For listening comprehension, practise taking in spoken detail first time: numbers, call signs and instructions. Use headphones and a quiet room.
Stages 3 and 4: interview, knowledge tests and practical
Prepare for the interview with examples of working under pressure, dealing with a mistake and working in a team, structured with the STAR method. NATS does not publish the syllabus of the ATC knowledge tests on its careers page, so read any material sent with your invitation closely.
Training, postings and pay
Start dates follow the medical: in the 2026 campaign, successful candidates were assigned to start dates from late 2027, with security clearance starting about nine months ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need aviation experience?
No. The trainee course is designed for people with no prior aviation experience.
How long do I have for the online tests?
14 days for the eleven stage 1 tests, then 14 days for the stage 2 tests.
Can I retake the NATS tests?
Not in the same campaign. If you do not pass a stage, you can apply again when the next campaign opens.
Is there a practice version of the NATS tests?
We do not simulate them. The guides linked above cover the skills NATS names, which is the most useful preparation before stage 1.