Diploma · national qualification
Diploma of Aviation (Air Traffic Control)
This diploma trains you for work as an air traffic controller, in civilian airspace or in Defence.
- How long it takes
- 1 to 2 years
- typical for this level
- Main job
- Air Traffic Controller
- $137,900 median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 1 provider
- 4 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Diploma of Aviation (Air Traffic Control) asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in aviation and how airspace works
- clear spoken communication skills
- the ability to hold a mental picture of moving traffic
- a calm approach when things go wrong
Before you start
Entrants to this qualification must possess the minimum entry requirements determined by CASA for ATC licensing purposes or Defence Air Traffic Controller entry standards.
Where this course can take you
The study that can follow this course.
Jobs you can do with it
Air Traffic Controller
Air traffic controllers keep aircraft safely apart, directing them on the ground, around airports and along the routes between them.
A step towards this job. What else you need
Median pay$137,900
In demand
If you study further
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.
Where you can study this course
There's one place you can study this course. No provider pays to be listed here.
- Website for Department of Defence (opens in a new tab)
Department of Defence
8 campuses
4.2from 61 Google reviews
What you’ll learn
7 units: 6 that everyone takes and 1 you choose.
- Radiotelephony and clearances
- Managing traffic flow
- Situational awareness
- Search and rescue response
- Control equipment and workstations
- Human performance and teamwork
See all 6 core units
Core units
Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
It prepares you for work as an air traffic controller in civilian airspace or Defence. You learn radiotelephony, sequencing and separating traffic, and emergency responses.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
Entrants must possess the minimum entry requirements determined by CASA for ATC licensing purposes or Defence Air Traffic Controller entry standards. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.