So here is my attempt at understanding all this...

[Zeppelinpilot]

I have been piecing all this together by reading the threads, and so now I want to lay it all out for my own sake. Hopefully some others will find this useful.

Please correct any mistakes a I make. I assume the PEPC route because that is what I will do.

Step One:
Apply!
Whether you are CTI, VRA or OTS, you need to start by applying to the ASAP system online (Assumes there is an open announcement for your category).

When you apply, you select your geographic preferences. They used to use a 5 state system, but now you get to list specific facilities?

Step Two:
Take AT-SAT when they tell you to (OTS/VRA).
I am CTI so will have already taken it.

Step Three:
They will invite you to a PEPC. If they do not, you can call a number and ask to go a PEPC. I personally will be flying wherever I have to to get to a PEPC as soon as possible.

When you get invited to a PEPC, they will give you a general idea of where you are going. IF you are going Enroute, they will tell you the specific facility you will be working at. If you are going terminal, you will only be told a generality like "NY Terminal" or "CA Terminal".

Step Four:
Go to PEPC and complete all the stuff you need to right then and there. This is where you will receive your TOL and if you are going terminal, you will be told your specific facility.

Step Five:
Wait for/Receive FOL (assumes medical/drug/security checks all go through). This is when you receive your OKC date.

Step Six:
Go to OKC and don't fail.



Ok, so is that right?

What still seems to confuse me is the method for selecting geo preferences. People are speaking of emails where they are given a list of facilities to chose from. Or some people know the exact facility they are going to before the PEPC.

It just seems like everyones experience is slightly different, and you never know whats going to happen when.

Thanks for the help.

[hudson26]

It was news to me, but in ASAP you don't list your geo pref. It will allow you to, but the announcement instructs your to list "throughout the nation" and you are asked your pref's later in the process.

[chichi]

Originally Posted by Zeppelinpilot

What still seems to confuse me is the method for selecting geo preferences. People are speaking of emails where they are given a list of facilities to chose from. Or some people know the exact facility they are going to before the PEPC.

For OTS, we receive an email with a link to a website, where we choose 2 states. I don't know if CTI receives an email or if you just select on your application.

[Zeppelinpilot]

So after you respond to geo preferences email, then you wait for your ASAP to update to show that they got your requests?

What are people referring to when they say "referral list"?

[chichi]

Originally Posted by Zeppelinpilot

So after you respond to geo preferences email, then you wait for your ASAP to update to show that they got your requests?

What are people referring to when they say "referral list"?

Again, this is for OTS... I don't know about CTI... after the geo preferences, we wait for ASAP to tell us that we are on a referral list for "United States - Throughout the Nation"... we don't know if they honored our requests until the PEPC invites come out and we get the email saying "You have been selected for a [terminal/enroute] position in the state of [state]"

[boondr]

Originally Posted by Zeppelinpilot

I have been piecing all this together by reading the threads, and so now I want to lay it all out for my own sake. Hopefully some others will find this useful.

Please correct any mistakes a I make. I assume the PEPC route because that is what I will do.

Step One:
Apply!
Whether you are CTI, VRA or OTS, you need to start by applying to the ASAP system online (Assumes there is an open announcement for your category).

When you apply, you select your geographic preferences. They used to use a 5 state system, but now you get to list specific facilities?

Step Two:
Take AT-SAT when they tell you to (OTS/VRA).
I am CTI so will have already taken it.

Step Three:
They will invite you to a PEPC. If they do not, you can call a number and ask to go a PEPC. I personally will be flying wherever I have to to get to a PEPC as soon as possible.

When you get invited to a PEPC, they will give you a general idea of where you are going. IF you are going Enroute, they will tell you the specific facility you will be working at. If you are going terminal, you will only be told a generality like "NY Terminal" or "CA Terminal".

Step Four:
Go to PEPC and complete all the stuff you need to right then and there. This is where you will receive your TOL and if you are going terminal, you will be told your specific facility.

Step Five:
Wait for/Receive FOL (assumes medical/drug/security checks all go through). This is when you receive your OKC date.

Step Six:
Go to OKC and don't fail.



Ok, so is that right?

What still seems to confuse me is the method for selecting geo preferences. People are speaking of emails where they are given a list of facilities to chose from. Or some people know the exact facility they are going to before the PEPC.

It just seems like everyones experience is slightly different, and you never know whats going to happen when.

Thanks for the help.

Step 1. Only select geo prefs in application if VRA.

Step 2. VRA does not take AT-SAT at all.


rest is basically right. You missed the 43,587 phone calls to remind them that you exist and are waiting.

Also with the exception of "pre-taking" the AT-SAT the FAA treats CTI and OTS as one and the same.

[dru]

I am OTS and I selected my geo prefs at the time of my application. Will I have chance to change them? Where does the email come from so I can make sure it doesn't get tossed into my spam folder and deleted?

[chichi]

Originally Posted by dru

I am OTS and I selected my geo prefs at the time of my application. Will I have chance to change them? Where does the email come from so I can make sure it doesn't get tossed into my spam folder and deleted?

I don't know where the email comes from, but you'll get to select 2 states, rather than the 10 on the application. These can be different than the ones you put on your application and they'll try to place you in one of the states you chose, but it's not always possible. You may be placed in a state you selected on your original application or you may be placed somewhere completely different... it can be wherever they need you.

[Chris Barnes]

Originally Posted by Zeppelinpilot

Step Three:
They will invite you to a PEPC. If they do not, you can call a number and ask to go a PEPC. I personally will be flying wherever I have to to get to a PEPC as soon as possible.

Can you really just call and ask to go to a PEPC?

[Zeppelinpilot]

Can you really just call and ask to go to a PEPC?

Yes. When a representative from the FAA came to my school to talk to the CTI students there, she said

"If you are within a certain range of a PEPC, you will be invited. Otherwise you will not. If you know that you want to go to a PEPC, just call this number (she gave us the number, but I lost it) and ask to go to one."

[esw2005]

Originally Posted by Zeppelinpilot

I have been piecing all this together by reading the threads, and so now I want to lay it all out for my own sake. Hopefully some others will find this useful.

Please correct any mistakes a I make. I assume the PEPC route because that is what I will do.

Step One:
Apply!
Whether you are CTI, VRA or OTS, you need to start by applying to the ASAP system online (Assumes there is an open announcement for your category).

When you apply, you select your geographic preferences. They used to use a 5 state system, but now you get to list specific facilities?

Step Two:
Take AT-SAT when they tell you to (OTS/VRA).
I am CTI so will have already taken it.

Step Three:
They will invite you to a PEPC. If they do not, you can call a number and ask to go a PEPC. I personally will be flying wherever I have to to get to a PEPC as soon as possible.

When you get invited to a PEPC, they will give you a general idea of where you are going. IF you are going Enroute, they will tell you the specific facility you will be working at. If you are going terminal, you will only be told a generality like "NY Terminal" or "CA Terminal".

Step Four:
Go to PEPC and complete all the stuff you need to right then and there. This is where you will receive your TOL and if you are going terminal, you will be told your specific facility.

Step Five:
Wait for/Receive FOL (assumes medical/drug/security checks all go through). This is when you receive your OKC date.

Step Six:
Go to OKC and don't fail.



Ok, so is that right?

What still seems to confuse me is the method for selecting geo preferences. People are speaking of emails where they are given a list of facilities to chose from. Or some people know the exact facility they are going to before the PEPC.

It just seems like everyones experience is slightly different, and you never know whats going to happen when.

Thanks for the help.

Ok, so there is a lot of speculation on how the screening process works for OTS applicants. Today while I was waiting at the airport, I had the luxury to speak to an FAA employee that is involved in the selection process for the national public announcements..

Providing that you meet the initial criteria (ie, 4 year degree or 3 years of consecutive work experience) you will be selected to take the AT-SAT. Everyone that passes (70 and above) will be sent a geographical preference email along with what position you prefer (terminal option, the en route option or that you will accept either of these options). Once you pick your two states, let’s say TX and CO and you submit the info; a “panel” meets to review your selection. Now, this is where your test score comes into play. They look at “well qualified) applicants first. From there they look at their geo pref.’s. Their goal is to station you at your first geo pref. choice. If there is an available position than you receive an email stating” you have been chosen for further consideration for an Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) position at the “blank facility” in “city”, “state”. Now, let’s say there is nothing available in your first choice which was TX. They then look at your second choice and communicate with whatever region CO is in to see if they can transfer you to their region. Before they transfer you they make sure that there are positions available for you in that region. Now, you pick which PEPC you want to attend to, let’s say your choices are NYC, MEM, and Chicago and non-PEPC route. Let’s say you choose NYC. THIS IS IMPORTANT!!! This part of the process is all based on “first come first serve”. Let’s say you pick NYC, the FAA compiles a list of all applicants who chose NYC based on order of submission. Now, the FAA can only process so many applicants in one week. Obviously, the quicker your response time the better off you are. Now the FAA sends you an email asking what day you want to attend. For example they processed 300 applicants in NYC, so for all the applicants who do not receive a confirmation email for NYC, you are now on a waiting list. The same process happens with the MEM and Chicago PEPC request. If there are available openings for the MEM or Chicago PEPC then you will be notified. If not than I am assuming you have the option of going the non PEPC route. But you must wait in line behind the other applicants that have chosen the non PEPC process to begin with that are considered” well qualified”. Let’s back track for a second. Once the FAA has reviewed all the “well qualified” applicants, now they send out PEPC invites to “qualified” applicants and the whole selection process in the same as “well qualified) applicants. Back to the original example, once you have received a confirmation email stating the day and time of your interview, you are all set to go. Basically everyone that shows up to an interview will get a TOL. Then the waiting begins.


The reason for this post is to stop all the speculation that the selection process in base on SSN or some other computer generated method. AGAIN YOUR SSN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SELECTION PROCESS.