Certification and Promotion Policy

Major and LCTP Positions Defined

ARTCCs designate, based on traffic, complexity, or other factors, major and/or Local Competency Training Plan (LCTP) facilities. A more complete explanation and definition, as well as a list of all major/LCTP positions within vZBW airspace, can be found in the vZBW Major and LCTP Policy..

Certification at Major/LCTP Positions

Certification will be achieved via oral testing and online observation by a mentor or instructor at each positions listed below. Please note that these positions are in order from least permissive to most permissive. In other words, if you are certified for Class C APP, you may also work a Class B, C or D TWR, GND and DEL position.

• Class B DEL/GND
• Class C/D TWR
• Class B TWR
• Class C APP
• Class B APP
• Center/Enroute

Upon completion of requirements listed in the syllabus, and based on recommendations from mentors and/or instructors:

• The OBS may be promoted to the VATUSA Ground Controller rating (S1) and granted authorization to work any DEL/GND position with the exception of KBOS
• The S1 may be granted authorization to work DEL/GND at KBOS
• The S1 may be promoted to the rating of Tower Controller (S2)
• The S2 may be granted authorization at any Class C/D DEL/GND/TWR Position
• The S2 may be granted certification at any Class B DEL/GND/TWR Position
• The S2 may be promoted to the rating of Approach Controller (S3)
• The S3 may be granted authorization at any Class C APP TRACON
• The S3 may be granted certification at any Class B TRACON
• The S3 may be promoted to the rating of Center Controller (C1) and granted authorization to work Boston Center during off-peak hours
• The C1 may be granted certification at Boston Center

NOTE: Mentors may train at any certification they are authorized to, but shall only be allowed to apply certifications up to the Class C TWR certification and then only the Class C Approach certification. For all other certifications, an Instructor must be present to apply the certification.

Certification Defined

• Certification, or having been certified, means the person has successfully completed the requirements as delineated in the syllabi for the position, has demonstrated the required knowledge and skill, and has demonstrated an ability to handle a reasonable amount of traffic. The way the syllabi are laid out, a person receiving a certification is, on average, three to four steps from being ready to test for a promotion to their next rating or certification. No one will be certified to work a position unless that person has completed a review of the appropriate sections of the syllabus for that position with a mentor or instructor, AND has also demonstrated to a mentor or instructor that the person can handle a reasonable traffic load for that position.
• New controllers joining vZBW will enter the training program with an OBS rating. The OBS, when ready, will study the S1 Syllabus, applying for all testing required, prior to beginning training with a mentor or instructor. Upon successful completion of an over the shoulder evaluation by a mentor or instructor, and the succesful completion of the VATUSA Ground Controller (S1) exam, the OBS may be promoted to the rating of Ground Controller (S1), allowing the S1 to control DEL/GND at any airport except KBOS..
• The S1, when ready, will study the Class B DEL/GND portion of the S1 Syllabus, applying for all testing required, prior to beginning training with a mentor or instructor. Upon successful completion of the Advanced DEL/GND exam as well as successful completion of KBOS familiarization training, the S1 may be authorized to control BOS DEL/GND without the presence of a mentor or instructor during off-peak hours (which are defined in the Position Restrictions policy). Upon successful completion of an over the shoulder evaluation by a mentor or instructor, the S1 may be certified as a full performance level DEL/GND controller. Certification will be applied at KBOS.
  

• The S1, when ready, will then begin studying the S2 Syllabus, applying for all testing required, prior to beginning training with a mentor or instructor. Certification will be applied at any non-LCTP Class C Tower position. Upon successful completion of an over the shoulder evaluation by a mentor or instructor, and the succesful completion of the VATUSA Tower Controller (S2) exam, the S1 may be promoted to the rating of Tower Controller (S2), allowing the S2 to control any non-LCTP Tower position within ZBW.
• The S2, after gaining additional training and/or experience, and upon passing on over the shoulder evaluation, may seek certification at LCTP airports. Certification will be applied any Class C/D airport. During the certification process a Class C Tower certification may be granted, allowing the S2 to control any Class C/D TWR position within ZBW at all times.
• The S2, when ready, will study the Class B Tower portion of the S2 syllabus, applying for all testing required, prior to beginning training with a mentor or instructor. Upon successful completion of the Advanced Local Exam, as well as successful completion of KBOS familiarization training, the S2 may be authorized to control BOS_TWR without the presence of a mentor or instructor during off peak hours (which are defined in the Position Restrictions policy). Upon successful completion of an over the shoulder evaluation by a mentor or instructor, the S2 may be certified as a full performance level Tower controller. Certification will be applied at KBOS. This will allow the S2 to control all vZBW Tower (and below) positions at all times.

• The S2, when ready, will then begin studying the S3 Syllabus, applying for all testing required, prior to beginning training with a mentor or instructor. Certification will be applied at any non-LCTP Class C TRACON position. Upon successful completion of an over the shoulder evaluation by a mentor or instructor, and the succesful completion of the VATUSA Approach Controller (S3) exam, the S2 may be promoted to the rating of Approach Controller (S3), allowing the S3 to control any non-LCTP TRACON position within ZBW.
• The S3, after gaining additional training and/or experience, and upon passing on over the shoulder evaluation, may seek certification at LCTP airports. Certification will be applied at any Class C TRACON. During the certification process, a Class C Approach certification may be granted, allowing the S2 to control any Class C TRACON position within ZBW, including Boston's Manchester Sector, at all times.
• The S3, when ready, will study the Class B Approach portion of the S3 syllabus, applying for all testing required, prior to beginning training with a mentor or instructor. Upon successful completion of the Advanced Approach Exam, as well as successful completion of Boston Consolidated TRACON (A90) familiarization training, the S3 may be authorized to control BOS_APP without the presence of a mentor or instructor during off peak hours (which are defined in the Position Restrictions policy). Upon successful completion of an over the shoulder evaluation by a mentor or instructor, the S3 may be certified as a full performance level Approach controller. Certification will be applied at A90.

  This will allow the S3 to control all vZBW TRACON (and below) positions at all times.

• The S3, when ready, will then begin studying the C1 Syllabus, applying for all testing required, prior to beginning training with a mentor or instructor. Upon successful completion of an over the shoulder evaluation by an instructor, and the succesful completion of the VATUSA Center/Enroute Controller (C1) exam, the S3 may be promoted to the rating of Center/Enroute Controller (C1), allowing the C1 to control Boston Center during off-peak hours (which are defined in the Position Restrictions policy). Upon successful completion of an over the shoulder evaluation by a mentor or instructor, the C1 may be certified as a full performance level Center/Enroute controller. Certification will be applied at Boston Center.

  This will allow the C1 to control BOS_CTR (and all subordinate positions) at all times.

• A Center Controller or Senior Controller who displays the ability and desire to become an Instructor will be recommended for the VATSIM Instructor rating on the recommendation of the TA, in consultation with the ATM and DATM.
• Certifications may be removed at the discretion of the ATM, DATM or TA. These removals are not taken lightly and only happen in the most extreme circumstances. Removal will take place upon agreement of a quorum of the ATM, DATM and TA. Removal of a certification does not mean demotion from the current rating of the controller, it just means the controller is no longer certified on and allowed to work the affected position.

vZBW ARTCC Promotion Qualifications

Eligibility for promotions for vZBW ARTCC staff is based upon preexisting certifications at particular positions, as delineated in the following table. Please note that this table does not guarantee promotion upon certification or certification based on rating; it simply shows the prerequisite position certifications for each promotion level and the associated training syllabi to be completed within the vZBW training program.