Boston ARTCC Training

Training Outline

Overview

You begin by going to the ATC RESOURCES section here and make sure you do your Basic VATUSA Training for BASIC/GND/TWR. You are required to complete those sections of Basic training before beginning with Boston-specific training courses.

When you are ready, you may e-mail the mentors to request the automated "Initial 40 Questions" Boston SOP exam. This exam is designed to see if you have followed the instructions in your welcome letter and are able to research the answers to basic questions specific to Boston from our website. You MUST pass this exam with a grade of 80% or greater in order to move on into the training syllabi listed below.

Your Boston-specific training is divided into the same levels as exist in the VATSIM rating system. We have four training levels here:

Boston's controllers bear the responsibility of reading the material in the syllabi listed above THEN contacting mentor/instructors for an exam and over-the-shoulder check. After successfully completing each exam, our mentor/instructors will log your completion in our crew database. You can check your status in the Boston training program in this database anytime you wish.

When you joined a VATUSA region [Boston], you received a username and password to access the VATUSA website. In order to take Boston's online exams you will need your VATUSA username and password. VATUSA's Training Page is located here. If you have lost your username and password you may request yours by going here.

The Testing Process

Online Exams

There are many complicated and intricate details that an Air Traffic Controller must fully understand in order to be both successful and efficient. In order to be sure that our students are on the right path to success, they must pass a series of online tests before they begin practicing the position online with supervision. This ensures that the students have the appropriate background knowledge to understand the experience they'll have online. All of the online exams must be completed with an 80% or better before the student is allowed to practice online with a mentor. All of the questions on the exams are important so the student must know the answers to all of them regardless of whether or not they pass or fail the exam. After completing an exam, the student is required to submit their corrections in the Test Corrections forum.

Each question they answered incorrectly
The correct answer
An explanation of the answer in enough detail to convey a solid understanding
A reference to the source where they received the information. Eg. Boston Tower SOP, 7110.65 Chapter 2 Section 2-1-2. etc

If an instructor feels a student's cumulative online test performance is not satisfactory (even with passing scores), that instructor, in consultation with the TA, will require the student to retake any of the ZBW tests.

Over-The-Shoulder Exams / Position Certification

After the student passes all of their online exams and has worked with a mentor enough to become proficient at a particular position, the student will be given an Over-The-Shoulder (OTS) exam. As the name hints, this exam is unannounced. Mentors and Instructors can evaluate a student's performance at any time and when they feel the student has demonstrated an adequate handle on the position, they will be granted certification to work the position. This is done to prevent the student from feeling pressured during an exam.

Step-By-Step Process

DEL/GND: Student

Student looks over ZBW website and gets familiar with our procedures.
Student emails mentors and requests the SOP exam.
Student passes SOP exam with an 80% or better and corrects all mistakes and reviews answers with a mentor.
Student begins with Student (STU) Syllabus and completes sections 1-5.
A visiting controller or transferee into Boston may be eligible for the DEL/GND/VFR combined exam. Student takes and passes the combined exam with an 80% or better and corrects all mistakes and reviews answers with a mentor. Once this step is complete, proceed to step 9.
Student takes and passes STU-A exam with an 80% or better and corrects all mistakes and reviews answers with a mentor.
Student completes section 6 and takes and passes the VFR exam with an 80% or better and corrects all mistakes and reviews answers with a mentor.
Student completes sections 7-10 and then takes and passes the STU-B exam with an 80% or better and corrects all mistakes and reviews answers with a mentor.
Student is now elligible to begin training online with a mentor and ultimately earn their DEL/GND certifications.

TWR: Senior Student

After obtaining DEL/GND certifications, student completes sections 1-5 of the Senior Student (STU+) Syllabus and then takes and passes the SEN STU A exam with an 80% or better. As with all exams, the student must achieve an 80% or better to pass and must correct and review all missed questions with a mentor.
Student completes sections 6-10 and completes the SEN STU B exam.
Student is now elligible to begin online training with a mentor toward earning their TWR/Sen Stu certifications.

APP: Controller

After obtaining TWR certification as well as a Sen Student status, the student completes sections 1-4 of the Controller (CTR) Syllabus and takes the CTR A exam.
Student completes sections 5-8 and takes the CTR B exam.
Student is now elligible to begin training online with a mentor and ultimately earn their APP/DEP certification as well as a Controller Status. A student will need to take the VATUSA CTR exam before receiving Controller Status

CTR: Senior Controller

After obtaining APP/DEP certification as well as a Controller status, the student completes sections 1-3 of the Senior Controller (CTR+) Syllabus and takes the SEN CTR A exam.
Student completes sections 4-7 and takes the SEN CTR B exam.
Student is now elligible to begin training online with a mentor and ultimately earn their CTR certification as well as a Senior Controller Status. A student will need to take the VATUSA SEN CTR exam before receiving Senior Controller Status

Instructor

At the discretion of the ATM, DATM, and TA.