Canada

NAV CANADA, the country's civil air navigation services provider, is a private sector, non-share capital corporation financed through publicly traded debt. NAV CANADA provides air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings, aeronautical information services, airport advisory services and electronic aids to navigation.

United States

In the U.S., a majority of the air traffic control workforce will retire over the next 10 years. As a result, the Federal Aviation Administration is hiring more than 12,000 new trainees (that take 3–5 years to become fully certified controllers) over the next decade.
There are many avenues to become an Air Traffic Controller. There are 31 CTI (Collegiate Training Initiative) schools around the United States which also provide a college degree in the process. After graduation, personnel are then placed on a list that depicts hiring eligibility. The Federal Aviation Administration then selects personnel from this list and places new hires in a location. The Federal Aviation Administration also hires Air Traffic Controllers who have separated from the United States military. The cut-off age for hire is 31. Finally, the Federal Aviation Administration also hires from the general public. Applicants from the general public must attain a qualifying score on a computerized aptitude test battery known as AT-SAT.
Prior experience or training in air traffic control is not required. However, candidates must have three years of progressively responsible work experience, have completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor’s degree, or possess an equivalent combination of work experience and college credits. In combining education and experience, 1 year of undergraduate study (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) is equivalent to 9 months of general experience. Certain kinds of aviation experience may be substituted for these requirements.
U.S. citizenship is required. Candidates must be able to speak English clearly enough to be understood over radios, intercoms, and similar communications equipment.

United Kingdom

In the UK there are three main routes to becoming an Air Traffic Controller. One is to join NATS as a trainee controller: this is the only way for people wishing to become Area Controllers. Another is to join a non-NATS airport as an Air Traffic Services Assistant with a vie to being sponsored by the employer to become an Air Traffic Controller. The third way is to pay for one's own training to licence level with a view to being hired afterwards (usually by a non-NATS airport).
If a candidate decides to join through NATS, they will begin a rigorous training regime. Once the initial application form is completed and if successful, the candidate will have to complete an online test which is basic checking and mental arithmetic. Stage 1 follows which is a selection of paper and pencil tests. If successful, Stage 2 is a day of computer tests which again further test the candidates skill-set for the job and their aptitude. Stage 3 is the final stage, it involves a thorough interview and a group exercise. If successful then the candidate will go for a medical and the process for security clearance begins. If the candidate gets this far, he represents the top 3% of applicants.
Controllers can earn up to £90,000 per year depending on employer, experience and the unit at which they are employed (the highest salary potential for NATS Controllers is at Swanwick and Heathrow). Controllers employed by NATS, on appointment as an Air Traffic Controller (3rd anniversary of joining NATS) earn between £41,653 - £46,423 plus shift pay of approximately £5,489 (April 2009)