The Office of Professional Learning Review
Here's your roadmap to finishing your University degree faster with PLR credits from the Control Tower Operator (CTO) certification or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Credential with Tower Rating.
- How many college credits is it worth?
- What can I study at Thomas Edison State University?
- How do I get started?
- Can I transfer PLR credit to another institution?
How many college credits is it worth?
The most current University review identified up to 60 credit(s) in course equivalencies at Thomas Edison State University for successfully completing the Control Tower Operator (CTO) certification or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Credential with Tower Rating. A student's credit eligibility is determined according to the submission of appropriate documentation as well as the documented date of successful certification completion. If you completed your certification outside the effective dates listed in the following table, check the notes below the table for any reference to an earlier University review.
The certification components have been divided into the following courses:
(TIP: Hover over each column heading for a description)
| CTO | Credits |
TESU Course Equivalent |
Effective Dates |
For Staff Use |
| Federal Air Regulations | 3 | ATC-203 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Radar Operations Fundamentals | 3 | ATC-231 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Communications Procedures | 3 | ATC-233 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Intro to Computing in Aviation | 3 | ATC-251 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Flight Assistance Service | 3 | ATC-311 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Airport Traffic Control | 3 | ATC-312 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Enroute Traffic Control | 3 | ATC-313 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Facilities Operation & Mgmt | 3 | ATC-314 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Flight Safety | 3 | ATC-321 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Aviation Safety | 3 | AVF-303 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Air Navigation Aids | 3 | ATC-331 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Pilot Weather Briefing | 3 | ATC-341 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Air Traffic Control Computing System | 3 | ATC-351 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Navigation I | 3 | AVF-208 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Navigation II | 3 | AVF-209 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Intro Aerodynamics | 3 | AVF-282 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Fundamentals of Speech | 3 | COM-108 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Introduction to Meteorology | 3 | EAS-131 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| Aviation Weather | 3 | AVF-203 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
| College Algebra | 3 | MAT-121 | 2/2011-7/2023 | FAA.ATC |
Note: Eligibility for credit is determined by the date your CTO was first issued by the FAA. Students may be awarded CTO credit based on the attainment of an FAA Credential with Tower Rating instead of the CTO. Students will NOT be awarded CTO credit based on the attainment of the DoD-issued Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS).
If you completed a certification prior to the effective dates listed in the table above, please contact us about your eligibility for credit from a prior University review.
What can I study? top of page
- To get the most out of the credits, consider the following degree programs:
- AAS in Aviation Support
- AS, Air Traffic Control
- BS, Air Traffic Control
- BS, Aviation Management
- BS, Technical Studies
- Contact the School of Applied Science and Technology to learn more about the degree pathways related to your PLR assessment
- If you have additional college credits you would like to transfer or prefer a different degree program at the University, a University academic evaluation will determine whether and how PLR credits may fulfill the requirements for your degree of choice.
How do I get started? top of page
- Submit documentation of successful completion
In order to receive credit for your CTO certification, please:
1. Download and personalize this form letter (personalize information in red ).
2. Multiple certifications may be submitted, so be sure to check ALL certifications you have earned.
3. Send your personalized letter to the FAA at the address in the letter.
4. The FAA will then send an Official College Credit Letter to Thomas Edison State University which includes the information the University requires to award credit.
In order to receive CTO credit using an FAA Credential with Tower Rating, please:
1. Download this form letter and follow the instructions at the top.
2. The FAA's AOV will then send an Official College Credit Letter to Thomas Edison State University which includes the information the University requires to award credit.
NOTE: The FAA Credential with Tower Rating is verified by a different office than other FAA certifications. You must submit a separate request with different instructions (see CTO above) for all other FAA certifications.
- Learn more about enrolling at TESU
- Get started on your TESU application
- Estimate the cost of attendance and identify potential sources of financial aid using our College Financing Plan
Can I transfer PLR credit to another institution? top of page
If you are seeking to transfer the PLR credits to another college, the decision whether or not to accept these credits in transfer rests with that college. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the receiving institution's academic policy will allow transfer of each credit. Thomas Edison State University offers a non-degree service called Individual Learning Account that may be helpful.