The Department for Transport has laid the Crediting of Third Country and Military Certification for Air Traffic Controllers Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1203) before Parliament today, 19 November 2025. Made on 17 November and in force from 10 December 2025, the instrument empowers the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to credit prior training and experience towards UK air traffic controller licensing, using powers in Articles 50(1)(c) and 68(3) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139.
The measure creates a structured crediting route rather than automatic recognition. It allows the CAA to acknowledge equivalent knowledge, experience and skills when an applicant seeks a UK ATCO licence, with reference to the UK training syllabus in Subpart D of Annex I to Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/340 as retained in UK law. Applicants must still meet all remaining UK licensing standards.
For holders of a third‑country ATCO licence issued in accordance with Annex 1 to the Chicago Convention, the CAA may reduce course duration, lesson totals or specified training hours where equivalence is established. Before any credit is granted, the CAA must obtain a report from a training organisation assessing the applicant’s previous training against UK requirements and recommending any reductions.
A parallel pathway is established for serving or former military controllers. Where an applicant holds a UK military certificate of competence issued by the Ministry of Defence under Regulatory Article RA 3202, the CAA may grant reductions to civil training on the same equivalence basis. As with third‑country cases, a training‑organisation credit report is mandatory and the CAA must consider its recommendations.
Credit reports have prescribed content. They must explain the basis on which the original licence or certificate, including associated ratings and authorisations, was issued; describe the privileges previously held; assess the extent of equivalence with UK ATCO training requirements; and set out which elements should attract credit. Supporting documentation should be included, such as relevant national requirements and procedures where available.
The Regulations exclude situations covered by an international agreement with the UK concerning recognition of certificates under Article 68(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139. In such cases, the applicable recognition agreement continues to govern how certificates are treated, rather than the new crediting route.
Administration sits with the CAA, which must consider but is not bound by the training organisation’s recommendation when determining the quantum of credit. Decisions will therefore be case‑specific and based on documented evidence of equivalence to the UK syllabus in 2015/340, Subpart D.
For air navigation service providers and training organisations, the change formalises a pathway to reduce duplication for experienced recruits while maintaining syllabus integrity. Providers will need to map external syllabuses to UK modules, verify hours and competencies, and retain the evidence appended to each credit report to support CAA decision‑making and audit.
Applicants should prepare comprehensive records: their third‑country licence or UK military certificate of competence, details of ratings and authorisations, and-where available-the issuing authority’s national training requirements and procedures. Early engagement with a UK training organisation is essential, as the CAA cannot determine credits without a complete report and supporting papers.
The Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A statutory review is required: the first report must be published before 10 December 2030 and thereafter at intervals not exceeding five years, in line with section 30(4) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015. The accompanying Explanatory Memorandum indicates no, or no significant, impact on business or the voluntary sector and confirms publication of a de minimis assessment on legislation.gov.uk.
Keir Mather, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, signed the instrument on 17 November 2025. The short title is the Crediting of Third Country and Military Certification for Air Traffic Controllers Regulations 2025, and the operative provisions commence on 10 December 2025 across the UK.