Aviation Meteorologist
Aviation Safety
WHAT THIS CAREER ACTUALLY IS
Aviation meteorologists forecast weather specifically for aviation — issuing TAFs, warning of icing, turbulence, thunderstorms, and low visibility, and briefing pilots, airlines, and air traffic facilities. Federal aviation meteorologist positions (FAA, National Weather Service Center Weather Service Units) are classified under the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's meteorology series, which sets the degree requirement below.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IN HIGH SCHOOL
- ✓Take the strongest math and physics courses your school offers — federal meteorologist jobs require specific coursework in calculus-based physics and differential equations
- ✓Practice real METAR and TAF decoding now — it's the same weather language you'd use professionally
- ✓Research which colleges offer an accredited meteorology or atmospheric science degree, since this career doesn't have a non-degree route
- ✓Look for a National Weather Service or FAA student internship program during college
REAL ROUTES IN — CHOOSE WHAT FITS YOU
4-YEAR DEGREE
Bachelor's in Meteorology or Atmospheric Science
The direct, and effectively required, route: a bachelor's degree including at least 24 semester hours of meteorology/atmospheric science coursework, 6 hours of atmospheric dynamics and thermodynamics, and calculus-based physics — the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's minimum qualification for federal meteorologist positions (series 1340).
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Community college, then transfer
Start general education and lower-division math/physics at a community college, then transfer into a 4-year meteorology or atmospheric science program to complete the required coursework — the degree itself is still required at the end.
CERTIFICATION PATH
No separate FAA certificate — federal aviation meteorologist jobs are civil-service positions requiring a bachelor's degree meeting OPM's meteorology series (1340) coursework requirements. The American Meteorological Society (AMS) also offers optional professional certifications (e.g. Certified Consulting Meteorologist) for later career stages.
RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
- • American Meteorological Society (AMS)
- • National Weather Association (NWA)
EXPLICACIÓN EN ESPAÑOL
Pronostica el clima que los pilotos y despachadores realmente deben evitar — una de las pocas carreras de aviación que sí requiere una licenciatura específica de cuatro años.
SOURCES
- Educational Requirements for Careers in the National Weather Service — NOAA
- Aviation — Preparing Students for Employment in the Private Sector — American Meteorological Society (AMS)