Tyler012 wrote on Mar 10^th, 2010 at 12:01am:
It helps to have at least an Associate degree with some emphasis on the Air Traffic System.  Another approach is through Military ATC experience.  Regardless of your CV, there'll be interviewing and testing to determine your aptitude for this line of work.  In my case, the old FSS was my introduction with advancement to VFR Towers then Towers with Radar Approach Control.  Back then, several studies revealed that a college education could be a hindrance in ATC.  Thinking problems through was not considered a desirable trait for a controller.  Speedy decisions, hopefully always correct, are required.  As with all career fields, experience in knowing what works and what doesn't raises the comfort level and, as with flying, so much becomes second nature that you wonder what all the original fuss was about.
Check www.faa.gov for current information.

#1: Military (Mainly the USAF)
#2: College CTI program
#3: Luck of the draw in off the street hiring.

I've tried 2/3 of these so far. Unfortunately the military didn't like me very much so I don't have much experience there. I'm in a community college right now getting my GPA back up for Arizona State so I can get back into the CTI program.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me or, just ask them here, here you'll have a much broader experience base for the answer however.