Who Needs TSA Clearance?
You will need TSA approval if you are:
- Not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, and
- Planning to train in an aircraft or simulator toward any of the following:
International Pilots
TSA Clearance
Requirements
Stay compliant, fly confidently. If you are a non-U.S. citizen or non-U.S. national training in the United States, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires official clearance before your simulator training at AVS can begin. This federal requirement applies to every U.S. training provider.
- Type rating
- A specific certification a pilot obtains to operate a certain type of aircraft, such as the Boeing 737. TSA requires clearance because this training goes beyond the initial, multi-engine, and instrument certifications.
- Recurrent training for a type rating
- Required to maintain or renew a type rating already held by a pilot — including requalification, differences, and currency training.
- ATP CTP
- Candidates are exempt only if they hold a stand-alone FAA pilot certificate and a type rating in the aircraft used for the training. All other candidates require an approved security threat assessment and notification of the training event to TSA.
U.S. citizens do not need TSA approval but must present valid proof of citizenship to AVS (such as a U.S. passport, or a birth certificate with government-issued photo ID) prior to training.
How to Apply for TSA Clearance
Log into the TSA website. Open the TSA FTSP portal (fts.tsa.dhs.gov).
- If you've previously registered, log in using your User ID and Password.
- If you're a new user, click “Create New Student Account” (top right, below the login). TSA will email your User ID and Password — make a note of this along with the answers to your three security questions, then return to the TSA website and log in to begin your application.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
From the Manage My Personal Information section:
- 01
Basic Information
Provide your full name, date of birth, country of birth, height, weight, gender, eye color, and hair color.
- 02
Other Names
List any other names you've used (leave blank if none).
- 03
Citizenship Information
Include your country of citizenship and whether it's current, dual, or historical. If you were born in that country, use your date of birth as the start date.
- 04
Upload Documents
Upload a valid passport and approved visa. Fill in all document details as requested.
- 05
Addresses
Enter your current address and a five-year address history.
- 06
Employment
Indicate your status (student, unemployed, or employed) and provide employment details if applicable.
Create & Submit Your Application
Once you have entered all your personal information, you may proceed to creating your application and submitting payment of the $140 application fee.
Fingerprints
You will receive an email titled “Documents Accepted / Fingerprint Instructions.” For your fingerprint appointment, print and bring:
- Your TSA Fingerprint Email
- A completed NATA Form
- Your passport
Required Fees
| TSA Application | $140 |
| NATA Application | $99 |
| Fingerprinting | ~$100 |
| Total | ~$339 |
After Clearance
Once TSA issues your Determination of Eligibility (DOE), you must select a flight training provider from the portal. You cannot use the portal to set up training events yourself — only a provider you select can create a training event for you. All training arrangements are made between you and the provider; TSA is not involved in determining what training you receive.
Providers are required by regulation to record your training events on the portal. You can view events providers have created for you by logging into your account and scrolling down on the Home page to see a table listing all of your training events.
You must select AIR VEGAS SERVICES (State: Texas) as your training provider so TSA notifies us and your clearance covers your AVS training.
How Long Does It Take?
TSA processing typically takes 1 to 4 weeks, depending on your background and fingerprint submission. We recommend starting the process as early as possible — ideally as soon as you reserve your class date — to avoid training delays.
Questions about your TSA application?
Our team is here to help — contact us directly and we'll walk you through the process.
Ready to pick a date? View the training calendar →