An aircraft dispatcher needs training through an aircraft-dispatch school or experience and must pass an exam to get a license. The FAA grants licenses to qualified individuals who meet these and other miscellaneous requirements.
Aircraft dispatchers must take both a knowledge and practical test. To take the knowledge test, an applicant must be at least 21 years old. However, an FAA aircraft-dispatcher certificate cannot be issued until the applicant is at least 23 years of age.
Because dispatchers must communicate clearly with pilots and other airline or air operations personnel, they must be proficient in English. This includes reading, writing, speaking, and understanding the language.
Graduation from an approved aircraft-dispatcher school is sufficient for training even without experience. However, those who have not completed a school can still qualify through experience. However, it must be 2 years of experience within the 3-year window before applying for an FAA aircraft-dispatcher license.
Experience that counts is not strictly limited to aircraft dispatching. It may include a combination of experience in different airfield operations roles. Pilots, flight navigators, and meteorologists who get their experience in military operations qualify under the experience rules. In a civilian setting dealing with domestic, flag, and supplemental operations, the following roles qualify for experience: assistant dispatcher, pilot, flight engineer, and meteorologist. Any aircraft operations work counts for air traffic controllers and flight service specialists. Also, any other experience deemed sufficient by the FAA can possibly qualify.
However, applicants should keep in mind that, even though they may qualify as a pilot or through some other type of experience, that may or may not be sufficient to pass the aircraft-dispatcher exams. It all depends on the person’s background and particular experience. Some may need to attend school to adequately prepare for both tests.
Resources:
General FAA Requirements for Certification as an Aircraft Dispatcher
Experience or Training Required for Aircraft-Dispatcher Licenses