Expert preparation for air ambulance and critical care transport programs pursuing Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems standards.
Talk to an Expert →The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) is an independent accrediting body that sets and evaluates standards for air and surface critical care transport programs across the United States and internationally. Founded in 1990, CAMTS accreditation is widely recognized by hospitals, insurers, and contracting agencies as the benchmark for quality and safety in medical transport.
Accreditation covers the full scope of your program's operations: medical direction, crew qualifications and training, equipment, safety management, quality improvement, communications, and organizational structure. Programs are evaluated on a two-year cycle through an on-site survey conducted by trained CAMTS surveyors.
For programs that contract with hospital systems, insurers, or government agencies, CAMTS accreditation is increasingly required, not just preferred. It signals to clients and patients that your program meets a rigorous, independently verified standard of care. Not sure which accreditation fits your program? See CAMTS, EURAMI, and NAAMTA compared.
Any program operating air or critical care ground transport may apply. Most programs fall into one of these categories.
Fees below reflect dedicated air ambulance programs (rotor wing, fixed wing, and critical care ground). Commercial medical escort programs operate under a different fee structure; verify directly at camts.org before budgeting.
| Fee Item | Notes | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | One-time; paid at initial application | ~$1,500 |
| Accreditation fee, first base | Annual; covers primary operating base | ~$2,000 – $2,500 / yr |
| Additional bases | Per base, per year; fee scales with number | ~$500 – $1,200 / base / yr |
| Aircraft / vehicle assets | Per transport asset registered under the program | ~$200 – $500 / asset / yr |
| On-site survey, surveyor costs | Travel, lodging, and per diem paid directly to surveyors; varies by program location and size | ~$3,000 – $8,000+ |
| Standards manual | Required purchase; updated periodically | ~$200 – $400 |
| Estimated first-year total | Single-base program; does not include consulting fees | ~$7,000 – $13,000+ |
* Multi-base or multi-asset programs will see higher fees. Survey costs are the most variable line item and are paid directly to surveyors, not to CAMTS. These estimates are for planning purposes only; CAMTS publishes a current fee schedule on their website.
Most programs take 12 to 24 months from decision to survey day. The timeline depends on your program's current documentation maturity and how much development work is needed.
Eligibility & Application
Submit application, pay fees, receive standards manual and self-assessment framework
Gap Analysis & Build
Line-by-line review of your current documentation against CAMTS standards; develop what's missing
Self-Assessment Submission
Submit your completed self-assessment and supporting documentation to CAMTS for pre-survey review
On-Site Survey
CAMTS surveyors visit your program for 2–3 days; review documents, interview staff, inspect operations
Accreditation Decision
CAMTS board reviews the survey report and issues accreditation, conditional accreditation, or denial
Ongoing Compliance
Maintain documentation, submit required reports, and prepare for re-accreditation at the two-year mark
We work exclusively for your program, not for CAMTS. Our role is to close the gap between where your documentation is today and where it needs to be on survey day.
We conduct a line-by-line review of your current documentation against the full CAMTS standards. You get a clear picture of what exists, what needs to be built, and what needs to be updated, before you submit anything.
Policies, procedures, SOPs, quality frameworks, and audit tools, built to reflect how your program actually operates and written to satisfy CAMTS standards. Every document we develop is yours exclusively.
The self-assessment submission is your first impression with CAMTS. We guide the process, review responses, and ensure your supporting documentation package is complete before it leaves your hands.
We walk through a mock audit of your program before the surveyors arrive. We know what they're going to look at because we've been in that room. No surprises on survey day.
After accreditation, the work continues. We stay available for policy updates, QM support, and readiness checks so your program maintains compliance through the full two-year cycle. Read more about maintaining compliance between surveys.
Unlike CAMTS-affiliated surveyors, we work only for you. Our job is to prepare your program for success, not to evaluate it. That distinction matters when you're building documentation and preparing your team.
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Tell us about your program: where you are in the process, what you're working with, and what you're trying to achieve. We'll take it from there.
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