CAMTS accreditation is a voluntary evaluation, by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems, of whether a medical transport service is in substantial compliance with the CAMTS Medical Transport Accreditation Standards, 12th Edition (2022), which cover rotor-wing, fixed-wing, ground critical care and ALS/BLS services. It is for air medical and critical care transport organizations seeking accreditation. Integral Healthcare Solutions (IHS) organizes your manuals, credential records and quality documentation for CAMTS; your medical and aviation leaders own clinical and transport safety.

Last reviewed: October 2026. CAMTS standards, FAQ, application and Open Standard Drafts pages checked on October 2, 2026.

What is CAMTS accreditation?

CAMTS describes itself as "an organization of non-profit organizations dedicated to improving the quality and safety of medical transport services, with 20 current member organizations each of which sends one representative to the CAMTS Board of Directors." It adds: "The Commission offers a program of voluntary evaluation of compliance with accreditation standards demonstrating the ability to deliver service of a specific quality" (CAMTS FAQ).

The governing text for most programs is the "Medical Transport Accreditation Standards 12th Edition (2022)."

CAMTS's Open Standard Drafts page (CAMTS Open Standard Drafts, read October 2, 2026) lists target dates for a 13th Edition of the Transport Standards: Board ratification in July 2026, copies available October 2026, and "January 1, 2027 – New 13th Edition Transport Standards become effective." CAMTS says the target dates may change. The CAMTS pages we reviewed do not say which edition applies to an application or PIF that is in progress on that date. Until CAMTS answers, IHS builds the work that does not depend on the edition (operational manuals, credential records, quality documentation) and holds the standard-by-standard crosswalk and mock review. Your service can send CAMTS the question; IHS drafts it for your named contact to send.

CAMTS says its Accreditation Standards as a set "address issues of patient care and safety in fixed-wing and rotor-wing services, as well as ground critical care, ALS/BLS, Special Operations, Mobile Integrated Health, and Medical Escort Services," and sets the bar: "To achieve accreditation, a medical transport service must be in substantial compliance with these Standards" (CAMTS Standards). The same page lists the "Special Operations Accreditation Standards 2nd Edition (2023)," the "Medical Escort Accreditation Standards 7th Edition (2023)," the 12th Edition Standard Compliance Tool Documentation Checklist, and separate standards for mobile integrated healthcare (see mobile integrated healthcare program development).

The process runs through a Program Information Form (PIF). "Once the application has been completed and we have received the application fee in the office, CAMTS will email directions to access the online profile which will contain your PIF (Program Information Form)." "A service has up to one year to complete the PIF after applying," and "The site visit is usually scheduled within 4-6 weeks of receiving the PIF" (CAMTS FAQ).

The site survey "is usually a 1 1/2 – 4 days depending on the size of the service," and "Aircraft and ambulances are specifically reviewed for equipment and supplies required by the accreditation standards" (CAMTS FAQ). The Board decides: "An accreditation decision will be made at the next Board of Directors meeting. The Board meets three times a year" (CAMTS Apply). "The accreditation decision and list of findings is received by the service via certified mail within 30 working days of the board meeting," and "Full accreditation is granted for three years" (CAMTS FAQ).

Who needs it and what triggers it

CAMTS accreditation is for transport services that fall within its standards. Its application lists "Ground- BLS/ALS/ Critical Care" alongside air programs (CAMTS Apply). Two variants depend on the service:

• Escort-only services: "If your service only provides medical escorts, download and review the latest version of our Medical Escort Standards" (CAMTS Standards).
• Services outside North America: "For international site visits beyond the North American Continent: Please visit the CAMTS Global website" (CAMTS FAQ).

CAMTS's FAQ lists among the reasons to seek accreditation "Transport contracts that are awarded exclusively to CAMTS accredited services." That is CAMTS's own statement; IHS has not reviewed any such contract. If a contract you hold or are bidding on names an accreditor, read that clause first.

Timing turns on the Board calendar. CAMTS lists PIF deadlines for each meeting: "PIF due October 15 (previous year)" for Spring, "PIF due January 15" for Summer and "PIF due April 15" for Fall, and says programs that are re-accrediting should contact its office for their specific due date (CAMTS Apply). CAMTS's FAQ refers to a "quarterly meeting"; this page uses the Apply page, which gives the dates.

How IHS helps

IHS works from the CAMTS standards edition that applies to your application (see above) and the matching Standard Compliance Tool checklist. The process:

1. Gap assessment. IHS compares your operational manuals and records against the standards.
2. Questionnaires. IHS sends questionnaires on credentials, safety reporting and quality meetings.
3. Crosswalk to evidence. IHS maps each standard to the evidence the PIF asks for.
4. Drafted documents. IHS drafts operational manual sections, credential evidence procedures, safety reporting procedures and quality-meeting records for your leaders to review and approve.
5. Mock review. IHS reviews the file against the standards and lists what is missing before the PIF goes in.
6. Responses to findings. IHS drafts your service's written response to the decision and list of findings for your service to submit; what CAMTS accepts at that stage is set in its Policy and Procedure Manual, which IHS has not reviewed.

What you supply: the standards, your current manuals, credential files and safety data, and your medical, aviation and vehicle safety leaders.

The limit: aviation operations, vehicle engineering and transport medicine are outside IHS's depth. Those standards stay with your specialists. Your service submits; IHS drafts. More on IHS's approach is on the accreditation consulting page.

What to have ready

• Your copy of the Medical Transport Accreditation Standards in the edition CAMTS confirms applies to your application (currently the 12th Edition (2022); a 13th Edition is targeted for January 1, 2027), or the Medical Escort (7th Edition, 2023) or Special Operations (2nd Edition, 2023) standards if those fit your service (CAMTS Standards).
• The Standard Compliance Tool Documentation Checklist for the edition CAMTS confirms applies to your application (currently the 12th Edition (2022); a 13th Edition is targeted for January 1, 2027) (CAMTS Standards).
• A completed application and the application fee, which together open your online PIF (CAMTS FAQ).
• For air programs, the insurance certificate the application asks for: "Make sure that you attach the Aircraft Hull and Liability Insurance Certificate" (CAMTS Apply).
• A plan to finish the PIF inside the one year CAMTS allows after applying (CAMTS FAQ).
• A target Board meeting and its PIF deadline: October 15 of the previous year, January 15 or April 15; programs that are re-accrediting should contact CAMTS for their specific due date (CAMTS Apply).
• A count of in-service helicopters, airplanes, ambulances, boats and other surface vehicles, which sets the asset part of the site survey fee (CAMTS FAQ).
• Aircraft and ambulances stocked to the standards, since they "are specifically reviewed for equipment and supplies required by the accreditation standards" (CAMTS FAQ).
• Evidence that shows "substantial compliance with these Standards," organized standard by standard (CAMTS Standards).
• Leaders and crews available for a site survey of 1½ to 4 days, depending on the size of the service (CAMTS FAQ).

To go through the list with IHS, book the introductory call below.

How it compares

What it costs

CAMTS publishes its fee schedule in its FAQ (CAMTS FAQ, read October 2, 2026):

• "INITIAL APPLICATION FEE: $1000.00"
• "SITE SURVEY FEE: The base fee is $6500.00 plus asset fee – $1000.00 per helicopter and/or airplane, $150.00 per ambulance, boat or other surface vehicle that are in service. Back up modes of transport are not charged."
• "PLUS: $600.00 per day per site surveyor plus travel and expenses to be paid by the program after the site visit."

CAMTS sets the number of surveyors and days using factors such as the number of sites, distance between sites and modes of transport offered, and counts any part of a day on site as a full day. The $1,000 application fee is non-refundable (CAMTS FAQ).

Verify current fees with CAMTS. IHS scopes each engagement after a free introductory call.

What this is not

• IHS is not CAMTS and does not grant, predict or influence an accreditation decision. The CAMTS Board decides.
• IHS does not contact, submit to or speak for your service to CAMTS. IHS drafts; your service submits the application and PIF.
• IHS does not assess aircraft, vehicles, aviation operations or patient care, and this page is not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

What is CAMTS accreditation and which transport services does it cover?

CAMTS accreditation is a voluntary evaluation of a medical transport service against CAMTS standards. The 12th Edition (2022) covers fixed-wing and rotor-wing services as well as ground critical care and ALS/BLS. CAMTS also publishes separate Medical Escort and Special Operations standards.

What does substantial compliance mean in CAMTS accreditation?

CAMTS states that to achieve accreditation a medical transport service must be in substantial compliance with its standards, and full accreditation is granted when a service demonstrates it. CAMTS defines it on its Standards page: "A medical transport system demonstrates overall quality of service consistent with the essential elements of Accreditation Standards and the professional judgment of the Board. The service maintains a steady balance across all dynamic components of their specific program." The pages reviewed publish no numeric threshold, and the definition leaves the judgment to the Board, so IHS builds evidence for every standard.

What is the CAMTS Program Information Form and how long do we have to complete it?

The PIF is the online profile CAMTS opens after it receives your completed application and application fee. A service has up to one year after applying to complete it.

How long does CAMTS accreditation take from application to board decision?

The PIF can take up to a year to complete, the site visit is usually scheduled within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving it, and the decision is made at the next Board meeting. The service receives the decision and list of findings by certified mail within 30 working days of that meeting. CAMTS's FAQ adds that a site visit must be at least 4 weeks before a Board meeting to be placed on that meeting's agenda.

When are the PIF deadlines for each CAMTS board meeting?

CAMTS lists October 15 of the previous year for the Spring meeting, January 15 for Summer and April 15 for Fall, and says programs that are re-accrediting should contact its office for their specific due date. Its FAQ adds that a site visit must be at least 4 weeks before a Board meeting to be placed on that meeting's agenda. Its application page says the Board meets three times a year.

How much does CAMTS accreditation cost for a program with helicopters and ground units?

CAMTS lists a $1,000 initial application fee and a $6,500 site survey base fee, plus $1,000 per in-service helicopter or airplane and $150 per in-service ambulance, boat or other surface vehicle, with backup units not charged. Surveyors are billed at $600 per day each plus travel and expenses after the visit. CAMTS sets the number of surveyors and days using factors such as the number of sites, distance between sites and modes of transport offered, and counts any part of a day on site as a full day. The $1,000 application fee is non-refundable. Verify current fees with CAMTS.

What happens during a CAMTS site visit, and how many days does it last?

A site survey usually takes 1.5 to 4 days depending on the size of the service. Aircraft and ambulances are reviewed for the equipment and supplies the standards require.

How long does CAMTS accreditation last?

CAMTS grants full accreditation for three years to a service that demonstrates substantial compliance with the standards.

Which CAMTS standards edition applies to us: 12th Edition, Medical Escort or Special Operations?

The 12th Edition covers rotor-wing, fixed-wing, ground critical care and ALS/BLS services. CAMTS tells services that only provide medical escorts to use the Medical Escort Standards; the Special Operations standards are a separate set on the same page. The current Transport Standards are the 12th Edition (2022). CAMTS's Open Standard Drafts page lists January 1, 2027 as the target effective date for a 13th Edition, and the same page lists target effective dates of March 1, 2027 for an 8th Edition of the Medical Escort Standards and June 1, 2028 for a 3rd Edition of the Special Operations Standards. The pages reviewed do not say which edition applies to an application in progress on those dates, so confirm the edition with CAMTS before you finalize your crosswalk; IHS drafts the question for your contact to send.

CAMTS versus CAAS for a critical care ground transport program: which should we choose?

Both have standards for high-acuity ground transport: CAMTS through its 12th Edition, CAAS through Section 402 Specialty Care Transport. CAMTS also covers air programs; the CAAS pages reviewed do not. This page does not recommend one; compare each scope against your services and any contract that names an accreditor.