FAQs

While all programs are different, and the nursing shortage has caused a change in the overall healthcare environment, most programs require the following:
 

• License as a registered nurse in the respective state(s) of practice. Some transport programs respond to patients in multiple states, and may require licensure in multiple states and/or Nursing Compact licensure, if available
• 3-5 years' critical care/emergency experience or applicable acute care nursing environment
• Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and/or Advanced Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP-Advanced) is typically required, but may be provided during orientation
• A nationally recognized trauma program, such as Transport Professional Advanced Trauma Course (TPATC), International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC), Advanced Trauma Course for Nurses (ATCN), or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
• Specialty board certifications, such as Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN), Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN), Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), and/or Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) may be required either as a prerequisite or, more commonly, within one to two years of hire
   

Additionally, some programs and/or states may require nurses to have an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or
Paramedic certification.

Specialty transport programs (e.g., neonatal or pediatric transport teams) may have additional experiential and/or certification requirements specific to their patient population.

Specific requirements will vary from program to program and state to state.  It is important to check with programs you may be interested in working for to confirm their particular requirements.

If you are a nursing student or a new nurse it is important to keep in mind that focusing on a general area of critical care will be the most advantageous as in the transport environment, depending on the program, the transport nurse may be subjected to a wide variety of patients that include, but are not limited to: neonates, pediatrics, obstetrics, geriatrics, neurological, cardiac, palliative care, organ transplant, trauma, etc.

When it’s just you and your partner at the side of a critically ill or injured patient, you need the experience, expertise, and clinical judgment to develop a proactive plan of care. While programs will have protocols or clinical practice guidelines to follow and a medical control physician available, the complex or unique needs of some patients may not fit neatly into an existing protocol, and phone or radio contact with a physician may be impractical or impossible in some settings.

The ability to conduct rapid assessments and reassessments, and to constantly adjust your plan during transport, are keys to success in the transport environment. Remember, it is only you and your teammate, a set of protocols, and a voice on the radio or satellite phone from your program's medical control physician. This is why you need a strong background in critical care, coupled with diverse patient experiences and a strong ability to think outside the box and persevere.
 

There is currently no nationally recognized or required training program to become a flight or transport nurse. ASTNA offers several specialty courses, including the Transport Provider Advanced Trauma Course (TPATC), Critical Care Advanced Transport Course (CCATC), and Pediatric Advanced Transport Course (PATC), that provide foundational knowledge for these patient populations in the transport setting.

Generally, standard certification courses (e.g., BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC/ATCN) are offered by local hospitals/health systems or independent providers in your area.  There are also several online companies that offer these certifications; however, as a first-time attendee, a full-day course is usually preferred, if not required. 

EMT and paramedic courses are usually available through local fire departments or ambulance services (often limited to EMT courses) or colleges (for paramedic programs).

Board certifications, such as the CFRN, CTRN, CCRN, and CEN, are provided by their national certifying organizations, and exams are usually offered in a computerized format that can be taken locally.  Additional information can also be obtained through other national professional organizations such as the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA).

The Emergency Transport Healthcare Operations and Safety (ETHOS) database, developed in partnership with the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), is a good resource for air medical bases in the United States. 

ASTNA also posts available positions on our Careers page, or you can search using keywords “transport nurse” or “flight nurse” on your favorite career website (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed, etc.).If your area hospital is affiliated with an aeromedical or critical care ground transport service, it would be beneficial to check with the Program Director or Chief Flight Nurse to verify how open positions are posted for their respective program.  In most cases, these programs have websites where you can contact them directly, inquire about open positions, or even apply online.
 

There is currently no nationally recognized or required training program to become a flight or transport nurse. Each program is responsible for providing appropriate training for you once you are hired.  This training will usually focus on altitude physiology (for flight programs), safety & survival, and a host of other topics that are applicable to the program’s unique patient population and mission profile.  However, in order to expand your knowledge base there are a multitude of conferences, lectures, etc. that are highly recommended to supplement your training.  These include, but are not limited to:

Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference (CCTMC) – held in the spring of each year.
Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) – held in the fall of each year.

There are often special programs run by local transport crew members related to coursework in Transport Nursing. Check with your local college or university to see if there are any specific program offerings in your area.