Air Ambulance

Effective February 1, 2006, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) began the process of licensing air ambulance services that transport patients from or within the state of Colorado.

Senate Bill 180 was passed by the Colorado legislature in 2000, which authorized the department to license, regulate and investigate air ambulance agencies that pick up patients in the state of Colorado. The program was designed to improve safety, establish coordination between air ambulance agencies and, ultimately, improve patient care in air medical transport.

Just as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Provider certification relies on the nationally-recognized standards established by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), similarly the air ambulance licensing program relies on the expertise provided by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). CDPHE and CAMTS work together to provide support and investigate any issues that involve air ambulance providers who transport patients in Colorado. It is worth noting that even though an air ambulance provider is required to be CAMTS accredited to be eligible for a Colorado air ambulance license, the decision to issue or suspend a license rests with the department.

Air Ambulance License Application

If you have any questions regarding the air ambulance licensing program in the state of Colorado, please contact (303) 692-2980.