The FAA's 2018 Reauthorization Act required the FAA to establish a collegiate training initiative program relating to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or better known as drones. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI) Program was launched in April 2020 and addresses the Section 631 requirement of the FAA 2018 Reauthorization Act. Any public two-year institutions of higher education that participate in the UAS-CTI program will also be designated as members of the Consortium for Small Unmanned Aircraft System Technology Training. The FAA will invite members of this consortium to participate in quarterly meetings and other events with the agency, and we will facilitate the development sharing of best practices through this consortium.

About the Initiative

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Collegiate Training Initiative (UAS-CTI) is a program designed for universities, colleges, and technical schools by the FAA to recognize institutions that prepare students for careers in  drones. Post-secondary institutions with UAS curriculums that want to be recognized as UAS-CTI participants now have the opportunity to apply for this distinction. The results of this collaborative working relationship will include a continuous dialogue with stakeholders to connect colleges and universities with general industry, local governments, law enforcement, and regional economic development entities to address labor force needs.

• Approved UAS CTI Schools

How to Qualify

The UAS-CTI program guidelines are as follows:

• School type: Not-for-profit, two- or four-year, post-secondary educational institutions are eligible.
• Accreditation: Must be institutionally accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
• Degree/Certification: To be eligible, schools must currently offer a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in UAS or a degree with a minor, concentration, and/or a certificate in UAS.  If institutions offer courses in UAS and are working towards a UAS certificate program that provides curriculum covering various aspects of UAS training such as hands-on flight practice, maintenance, uses, applications, privacy concerns, safety, and federal policies concerning UAS, they will be considered for entrance into the UAS-CTI 

How to Apply

Requests for participation in the UAS-CTI program should be submitted to 9-FAA-UAS-CTI@faa.gov and include:

• Name of your school (address)
• Point of contact (Name, title, email and phone)
• School type (2 or 4 year insitution)
• Accreditation (Secretary of Education approved agency)
• Brief description of UAS Program

The FAA will send qualified schools an initial questionnaire to establish eligibility for the program.

Benefits

Participating institutions will engage with the FAA, other participants, general industry, local governments, law enforcement, and regional economic development entities to address labor force needs. This collaboration will ensure that UAS-CTI school graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a successful career in a UAS-related field. Public two-year colleges that become a UAS-CTI school will be designated as members of the Consortium for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technology Training. In addition, these new UAS-CTI partners will support the FAA's efforts to expand the aviation workforce of the future while providing additional opportunities for Science Technology Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) students.