All three Atlantic Cape campuses to close early on Friday, 5/15
Cape May and Atlantic City campuses will close at noon on Friday, 5/15. The Mays Landing campus will close at 12:45 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Reach for the skies and soar with these programs that can lead you to any one of these highly in-demand careers. You can apply your program credentials towards potential employment opportunities at our regional international airports, National Aerospace Research and Technology Park in Egg Harbor Township, and many other locations across the country.
Whether you want to be a pilot, air traffic controller or work behind the scenes in aviation technology, this pathway can help you get there. With hands-on training and expert instruction, you’ll build the skills needed to enter this exciting and high-demand field.
Drones are transforming careers in photography, surveying and security. This pathway gives you the technical knowledge to operate and maintain drones, opening doors to careers in industries from filmmaking to aerospace technology.
Aviation and drone careers require confidence, quick thinking and attention to detail. Whether you want to guide aircraft as an air traffic controller, pilot a helicopter or work with cutting-edge drone technology, this pathway prepares you to take off into a fast-paced, rewarding career, or continue your education for even more opportunities.
Career Pathways
Our region boasts a wide variety of career opportunities with competitive salaries in the Aviation & Drones Industry. The labor market, employer information and salary data are based on estimates within the Greater Philadelphia Region.
Salary information presented are estimates and can be different for each individual based on education, experience and the specific employer. Labor market data is based on 2024 estimates from Lightcast.
Aviation & Drones
Discover the Programs in This Guided Pathway
Whether your goal is to pursue a career following graduation or to earn a bachelor's degree at a four-year college or university, Atlantic Cape offers numerous degree programs that will help you achieve your dreams. Explore your options below.
Associate Degree Programs Designed for Transfer
The degree programs below are designed to transfer to four-year colleges or universities.
Learn about airport management, aviation business administration, professional pilot, air traffic control and air transportation management in this all-encompassing program.
Questions? Please contact: Aviation Operations Chair, Tim Cwik or Aviation Program Assistant, Barbara Clark
Gain aeronautical skills and knowledge in decision making, flight safety and proper flying techniques required to earn a commercial helicopter pilot certificate for entry-level employment.
Questions? Please contact: Aviation Operations Chair, Tim Cwik
Prepare yourself to take flight as you learn the technical details needed to prepare you for a Federal Aviation Administration commercial pilot w/instrument rating license.
Questions? Please contact: Aviation Operations Chair, Tim Cwik
The degree programs below are designed to prepare you for a position in your desired field.
Get extensive hands-on learning simulator experience and course knowledge as you study the concepts and techniques needed to gain entry-level employment in this exciting industry.
Train for a career as a small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) technician, with a focus on data collection, drone operation, maintenance, data management, and analysis. Pass the FAA’s UAG exam to earn a Remote Pilot Certificate.
Start your journey towards an exciting career in this growing industry as you learn drone operations, maintenance and repair, as well as aerial imaging, video and data collection.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1801014.
Programs Designed for Immediate Employment
Earn credits toward your degree with a certificate program or take a professional series to learn entry-level job skills.
This program trains students to use drones and geospatial tools for data collection and analysis in fields like agriculture and infrastructure. Graduates are prepared for careers such as drone pilots, data technicians and GIS specialists.
This certificate prepares students for a commercial pilot and flight instructor rating with airplane and single-engine classifications. Enrollment requires U.S. citizenship or TSA approval, a valid second-class medical certificate and a separate program application.
Questions? Please contact: Aviation Operations Chair, Tim Cwik
This program trains students to become sUAS technicians, covering drone operation, maintenance and geospatial data collection. Graduates must pass the FAA exam to earn a Remote Pilot Certificate to fly commercial drones and may apply coursework toward an associate degree.
This program prepares students for an FAA commercial pilot license with an instrument rating. Enrollment requires U.S. citizenship or TSA approval, a second-class medical certificate and a separate application.
Questions? Please contact: Aviation Operations Chair, Tim Cwik
This program trains students in drone-based data collection and analysis through hands-on training, preparing them for FAA certification. Courses may also count toward an associate degree.
This program trains students to operate, maintain and repair small unmanned aircraft systems. Graduates earn FAA certification to fly commercial drones, and perform safety inspections and repairs.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1801014.
This program trains students to operate, maintain and repair small unmanned aircraft systems. Graduates earn FAA certification to fly commercial drones, and perform safety inspections and repairs.
Class of 2018 - A.A.S. sUAS (Drones) Field Technician
“Atlantic Cape's Aviation and Drone program has knowledgeable professors, one-on-one personalized instruction, modern facilities and it was very close to my home, which made it very convenient.”
Many of our graduates move on to transfer to four-year colleges and universities to successfully earn a bachelor’s degree and beyond.
Atlantic Cape has partnered with more than 25 universities to provide a seamless transfer experience including 3+1 agreements with select institutions. You can even earn your degree right on our Mays Landing campus with our Rutgers at Atlantic Cape Premier Partnership.
Atlantic Cape does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. We ensure that limited English skills are not a barrier to CTE program access. Learn more on ourEqual Opportunitywebpage.
Español: Atlantic Cape no discrimina por raza, color, origen nacional, sexo o discapacidad. Garantizamos que el dominio limitado del inglés no impida el acceso a programas técnicos. Obtenga más información en nuestrapágina web de Igualdad de Oportunidades.
Registration Now Open!
Don’t wait. Classes start every couple of weeks and seats go fast. Register now to lock in the classes you want, on the schedule that works for you. With flexible options, you can earn credits in as little as six weeks.
Your money matters! Atlantic Cape is the smart and affordable way to earn your degree. Our tuition is 65% less than the typical 4-year NJ public college. You could save even more with financial aid, scholarships and grant programs.
