To become a flight attendant, there is no specific major that will prepare you for the job, but there are several college degrees that are good choices, such as hospitality, tourism, public relations, business, communications, psychology, sociology, nursing, anthropology, police or fire science, and education. Flight attendants are required to complete a training program provided by the airline, which usually lasts three to six weeks. The training program includes classes in company operations and schedules, flight regulations and duties, first aid, grooming, emergency operations and evacuation procedures, flight terminology, and other types of job-related instruction. Flight attendants also receive 12 to 14 hours of additional emergency and passenger procedures training each year. Flight attendants are often required to learn CPR and first aid, and classes may be offered by flight attendant training schools, local community colleges, the Red Cross, and other education providers.
Here are some college courses that aspiring flight attendants can consider:
- BS Travel or Tourism Management
- AB in Communication or Speech
- BS in Hospitality Management
- BS in Psychology
In addition to completing a training program, factors such as age, experience, maturity, personality, education, location, and foreign language skills are all considered in the hiring decision. Flight attendant training schools can also provide an advantage for those without prior experience. The Inflight Institute offers industry-recognized online pre-qualification training that is not offered by any other training organization. A high school diploma is typically required to become a flight attendant, and some airlines may prefer to hire applicants who have taken some college courses.
