FAA Medical Certification

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To assure a pilot is fit to fly, the FAA requires a valid FAA medical certificate in addition to a pilot certificate to fly.

Any person acting as pilot-in-command or other required crew member of an aircraft must hold a current and appropriate medical certificate. This includes student pilots in solo flight as well as private, commercial, and airline pilots.

First Class Medical

A first-class airman medical certificate is required to exercise the privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate.

Second Class Medical

A second-class airman medical certificate is required for commercial, non-airline duties (e.g. for crop dusters, corporate pilots)

Third Class Medical

A third-class airman medical certificate is required to exercise the privileges of a private pilot certificate, recreational pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate, or a student pilot certificate.

To obtain a medical certificate you must be examined by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). As the airman you should follow these steps to apply for and obtain your medical certificate:

• Use MedXPress, to complete the initial portion of the application.
• Schedule an appointment with an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) in your area.

What Does the FAA Want to Know?

The FAA wants you to produce a super-detailed list of medical events that have happened to you. Then, your Aviation Medical Examiner discusses this list with you, to see if anything is problematic.

Medication (Current)

Report both prescription and nonprescription medication. If you take medication, the FAA wants to make sure (1) the medication doesn’t interfere with your flying, and (2) that the underlying reasons that you’re taking the medication isn’t a problem.

Medical History (Lifetime)

The FAA wants you to list nearly every illness, disability, surgery, and hospital admission you’ve had in your entire life. (However, they do say, “Do not report occasional common illnesses such as colds or sore throats.”) Most people have something to report here, and the FAA doesn’t expect you to never have been sick or hurt. Here is the list of things the FAA specifically asks about: (Click the triangle for details.)

• Frequent or severe headaches
• Dizziness or fainting spell
• Unconsciousness for any reason
• Eye or vision trouble except glasses
• Hay fever or allergy
• Asthma or lung disease
• Heart or vascular trouble
• High or low blood pressure
• Stomach, liver, or intestinal trouble
• Kidney stone or blood in urine
• Diabetes
• Neurological disorders
• Mental disorders of any sort (including ADD/ADHD)
• Other illness, disability, or surgery
• Admission to hospital
• Motion sickness requiring medication
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Suicide attempt
• Insurance or military medical rejection
• Use of medical disability benefits

Visits to Health Professionals (Last 3 Years)

All visits in the last 3 years:

For treatment, examination, or medical/mental evaluation

By a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, psychologist, clinical social worker, or substance abuse specialist.

Except:

Routine dental, eye, and FAA periodic medical examinations

Counseling unrelated to a personal substance abuse or psychiatric condition

Consultations with your employer-sponsored employee assistance program (EAP), if they are unrelated to substance abuse, and didn’t result in referral for psychiatric evaluation or treatment

Arrests and/or Convictions (Lifetime)

Any of these, in your entire life:

• Arrests or convictions involving driving and alcohol or a drug
• Denial, suspension, cancellation, revocation of driving privileges, or required attendance of a education/rehab program
• Convictions (misdemeanors or felonies), except traffic convictions

Basically, the only convictions you can omit are traffic convictions that did not involve any of these: alcohol or a drug; suspension, revocation, cancellation, or denial of driving privileges; or attendance at an education/rehab program.

What If I Have Something in My History?

If you have something that you think my be of concern, call your Aviation Medical Examiner before you fill in the medical application form. Aviation Medical Examiners know what will be OK and how to handle anything problematic, so get advice first.

Preparing for the Visiting Your Aviation Medical Examiner

• If you’re sick, call your examiner to reschedule.
• If you’re working through a short-term health incident, try to schedule after you’re healthy.
• Bring your contacts and glasses. Also, make sure your contacts and glasses are up-to-date. (Visit your optometrist, if needed.)
• If you’ve been hospitalized or had surgery since you last visited your Aviation Medical Examiner, ask what paperwork you should bring.
• Before your appointment, fill in your medical application in the FAA’s MedXpress web app.
• Drink some water before you go to the appointment.
• Relax, most Aviation Medical Examiners are easy to get along with!