FAA Medicals

FAA Medicals

The FAA medical is a requirement for pilots and student pilot solos. (except gliders and balloons). To find out more about student pilot requirements see our student pilot pages.

1. What is a FAA medical certificate?
Flying is a fascinating and enjoyable experience, whether done for business or pleasure. Flying has the potential, however, for serious consequences if not done properly and carefully. Just as it would be foolish to fly in an aircraft that is not airworthy, it would be foolish to fly as, or with, a pilot who is medically compromised. Annual inspections are performed on all aircraft to assure that they meet minimum safety standards. Routine medical exams accomplish the same goal for pilots. When an aircraft successfully completes an annual inspection, the inspector endorses in the logbooks that the aircraft is airworthy. Similarly, when a pilot successfully passes the flight physical, the physician endorses the medical certificate which the pilot then carries with him/her each time he/she flies. This is then evidence that the pilot has met the medical standards for aircraft operation. For additional information and a list of FAA Flight Surgeons see FAA Link .

2. Who is required to hold a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)Medical Certificate?
Any person acting as pilot-in-command or other required crew member of an aircraft (except for free balloons, gliders, and ultralights) must hold a current and appropriate medical certificate. This includes student pilots in solo flight as well as private, commercial, and airline pilots.

3. How does one get a FAA medical ?
The FAA has designated over 5000 private physicians (called Aviation Medical Examiners or AMEs) around the United States (and the world) to take applications for, give exams for, and issue FAA medical certificates. A list of FAA designated medical examiners is available. The applicant simply contacts the physician's office for an appointment and after arrival, completes an application form and undergoes the physical examination. If the applicant meets the appropriate medical standards, the AME will issue the medical certificate.

4. What types of certificates are available and how long are they good for?
There are three classes of medical certificates:

Class 3 medical certificates are for private pilot duties only. They have the least restrictive medical requirements and the certificates are generally good for 3 years for applicants under age 40 and 2 years for those 40 and over.

Third Class Certificate Requirements

Distant Vision - 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction.

Intermediate - No requirement.

Color Vision - Ability to perceive those colors necessary for safe performance of airmen duties.

Hearing - Demonstrate hearing of an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears at 6 feet, with the back turned to the examiner or pass an audiometric test.

Audiology - Audiometric speech discrimination test:
Pure tone audiometric test: Unaided, with thresholds no worse than: (for the worst ear) 35Db at 500Hz, 50Db at 1,000Hz, 50Db at 2,000Hz, 60Db at 3,000Hz

Ear, Nose, Throat - No ear, nose, or throat disease or condition that may reasonably be expected to be manifested by vertigo or a disturbance of speech or equilibrium.

Blood Pressure - While no specific values have been stated in the standards, 155/95 (systolic/diastolic) have been the maximum allowed.

Substance Dependence/Substance Abuse - A diagnosis or medical history of substance dependence is disqualifying unless there is established clinical evidence, satisfactory to the Federal Air Surgeon, of recovery, including sustained total abstinence from the substance(s) for not less than the preceding 2 years. A history of substance abuse within the preceding 2 years is disqualifying. The list of substances includes alcohol and all illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine, etc.) plus certain prescription drugs such as sedatives, anxiolytics, etc.

Disqualifying Conditions - (1) Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medications; (2) Angina pectoris; (3) Coronary heart disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic of clinically significant; (4) Myocardial infarction; (5) Cardiac valve replacement; (6) Permanent cardiac pacemaker; (7) Heart replacement; (8) Psychosis; (9) Bipolar disease; (10) Personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts; (11) Substance dependence; (12) Substance abuse; (13) Epilepsy; (14) Disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory explanation of cause; and (15) Transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without satisfactory explanation of cause.
NOTE: Waivers for many of these conditions may be obtained through application to the FAA Aeromedical Certification Branch in Oklahoma City.

Class 2 medical certificates are for commercial, non-airline duties as well as private pilot duties. This certificate would be required of crop dusters, charter pilots, corporate pilots, and anyone else who flies commercially. The certificate is good for 1 year for commercial activities and 2 or 3 years for private pilot use.

Second Class Certificate Requirements - All of the Third Class requirements with the following additions/amendments.

Distant Vision - 20/20 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction.

Intermediate Vision- 20/40 or better in each eye separately (Snellen equivalent), with or without correction at age 50 and over, as measured at 32 inches.

Class 1 faa medical certificates are required for pilots of scheduled airliners. They have the most stringent medical requirements and the certificate is good for 6 months for airliner duties. Like the Class 2 certificate, however, it is good for 1 year for other commercial activities and 2 or 3 years for private pilot duties.

First Class Certificate Requirements - All of the Third and Second Class requirements with the following addition.

Electro-Cardiogram - At age 35 and annually after age 40.

5. What medical standards must be met to be issued each of the above certificates? The medical standards for each class of medical certificate are put forth in Part 67 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 67).

6. What are the minimum and maximum ages for obtaining a FAA medical certificate? There is no minimum or maximum age for obtaining a FAA medical certificate. Any applicant who is able to pass the exam may be issued a certificate. However, applicants under the age of 16 (the minimum age for a student pilot certificate) will not be able to obtain an airman certificate (pilot's license) and would therefore have no practical use for the FAA medical certificate.

NOTE: The combined faa medical / student pilot certificate will not be good for flight duties until properly endorsed by the student's instructor.

The FAA does not set fees for the performance of the FAA medical exam and issuance of the FAA medical certificate. The AME is allowed to charge the applicant appropriately, as long as it is not more than his/her usual fee for similar examinations for other purposes. If you are concerned about the cost of the FAA medical exam, please discuss this with the doctor you are thinking about seeing. The FAA has no additional fees above what the physician charges.

9. I have some minor medical problems and would like to find out whether or not they will create difficulties when I go to get my medical certificate. Who could I contact in order to get further information about my situation?

There are several sources for information regarding the various FAA medical conditions that might afflict applicants for medical certification. One source is your local AME. This physician (see Question 3 above) may be willing to discuss your medical problems and the impact they are likely to have on certification. Frequently, AMEs will do this over the phone without charge. Another alternative is to contact the FAA directly, either through the Regional Flight Surgeons office or through the Aeromedical Certification Division of the FAA in Oklahoma City. A third source of information is through the various pilot organizations such as the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) or the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

10. Is a pilot required to report to the FAA that he or she has undergone LASIK or other laser eye surgery to correct vision?

LASIK and other forms of vision corrective surgery have potential adverse effects that could be incompatible with flying duties. These include:

Corneal scarring or opacities worsening or variability of vision night-glare
haziness of vision The FAA expects that a pilot will not resume piloting aircraft until his or her own treating health care professional determines:

The post operative condition has stabilized, there have been no significant adverse effects or complications, and, the person meets the appropriate FAA medical vision standards. If these determinations are favorable and he or she is otherwise qualified, the pilot may immediately resume piloting but must ensure that:

The treating health care professional documents his or her determinations in the pilot's health care treatment record, a copy of that record is immediately forwarded to the Aeromedical Certification Division in Oklahoma City, and a personal copy is retained. When resumed, the airman may continue flight duties unless informed otherwise by the FAA or another disqualifying condition occurs.

11. If my application for a FAA medical certification is turned down, what recourse do I have?

Part 67 of the Federal Aviation Regulations outlines the appeal process for applicants who are denied medical certification. In a nutshell, the initial appeal would be to the Federal Air Surgeon (through the Oklahoma City office) to request an authorization for the special issuance of a medical certificate. This might result in a medical certificate that is time-limited, contingent upon the successful completion of addition FAA medical testing, or otherwise restricted. If this request is not successful, then an appeal to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) could be made. If the NTSB concurs with the FAA's denial action, you could then request a hearing in Federal District Court and ultimately the Supreme Court. See additional documents in FAA Medicals .

12. What happens if I get my FAA medical certificate and then I have some sort of medical problem that develops before the certificate expires? Do I have to report it and do I have to ground myself? Can I keep on flying until the certificate expires?

The regulations are quite clear that, despite the presence of an unexpired FAA medical certificate, it is still your responsibility as a pilot to maintain your health. If you develop a new medical condition or experience the worsening of an existing medical condition such that you may no longer meet the medical requirements, then you must not fly until the problem is resolved. A simple problem such as a cold, a broken arm, or an abscessed tooth may require nothing more than the appropriate treatment and a little time before you can safely return to the skies. A more complicated problem or the development or change of a chronic illness may necessitate consultation with an AME or the FAA before flying resumes. As long as you choose not to fly, the medical condition does not need to be reported to the FAA until you wish to return to flying.

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