Airman Medical Certification

Classes of Medicals

1st Class Medical -

• Valid for 6 calender months if age 40 or over at age of examination; otherwise, 12 months if younger than 40.
• Normally reserved for scheduled transport airline pilots.

2nd Class Medical -

• Valid for 12 calender months regardless of age.
• Required for commercial pilots including corporate pilots, crop dusters, aeromedical pilots, charter pilots, navigators and first officers of commercial airline flights.

3rd Class Medical -

• Valid for 60 calender months if younger than age 40 at time of examination; otherwise, 24 calendar months if 40 or older at time of examination.
• Required for Recreational of Private pilots.

To Apply for a FAA Medical Certificate

• Visit http://medxpress.faa.gov and register for an account
• The MedXPress Online Application will allow for any person requiring a FAA Medical Certificate of Student Pilot Certificate to electronically complete the FAA Form 8500-8 and will be automatically transmitted to both the FAA and the Medical Examiner for the Examination.
• If you do not have access to the online system, simply let you AME know and he/she will provide a paper form for your use.

Outcomes of Medical Examination

• Upon completion of a medical examination, the examiner may:
  1. Issue a certificate
  2. Deny a certificate
  3. Defer a certificate

For Medical Guidelines, Visit the Medical Certification Page at FAA.gov