Classes of Aviation Medical Certificates
Overview & Standards of FAA Medical Exams by Class
Understanding Airman Medical Standards
In 1958, The FAA Act charged the federal government with maintaining and promoting aviation safety standards. The FAA’s Office of Aerospace Medicine is responsible for, among other things, establishing airman medical certification standards. U.S. standards for aerospace medicine are some of the highest in the world. While guidelines are in some senses clear and concise, in other ways they can be quite general and vague. This page provides you with information to help you better understand the different types of aviation medical certificates. If you are a pilot and would like to schedule a flight physical, reach out to us today to get started.
Dr. Johnson offers medical examinations for:
How Do I Get an Aviation Medical Certificate?
step 1
Schedule an Appointment
step 2
Prepare Your Documents
step 3
Pass Your FAA Medical Exam
step 4
Get Your Certificate
Types of FAA Medical Certificates
There are three classes issued to pilots by the FAA, depending on what type of pilot you are.
Class 1
A First-Class medical certificate is necessary for all pilots who exercise airline transport pilots (ATP) privileges. A first class medical certificate is valid for one year for pilots under the age of 40, and must be taken every six months by pilots over the age of 40.
Class 2
A Second-Class FAA medical certificate is required for all pilots who fly commercially. This can include for operations such as crop dusting, carrying passengers, transporting cargo, and other scenarios. Second-Class certificates are also required for flight engineers, flight navigators, and air traffic control tower operators.
Class 3
Third-class medical certification is required for all other flight operations, including student pilots, flight instructors, recreational pilots, and private pilots.
Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) Standards
Medical clearance is required for air traffic control specialists to safely perform job-related duties. ATCS personnel may be eligible for “Special Considerations” of a medical certificate. Contact us for additional information.
Special Issuance
AME Assisted Special Issuance (AASI) is a procedure that gives examiners such as Dr. Johnson the ability to re-issue an airman’s medical certificate under the provisions of an Authorization to an applicant who has a medical condition that is disqualifying under 14 CFR part 67.
HIMS Evaluation
A HIMS (Human Intervention Motivation study) Evaluation is for pilots recovering from drugs, mood disorders, alcohol abuse, or dependence. This program can be customized to suit a pilot’s specific diagnosis or aviation circumstances. On average, 120 pilots are identified, treated, and returned to work each year through the HIMS program. As is the case with other diseases, the FAA permits pilots with serious but stable medical conditions to still hold medical certificates, but under careful supervision and with a Special Issuance (SI) authorization. Pilots have time-limited certificates and are monitored to meet FAA guidelines. Pilots going through an HIMS Evaluation must engage with an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) speciality trained and approved by the FAA to supervise HIMS cases. Dr. Johnson can play the role of an Independent Medical Sponsor (IMS) for pilots going through an HIMS Evaluation. Contact us to learn more.
***Pilot medical certificates are only valid if they have been signed by the AME who performed the examination or have the digital signed authorization from an FAA physician.
Tips for Getting Certified
Select an aviation medical examiner (AME) who will be your advocate
Triple-check you have all your documents
Retain copies of all documents you send to the FAA
Keep your records highly organized
Provide the FAA with only the information they ask for
Don’t show up to an FAA physical if you are ill or otherwise impaired — instead, reschedule
Communicate beforehand with your flight physician
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