Flight physical exam (FAA Air Medical Exam)

The testing done during your flight examination will depend on the type of certificate for which you’re applying. For example, a first class license requires a more extensive exam than a third-class license.

A third-class examination for a person aged 40 or younger typically includes a:

• basic hearing test 
• blood pressure check
• urine test
• vision test – screening for peripheral vision, nearsightedness, farsightedness and color
• health history – medications, recent surgeries and mental health status

First class medical exams also require a yearly electrocardiogram (ECG) for people over age 40.

At the end of the exam, the medical examiner can:

• approve your application
• deny your application
• defer your application to the FAA for further processing.

If you are denied your application, you may be eligible for a special issuance medical certificate after completing an FAA deferment process. This could happen if you are on a medication that is not acceptable for flight reasons, but a different drug is. Or if you were ill or had a recent medical procedure that impacted your exam, you could be approved after being symptom-free for a certain period of time.