A third-class medical certificate, commonly referred to as a third-class medical, is a certification issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pilots in the United States. This medical certificate is specifically designed for pilots who operate aircraft under certain conditions, such as for recreational flying, flight instruction, or pursuing a private pilot license (PPL).
The third-class medical certificate ensures that the pilot meets the minimum medical standards necessary for safe flight operations. It assesses various aspects of the pilot’s health, including vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, general physical condition, and mental fitness. Pilots must undergo a medical examination by an FAA-approved Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to obtain this certification.
The third-class medical certificate is a requirement for pilots seeking a private pilot license (PPL) or operating certain types of aircraft for non-commercial purposes. It serves as a crucial component of ensuring aviation safety by confirming that pilots are physically and mentally fit to operate aircraft responsibly.
Operations Requiring Third-Class Medical
- When exercising the privileges of a private pilot certificate, recreational pilot certificate, or student pilot certificate, except when operating under the conditions and limitations.
- When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate and acting as the pilot in command or as a required flightcrew member.
- When taking a practical test in an aircraft for a recreational pilot, private pilot, commercial pilot, or airline transport pilot certificate, or for a flight instructor certificate.
- When performing the duties as an Examiner in an aircraft when administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization.
Duration of Third Class Medical Certificate
A third-class medical certificate is valid for a specified duration, depending on the age of the pilot:
- Under 40 years old: A third-class medical certificate is valid for 60 months.
- 40 years old and over: A third-class medical certificate is valid for 24 months.
Application Process
The application process for a third-class medical certificate involves several steps:
- MedXpress: Pilots are required to complete FAA Form 8500-8, also known as the Application for Airman Medical Certificate. This form collects personal and medical history information. You can complete this form online through the FAA’s MedXpress website.
- Locate an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME): Pilots must schedule an appointment with an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to undergo the medical examination. The cost of the exam is not set by the FAA, so it may be anywhere from $75-$200 depending on where you live.
- Medical Examination: During the medical examination, the AME will assess various aspects of the pilot’s health, including vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, and overall fitness.
- Submission and Review: Once the examination is complete, the AME will submit the medical certificate application to the FAA for review. With you potentially leaving the doctor’s office with your medical certificate in hand barring any underlying medical issues.
MedXpress
The FAA MedXPress system allows anyone requiring an FAA Medical Clearance or Medical Certificate to electronically complete the FAA Form 8500-8. Information entered into MedXPress will be available for your FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) to review at the time of your medical examination.
Third-Class Medical Requirments
To be eligible for a third-class airman medical certificate, or to remain eligible for a third-class airman medical certificate, a person must meet the requirements.
Eye
Eye standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are:
- Distant visual acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses. If corrective lenses (spectacles or contact lenses) are necessary for 20/40 vision, the person may be eligible only on the condition that corrective lenses are worn while exercising the privileges of an airman certificate.
- Near vision of 20/40 or better, Snellen equivalent, at 16 inches in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.
- Ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties.
- No acute or chronic pathological condition of either eye or adnexa that interferes with the proper function of an eye, that may reasonably be expected to progress to that degree, or that may reasonably be expected to be aggravated by flying.
Ear, nose, throat, and equilibrium
Ear, nose, throat, and equilibrium standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are:
- The person shall demonstrate acceptable hearing by at least one of the following tests:
- Demonstrate an ability to hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears, at a distance of 6 feet from the examiner, with the back turned to the examiner.
- Demonstrate an acceptable understanding of speech as determined by audiometric speech discrimination testing to a score of at least 70 percent obtained in one ear or in a sound field environment.
- Provide acceptable results of pure tone audiometric testing of unaided hearing acuity according to the following table of worst acceptable thresholds, using the calibration standards of the American National Standards Institute, 1969:
| Frequency (Hz) | 500 Hz | 1000 Hz | 2000 Hz | 3000 Hz |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better ear (Db) | 35 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| Poorer ear (Db) | 35 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
- No disease or condition of the middle or internal ear, nose, oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx that—
- Interferes with, or is aggravated by, flying or may reasonably be expected to do so; or
- Interferes with clear and effective speech communication.
- No disease or condition manifested by, or that may reasonably be expected to be manifested by, vertigo or a disturbance of equilibrium.
Mental
Mental standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are:
No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:
- A personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts.
- A psychosis. As used in this section, “psychosis” refers to a mental disorder in which—
- The individual has manifested delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of this condition; or2.
- The individual may reasonably be expected to manifest delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of this condition.
- A bipolar disorder.
- Substance dependence, except where 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. As used in this section—
- “Substance” includes: alcohol; other sedatives and hypnotics; anxiolytics; opioids; central nervous system stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines, and similarly acting sympathomimetics; hallucinogens; phencyclidine or similarly acting arylcyclohexylamines; cannabis; inhalants; and other psychoactive drugs and chemicals; and2.
- “Substance dependence” means a condition in which a person is dependent on a substance, other than tobacco or ordinary xanthine-containing (e.g., caffeine) beverages, as evidenced by—
- Increased tolerance;
- Manifestation of withdrawal symptoms;
- Impaired control of use; or
- Continued use despite damage to physical health or impairment of social, personal, or occupational functioning.
- No substance abuse within the preceding 2 years is defined as:
- Use of a substance in a situation in which that use was physically hazardous, if there has been at any other time an instance of the use of a substance also in a situation in which that use was physically hazardous;
- A verified positive drug test result, an alcohol test result of 0.04 or greater alcohol concentration, or a refusal to submit to a drug or alcohol test required by the U.S. Department of Transportation or an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation; or
- Misuse of a substance that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the substance involved, finds—
- Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or
- May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
- No other personality disorder, neurosis, or other mental condition that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the condition involved, finds—
- Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or2.
- May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
Neurologic
Neurologic standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are:
- No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:
- Epilepsy;
- A disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause; or
- A transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause.
- No other seizure disorder, disturbance of consciousness, or neurologic condition that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the condition involved, finds—Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or
- Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or
- May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
Cardiovascular.
Cardiovascular standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:
- Myocardial infarction;
- Angina pectoris;
- Coronary heart disease that has required treatment or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant;
- Cardiac valve replacement;
- Permanent cardiac pacemaker implantation; or
- Heart replacement.
General medical condition
The general medical standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are:
- No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus that requires insulin or any other hypoglycemic drug for control.
- No other organic, functional, or structural disease, defect, or limitation that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the condition involved, finds—
- Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or
- May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
- No medication or other treatment that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the medication or other treatment involved, finds—
- Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or
- May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
Special Issuances
In some cases, pilots with disqualifying medical conditions may be eligible for a Special Issuance medical certificate. A Special Issuance allows pilots to fly under certain conditions and with additional oversight from the FAA. Pilots seeking a Special Issuance must provide detailed medical documentation and may be required to undergo additional testing or evaluations.
Obtaining a third-class medical certificate is a crucial first step for aspiring pilots pursuing a private pilot license. Understanding the FAA’s medical requirements, the application process, examination procedures, and disqualifying factors is essential for ensuring a smooth certification process. By adhering to the FAA’s medical standards and seeking guidance from qualified medical professionals when necessary, pilots can maintain their health and safety while enjoying the privileges of flight.