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FAA Medical Certificate Classes, Validity Periods & BasicMed: What Every Pilot Needs to Know

Updated: 4 days ago

Your medical certificate isn't just a piece of paper — it's the legal foundation of your ability to fly as Pilot-in-Command. Get the class wrong, let it lapse, or misunderstand what it authorizes and you're not just grounded — you could be flying illegally without knowing it.


This guide breaks down all three FAA medical certificate classes, exactly how long each one is valid, what each one authorizes you to do, how to get one, and whether BasicMed might be a simpler option for your situation.



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The Three Classes of FAA Medical Certificates

The FAA issues three classes of medical certificates. The class you need depends entirely on what kind of flying you're doing — specifically, what kind of pilot certificate you're exercising and what kind of operation you're conducting.


Here's the key principle that confuses a lot of pilots: a higher-class medical doesn't replace a lower-class one. A First-Class medical can be exercised as a First, Second, or Third-Class medical depending on what you're doing. As it ages past its First-Class validity period, it automatically steps down — first to Second-Class validity, then to Third-Class validity, before expiring entirely. More on that below.


First-Class Medical Certificate

  • Who needs it: Any pilot exercising Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) privileges. If you're acting as Pilot-in-Command of an air carrier operation under Part 121, you need a current First-Class medical.

  • How long is it valid:

    • Under age 40: 12 calendar months from the date of exam

    • Age 40 or older: 6 calendar months from the date of exam

  • What happens after it expires: A First-Class medical doesn't simply become invalid — it steps down. After the First-Class validity period expires, the same certificate is valid as a Second-Class medical for 12 months from the date of exam. After that, it's valid as a Third-Class medical for either 24 months (age 40+) or 60 months (under 40) from the date of exam.

  • This means a pilot under 40 who gets a First-Class medical can use that single certificate to exercise ATP privileges for 12 months, commercial privileges for another 12 months, and private pilot privileges for another 36 months — all from one exam.


Second-Class Medical Certificate

  • Who needs it: Pilots exercising commercial pilot privileges — acting as Pilot-in-Command for compensation or hire in operations that don't require ATP privileges. Think charter flying, ferry flights, aerial photography, banner towing, crop dusting, or any other paid flying that doesn't involve airline transport operations.

  • How long is it valid: 12 calendar months from the date of exam, regardless of age.

  • What happens after it expires: Steps down to Third-Class validity — 24 months (age 40+) or 60 months (under 40) from the original exam date.


Third-Class Medical Certificate

  • Who needs it: Private pilots, recreational pilots, and student pilots — anyone exercising non-commercial pilot privileges.

  • How long is it valid:

    • Under age 40: 60 calendar months (5 years) from the date of exam

    • Age 40 or older: 24 calendar months (2 years) from the date of exam

  • This is the most common medical certificate for general aviation pilots. If you're flying your own airplane for fun, flying with friends, or building hours as a student pilot, a Third-Class medical is all you need.


How to Get an FAA Medical Certificate

All three classes are issued by FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) — physicians who are specifically authorized to conduct FAA medical exams. Your regular family doctor cannot issue an FAA medical certificate.


The process:

  • Step 1 — Complete MedXPress: Before your appointment, fill out FAA Form 8500-8 through the FAA's MedXPress system at medxpress.faa.gov. This is your medical application and must be completed online before the exam. Print your confirmation number.

  • Step 2 — Find an AME: Use the FAA's AME locator to find an authorized examiner in your area. Senior AMEs can issue all three classes. Basic AMEs can issue Second and Third-Class. Make sure you're seeing an examiner authorized for the class you need.

  • Step 3 — The Exam: The exam covers vision, hearing, cardiovascular health, blood pressure, neurological screening, and overall physical assessment. The specific standards vary by class — First-Class has the most stringent requirements.

  • Step 4 — Issuance: The AME will either issue the certificate immediately, defer it to the FAA for further review, or deny it. A deferral isn't a denial — it means the FAA needs more information, often related to a reported medical condition or history. Many deferred cases are eventually approved.


A note on medical history: Be honest and thorough on the MedXPress application. Failing to disclose a relevant medical condition is a federal offense and can result in certificate revocation. If you have a history of any condition you're unsure about — mental health treatment, DUIs, certain medications — consult an aviation medical attorney or an AME before applying.


BasicMed: The Alternative for Private Pilots

In 2017, the FAA introduced BasicMed as an alternative pathway for pilots who want to fly without holding a traditional FAA medical certificate. For many recreational and private pilots, BasicMed is simpler, cheaper, and more accessible — especially for those with medical conditions that complicate traditional FAA certification.


BasicMed Eligibility

To use BasicMed you must:

  • Have held a valid FAA medical certificate at any time after July 14, 2006

  • Not have had an FAA medical application denied, revoked, or suspended since that date

  • Hold a valid U.S. driver's license

  • Have completed the required physical exam and online course


What BasicMed Requires

  • A comprehensive physical exam with any state-licensed physician using the FAA's Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC) — every 48 calendar months

  • Completion of an FAA-approved online aeromedical education course — every 24 calendar months

  • Keep both the completed CMEC and course completion certificate in your logbook or records


What BasicMed Allows You to Do

  • Act as PIC of an aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds

  • Carry up to 5 passengers (plus yourself — 6 occupants total)

  • Fly within the United States

  • Fly below 18,000 feet MSL

  • Fly at indicated airspeeds below 250 knots

  • Fly for personal, recreational, and certain charitable/nonprofit operations


What BasicMed Does Not Allow

  • Flying for compensation or hire — no commercial operations of any kind

  • International operations

  • Flying aircraft over 6,000 pounds MTOW

  • Exercising ATP privileges


Is BasicMed Right for You?

BasicMed makes the most sense for pilots who:

  • Fly recreationally in light general aviation aircraft

  • Have a medical history that makes traditional FAA certification complicated or uncertain

  • Want to avoid the cost and hassle of periodic AME exams

  • Never intend to fly commercially


It does not make sense for pilots who want to pursue a commercial career, fly heavier aircraft, or operate internationally. For those pilots, maintaining a traditional FAA medical certificate is the only path.


The Practical Bottom Line

For student and private pilots, the Third-Class medical or BasicMed covers everything you need. For commercial pilots, you need a Second-Class renewed annually. For ATP operations, you need a current First-Class.


The biggest mistake pilots make is letting their medical lapse without realizing it — especially those stepping down from First or Second-Class certificates who think they still have valid Third-Class coverage. Know your exam date, know your class, and know exactly when each validity period expires. If you're ever unsure, the FAA's Airmen Inquiry tool at amsrvs.amsrvs.faa.gov can show you the status of your certificate.


Your medical certificate is one of the simplest compliance items in aviation — but only if you stay on top of it.



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Author: Nathan Hodell

CFI, CFII, MEI, ATP, Creator and CEO

Nathan is an aviation enthusiast with thousands of hours of flying and dual instruction over the past 15+ years. Through his aviation career he has been able to earn his ATP, fly as an airline pilot, own/operate flight schools, and create and host wifiCFI.



 
 
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