Instructions for Physicals
The primary reason pilots don't walk out of the office with their medical certificate on the day of exam is that they are not properly prepared for the visit and do not bring all of the necessary information to the visit.
- Complete your "Application for Airman Medical Certificate" online in MedXpress before your appointment.
Paper forms are no longer accepted by the FAA. - Bring the confirmation number to your appointment, we cannot proceed without it.
- If you are already on a Special Issuance (SI), please bring your current Special Issuance, the FAA letter, and any documentation required in the FAA letter to your visit.
- If you have a Statement of Demonstrated Ability (SODA), please bring this to your visit.
Check the conditions below. If you have one of those conditions, bring everything listed for that condition to your medical exam, otherwise your medical certification may be delayed.
- We recommend you print out this page and use it as a checklist for your visit. If you require information from your physician, such as a letter, labs or reports, please print a copy of this page for your physician as well.
If you have a medical condition that requires treatment, but is not listed below, please contact us for a consultation. The FAA provides Special Issuances ("waivers") for a number of conditions. We may not be able to issue your certificate ourselves, but we may be able to help you through the process.
Arthritis
If you have arthritis other than osteoarthritis, or require medication stronger than NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) to control your osteoarthritis you must bring:
- A letter from your treating physician regarding your current functional status (including any problems with strength, motion or pain), and your medications and side effects.
- Any other pertinent medical reports regarding your arthritis
- The following labs, drawn within 90 days of your visit:
- CBC
- Liver function test (transaminases)
- Creatinine
- If you are taking hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil):
- FAA report of Eye Evaluation on a Form 8500-7
.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please bring all of the above so we can help you apply for the special issuance.
Asthma
If you have asthma you must bring:
- A letter from your treating physician regarding your current stability (including frequency of inhaler use, use of steroids, visit to a hospital or urgent care) as well as your medications and side effects.
- If you use more than one medication to control your asthma, or you use your rescue inhaler more than twice a week:
- Results of pulmonary function testing, done within 90 days of your visit.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please bring all of the above so we can help you apply for the special issuance.
Bladder Cancer
If you have bladder cancer treated less than 5 years ago you must bring:
- A letter from your treating physician regarding your current stability including comments on the following:
- No metastases or spread outside the bladder.
- Active treatment is completed and no further treatment is recommended.
- If you had surgery, that you are off pain medication, fully recovered and released by your surgeon.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please bring all of the above so we can help you apply for the special issuance.
Chronic Kidney Disease
If you have chronic kidney disease you must bring:
- A report of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) done within 6 months of your visit.
- If your GFR is under 45:
- A letter from your treating physician regarding your current stability including comments on the following:
- Any medications you are on for your kidney disease.
- There are no new conditions or complications.
- All underlying conditions (such as diabetes) are well controlled.
- Dialysis or transplant is not recommended at this time.
- An albumin to creatinine ratio done within 90 days of your visit
- A CBC done within 90 days of your visit
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please also bring the following so we can help you apply for the special issuance:
- Reports from any imaging studies done by your treating physician.
- An assessment by the treating physician of whether a cardiac evaluation is warranted.
Colitis
If you have colitis you must bring:
- A letter from your treating physician regarding your current stability.
- A list of your medications for your colitis.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please bring all of the above so we can help you apply for the special issuance.
Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes
If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes you must bring:
- A hemoglobin A1C done within 90 days of your visit.
- If your hemoglobin A1C is abnormal:
- A letter from your treating physician stating that your diabetes or pre-diabetes is stable and no changes in treatment are recommended.
- A fasting blood glucose done within 90 days of your visit.
- Results of your glucose tolerance test, if performed by your physician.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please bring all of the above so we can help you apply for the special issuance.
Glaucoma
If you have glaucoma you must bring:
- A report of an eye examination on a Form 8500-14.
- A list of your medications.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please bring all of the above so we can help you apply for the special issuance.
Hepatitis
If you have hepatitis you must bring:
- A letter from your treating physician stating that your hepatitis is fully resolved.
- If your hepatitis is chronic hepatitis C:
- A letter from your treating physician stating that your hepatitis is stable and no changes in treatment are recommended.
- The following lab studies done within 90 days of your visit:
- AST (SGOT).
- ALT (SGPT).
- Albumin.
- Prothrombin time (PT).
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please bring all of the above so we can help you apply for the special issuance.
Hypertension
If you have hypertension:
- Your blood pressure must be 155/95 or less.
- No more that three medications to control blood pressure.
(Each ingredient in a combination product counts as a separate medication.) - Proof you have been taking these medications for at least 7 days.
(Doctor's letter, pill bottles, etc.) - FAA acceptable medications.
- A letter from treating physician detailing your treatment plan, prognosis, and stability.
- The letter should specifically mention if there is a secondary cause (obstructive sleep apnea, renal artery stenosis, etc.), your medication history (with start and stop dates), and any side effects.
You must bring:
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please also bring the following so we can help you apply for the special issuance:
Hypothyroidism
If you have hypothyroidism you must bring:
- A letter from your treating physician stating that your hypothyroidism is stable and no treatment changes are recommended.
- A TSH done within 90 days of your visit.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please bring all of the above so we can help you apply for the special issuance.
Migraine or Chronic Headache
If you have headaches you must bring:
- Medical records regarding your headaches, and a neurologic report which includes:
- Frequency and severity of headaches.
- Associated neurologic phenomena.
- Medications with doses and side effects, including:
- Preventive medications.
- Abortive medications.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please bring all of the above so we can help you apply for the special issuance.
Mitral Valve Repair
If you have had a mitral valve repair more than 5 years ago you must bring:
- A letter from your cardiologist which includes:
- Any remaining symptomatology.
- Any other cardiac conditions.
- Any newly developed conditions.
- You require followup no more often than annually.
- No additional surgery is anticipated or recommended.
- Report of an echocardiogram done within 24 months of your visit.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please bring all of the above so we can help you apply for the special issuance.
Prostate Cancer
If you have had prostate cancer treated less than 5 years ago you must bring:
- A letter from your treating physician which includes:
- A statement of stability.
- Any evidence of metastases.
- Active treatment is completed and no further treatment is recommended.
- If you had surgery, that you are off pain medication, fully recovered and released by your surgeon.
- A prostate specific antigen (PSA) test done within 6 months of your visit.
- A current status report from your oncologist including:
- Your treatment plan.
- Duration of stability.
- Your prognosis.
- A list of medications including:
- Presence or absence of side effects.
- Chemotherapy agents, steroids and hormonal agents.
- Dates of use of all of the above.
- Treatment records including:
- Clinic notes.
- A summary letter describing:
- Initial staging.
- Disease course.
- Locations of metastatic disease.
- Stability.
- Operative notes and discharge summary.
- Pathology reports.
- Results of MRI, CT or PET scans.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please also bring the following so we can help you apply for the special issuance:
Renal Cancer
If you have had renal cancer treated less than 5 years ago you must bring:
- A letter from your treating physician which states you are stable and no changes are recommended in your current regimen. This should include:
- Any evidence of disease recurrence, metastases or extra capsular extension.
- Current staging.
- Any evidence of paraneoplastic syndrome.
- You are back to full activity and able to carry on all pre-disease performance without restriction.
- A current status report from your oncologist including:
- Your treatment plan.
- Duration of stability.
- Your prognosis.
- Any planned changes in your treatment regimen.
- A list of medications including:
- Presence or absence of side effects.
- Chemotherapy agents with dates of use.
- Treatment records including:
- Clinic notes.
- A summary letter describing:
- Initial staging.
- Disease course.
- Locations of metastatic disease.
- Stability.
- Operative notes and discharge summary.
- Pathology reports.
- Results of MRI, CT or PET scans.
- Copies of the most recent labs performed by your physician.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please also bring the following so we can help you apply for the special issuance:
Kidney Stones
If you have had multiple kidney stones in the last 5 years or retained, asymptomatic kidney stones you must bring:
- A letter from your treating physician which states you are asymptomatic and stable This should include:
- No increase in size or number of stones.
- Unlikely to cause an incapacitating event.
- No history of complications from stones.
- If you had surgery, that you are off pain medication, fully recovered and released by your surgeon.
- Your current treatment plan for your kidney stones.
- A current status report from your urologist including:
- Your treatment plan.
- Your prognosis.
- Any underlying causative conditions, and if present:
- The diagnosis.
- Your treatment plan.
- Your prognosis.
- Your adherence to the treatment plan.
- A list of medications including side effects.
- Operative notes and discharge summary.
- Results of imaging studies.
- Copies of labs performed by your physician.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please also bring the following so we can help you apply for the special issuance:
Testicular Cancer
If you have had testicular cancer treated less than 5 years ago you must bring:
- A letter from your treating physician which states you are stable and no changes are recommended in your current regimen. This should include:
- Any evidence of disease recurrence or metastases.
- Active treatment is completed and no further treatment is recommended.
- If you had surgery, that you are off pain medication, fully recovered and released by your surgeon.
- A current status report from your oncologist including:
- Your treatment plan.
- Duration of stability.
- Your prognosis.
- Any planned changes in your treatment regimen.
- A list of medications including:
- Presence or absence of side effects.
- Chemotherapy agents with dates of use.
- Treatment records including:
- Clinic notes.
- A summary letter describing:
- Initial staging.
- Disease course.
- Locations of metastatic disease.
- Stability.
- Operative notes and discharge summary.
- Pathology reports.
- Results of MRI, CT or PET scans.
- Serum tumor markers, if applicable.
If you do not meet these criteria you may still be able to fly, but you will require special issuance from the FAA. Please also bring the following so we can help you apply for the special issuance: