Description

As a student pilot, you will need a Third Class medical certificate to fly solo. To obtain a medical certificate you must be examined by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). Please follow these steps to apply for and obtain your medical certificate:

1. Find a local AME of your choosing and schedule an appointment. In the Gaithersburg area, many local pilots go to Dr. David Kessler 301-740-1030, you may use the search engine in the link below to find one in your local area.

Click here to locate an AME in your area

2. Use the FAAs MedXPress site (link below) to complete in initial portion of the application. You will need to establish an account, then you will electronically complete the initial portion of the application. Please note the confirmation number, as the AME will use this number to access and complete your application (the AME will NOT have access to your application without the number, so be sure to bring it).

Click here for the FAAs MedXPress site

FAR 61.23 Medical certificate duration and requirements

FAA medical questions and answers

The exam is simple: vitals (heat rate, blood pressure, etc.), vision, hearing and general physical state (balance). You may be asked to provide a urine sample (to check for sugar in urine or diabetes). If you wear glasses, be sure to bring them as both your near and far vision will be checked. At the end of the exam, the AME will print out your medical certificate.

FAA medical standards and certification

Tags: studentpilot, privatepilot, commercialpilot, instrumentpilot, instrumentrating, PvtLP, InstLP, ComLP, CFILP, CFIILP