Aviation medical FAQs

It depends on the licence you hold or are working towards. Professional pilots (CPL/ATPL) need a Class 1 medical certificate; private pilots (PPL) need a Class 2; air traffic control officers need a Class 3; and Light Aircraft Pilot Licence holders need a LAPL medical. Operating cabin crew need a cabin crew medical report. If you are unsure, our services overview and certificate requirements guide can help, or just get in touch.

A Class 1 certificate supports professional (commercial) flying on a CPL or ATPL and has stricter standards and a shorter validity. A Class 2 certificate supports private flying on a PPL. They involve different examination requirements. Our comparison guide explains the key differences.

Under UK CAA rules, your first (initial) Class 1 medical must be carried out at a CAA-authorised Aeromedical Centre (AeMC). The same applies to an initial Class 3 assessment, which is done by an Aeromedical Examiner at an AeMC and can take up to around four hours. Later revalidations and renewals do not have to be at an AeMC.

In limited cases, yes. A LAPL medical may be issued by an Aeromedical Examiner (AME) or, where the criteria are met, by your own GP. In that case the GP must hold your full NHS record, there must be no significant medical history, and the GP registers with the CAA through its medical records system. Anyone who has ever been assessed as "Unfit" on a CAA medical must attend an AME for a LAPL medical rather than a GP.

Operating cabin crew need a valid cabin crew medical report under Subpart C of Part-MED, carried out by a CAA-approved AME or a CAA-approved Occupational Health Medical Practitioner (OHMP). This is not the same as a Cabin Crew Attestation (CCA), which is a separate training competency certificate, and the CAA does not issue CCAs. See our cabin crew page.

Use our appointment enquiry form to tell us which examination you need and your preferred dates, and we will confirm availability. The form is an enquiry, not an instant online booking. We reply to arrange the details. You can also contact us by phone or email.

For most pilot medicals you will register and complete the CAA's online application through its medical records system (Cellma) and pay the CAA fee beforehand. Our preparation guide explains the steps and has a full documents checklist.

Typically: photographic identification; any current or previous medical certificate; details of any medication; glasses or contact lenses and your prescription if you use them; and any relevant specialist or GP reports. Our preparation guide has the full checklist.

A routine Class 2 or LAPL assessment is usually completed within a single appointment, while an initial Class 1 or Class 3 examination is more thorough and can take several hours. Allow extra time if additional tests or reports are required. See what to expect.

No. Everything here is general guidance about aviation medical certification in line with UK CAA requirements. It is not individual medical advice, and medical fitness is always decided case by case by the examiner against CAA standards.

Validity depends on the class and your circumstances. A Class 1 certificate is generally valid for 12 months, reducing to 6 months if you are 40 or over and fly single-pilot commercial air transport carrying passengers, or if you are 60 or over. Other classes have their own validity periods and age-related rules. Always confirm your certificate's expiry with your examiner and the CAA.

If you revalidate a certificate up to 45 days before it expires, the new period of validity is calculated from the original expiry date rather than the date of the examination, so you do not lose any validity by attending a little early. See Renewals & Revalidations.

A revalidation is carried out while your certificate is still valid. A renewal applies once a certificate has lapsed (expired). The steps for a renewal depend on how long the certificate has been expired.

For a lapsed Class 1, if it has been expired for more than 2 years the AME reviews your aeromedical records before the examination; if it has been expired for more than 5 years, you must follow the initial-issue process again at an Aeromedical Centre (AeMC). See Renewals & Revalidations.

No. No examiner or website can guarantee a particular outcome. Medical fitness is decided on a case-by-case basis against UK CAA standards. Possible outcomes include fit, fit with limitations (for example wearing corrective lenses), deferred pending further information, or referral. See what to expect.

This site provides information about UK CAA aviation medicals. We do not claim to provide EASA or FAA medical services. If you need a medical under another authority, please check that authority's own requirements directly.