UK pilot medical certificate requirements explained

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulates medical certification for UK licences. Before you can use the privileges of a flight crew or air traffic control licence, and before you operate as cabin crew, you need to hold a valid medical certificate of the right class. Which one you need comes down to the licence or role you hold or are working towards.

This article is general information about UK aviation medical certification. It is not individual medical advice, and fitness is assessed case by case against CAA standards. Always confirm current requirements with the UK CAA.

The main medical certificate classes

Class 1: professional pilots

Required to use the privileges of a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) or Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). The initial examination must be carried out at a CAA-authorised Aeromedical Centre (AeMC); revalidations and renewals may be done at an AeMC or by an Aeromedical Examiner (AME) certificated for Class 1. Generally valid for 12 months, reducing to 6 months in some age and operational circumstances. See our Class 1 guide.

Class 2: private pilots

Required for a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and other non-commercial flying. It may be issued by any UK AME for the initial examination, revalidation and renewal, so you usually have a good choice of examiners near home. Validity is longer than Class 1 and reduces with age. Our Class 1 vs Class 2 comparison covers the differences in detail.

Class 3: air traffic control officers

Required as part of air traffic control officer (ATCO) licensing. The initial examination is carried out by an AME at an AeMC and can take up to around four hours; revalidations and renewals need not be at an AeMC and may be done by any AME certificated for Class 1 or Class 3. There is no minimum age, though under-17s may need a paediatric review. See our Class 3 medical page.

LAPL: Light Aircraft Pilot Licence

The LAPL medical supports the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence. It may be issued by an AME or, in limited cases, by your GP, provided your GP holds your full NHS record, you have no significant medical history, and your GP registers with the CAA via 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. See our LAPL medical page.

Cabin crew medical report

Operating cabin crew need a valid cabin crew medical report under Subpart C of Part-MED. It is carried out by a CAA-approved AME or a CAA-approved Occupational Health Medical Practitioner (OHMP). An initial assessment applies to all new cabin crew, with periodic assessments at intervals of no more than 60 months. The medical report 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 medical page.

Summary of UK CAA certificate classes

How do validity and age affect your certificate?

Validity is not a single fixed number across the board. A Class 1 is generally good for 12 months but drops to 6 months for pilots aged 60 or over, and for those aged 40 or over flying single-pilot commercial air transport with passengers. Class 2 and LAPL periods are longer and step down as you get older, so a younger private pilot will renew less often than someone later in their flying life. The cabin crew report runs for intervals of no more than 60 months. Because the detail depends on your age and the kind of flying you do, always check the current period against the CAA's standards.

How do you choose the right certificate?

Start from the licence or role you are pursuing. Commercial flying needs a Class 1; private flying needs a Class 2; a LAPL needs the LAPL medical; air traffic control needs a Class 3; and operating cabin crew need the cabin crew medical report. If you are a student planning a commercial career, it is usually wise to sit a Class 1 early, before you spend heavily on training. Should you ever be unsure which applies, the Class 1 vs Class 2 comparison is a good place to start, or you can get in touch.

What do these medicals cost?

Every class carries an examiner's fee plus a separate statutory charge paid to the CAA, and the two are billed separately. Longer assessments such as the initial Class 1 and Class 3 cost more than a routine Class 2 or LAPL. Fees change over time and vary by centre, so we don't print figures here. Our prices page has the current detail and shows how the CAA charge sits alongside our own fee.

When should you book or renew?

Book early for any initial exam, particularly a Class 1 or Class 3, because those longer first appointments are done at an AeMC and slots can be limited. For renewals, a Class 1 revalidation carried out within 45 days before expiry keeps your original expiry date, so there is nothing to gain by leaving it late. Our renewals and revalidations page explains the timing rules, including what happens if a certificate has already lapsed.

What if you are referred or found temporarily unfit?

Not every assessment ends with a certificate on the day. The examiner may need a further test, a specialist report or more time, and some decisions are referred to the CAA. That is a normal part of a properly run system, not a closed door. What happens next depends entirely on your circumstances, so no one can promise a particular result. Coming prepared, being open about your history and following the steps you are given is the best way to keep things moving. Our preparation guide explains how to give yourself the smoothest run.

Explore each examination

For detail on what each assessment involves, how to prepare and the next steps, see the relevant service page:

• Class 1 medical for professional pilots
• Class 2 medical for private pilots
• Class 3 medical for air traffic control officers
• LAPL medical for the Light Aircraft Pilot Licence
• Cabin crew medical for operating cabin crew
• Renewals & revalidations for keeping a certificate valid

Last reviewed: October 2026