What is a Class 1 medical?

A Class 1 medical certificate is the health standard you must meet to fly professionally in the United Kingdom. It is issued under the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) version of Part-MED, and you need one to use the privileges of a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) or an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). Put simply, it is the medical that lets you be paid to fly.

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

Who needs a Class 1 medical?

You need a Class 1 certificate if you fly, or plan to fly, professionally. That covers anyone training for or working under a CPL or ATPL: airline pilots, commercial charter pilots and many instructors who are paid to teach. If you are about to start an integrated or modular commercial course, most training schools will ask you to hold a valid Class 1 before you begin.

It pays to do this early. The medical is the one part of training that can stop you in your tracks, and finding out about a problem before you have spent thousands of pounds on flying hours is far better than discovering it afterwards.

If you only ever fly for leisure, you will usually need a Class 2 certificate instead. The two are set side by side in our Class 1 vs Class 2 comparison, and you can see every class in the certificate requirements guide.

Where does the initial Class 1 exam take place?

Under UK CAA rules, your first (initial) Class 1 examination must be carried out at a CAA-authorised Aeromedical Centre (AeMC). An AeMC is a centre the CAA has approved to run the full range of assessments, including initial Class 1 and initial Class 3 medicals. It has the equipment and the staff to do the longer first exam in one place.

Once you hold a Class 1 certificate, later revalidations and renewals can be done at an AeMC or by an Aeromedical Examiner (AME) who is certificated for Class 1. You do not have to go back to an AeMC every year, which usually means a wider choice of locations and appointment times after the first visit.

What does a Class 1 medical involve?

The initial Class 1 is the most thorough pilot medical and can take several hours. The exact content depends on your history and the centre, but it usually includes:

• A detailed review of your medical history and a general physical examination
• Vision and colour-perception testing, plus a hearing assessment
• A cardiovascular check, which normally includes an electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Lung function testing and a urine test
• Blood tests and any further investigations the examiner considers necessary

Later revalidation and renewal exams are shorter than that first visit, though some tests are repeated at set intervals or when there is a clinical reason to. The CAA publishes the detailed medical standards in its UK Part-MED requirements.

How long is a Class 1 medical valid?

A Class 1 certificate is generally valid for 12 months. The period is shorter in a few situations, mostly linked to age and the type of operation:

A revalidation carried out up to 45 days before your certificate expires keeps the original expiry date as the basis for the new period, so you do not lose any time by going early. These rules, along with what happens if a certificate lapses, are covered on our renewals and revalidations page.

How much does a Class 1 medical cost?

The cost comes in two parts. There is the examiner's fee for carrying out the assessment, and a separate statutory charge paid to the CAA. The initial exam costs more than a later revalidation because it is longer and involves more tests. Fees vary by centre and change from time to time, so we don't print figures here. Our prices page has the current detail, and it explains which part of the fee is the CAA charge and which is ours.

When should you book your first exam or renew an existing one?

Booking the initial exam

If you are about to start commercial training, arrange your initial Class 1 before you commit to the course. Initial slots at an AeMC can book up, so give yourself a few weeks' lead time rather than leaving it to the last moment. Getting the medical out of the way early also means that if anything needs looking into, it can be sorted before your training clock starts.

Renewing before expiry

For a working pilot, the safest habit is to book the revalidation within that 45-day window before expiry. You keep your original expiry date, your certificate stays continuous, and you avoid the extra steps that apply once a certificate has lapsed. If your certificate has already run out, read the lapsed-certificate rules on our renewals and revalidations page before you book.

What happens if you are found temporarily unfit or referred?

Not every assessment ends with a certificate handed over on the day, and that is normal. Sometimes the examiner needs more information, a specialist report or a further test before a decision can be made. In other cases you may be assessed as temporarily unfit while something is followed up, or the decision may be referred to the CAA.

None of this means the door is closed. It means the examiner is doing their job properly and working to the standards set out in Part-MED. What happens next depends on your individual circumstances, so we cannot predict an outcome or promise a result. The best thing you can do is bring the right paperwork, be open about your history, and follow the steps the examiner or the CAA set out.

How does it differ from a Class 2 medical?

A Class 1 certificate supports professional flying, with stricter standards and a shorter validity, while a Class 2 supports private flying and may be issued by any UK AME. For a full side-by-side breakdown of where each exam is done, who can carry it out and typical validity, read our Class 1 vs Class 2 guide.

How do you prepare for the day?

Before an initial Class 1 you will usually register and apply through the CAA's online medical records system (Cellma) and pay the CAA fee in advance. Doing this a few days ahead means your details are ready when you arrive. On the day, bring photographic identification, any previous medical certificate, a list of your medication, and your glasses or contact lenses with their prescription if you wear them. Our preparation guide and medical preparation page set out a full checklist, and what to expect walks through the appointment itself.

Last reviewed: October 2026