How to Obtain Airman Medical Certification

To exercise the privileges of your private or commercial pilot certificate, it must be accompanied by an FAA airmen medical certificate.
Obtaining your FAA medical is done by visiting a qualified Aviation Medical Examiner, or AME.
Before you arrive for your exam, you will complete an online form describing your medical history and if you have any conditions that may be of concern to the FAA. These may include prescription medications, certain physical limitations, any hospitalizations, history with mental health, and any history of substance abuse.
If there is anything in your medical history that you think may be of concern, it should be researched before visiting the AME.
AOPA members are encouraged to contact AOPA for guidance on how a condition may affect your FAA medical certification and how it may be resolved. In many cases, simply providing documentation to the AME will resolve any issue. There are very few conditions that the FAA considers “disqualifying.” They maintain a list of these on the FAA website.
The exam itself is a basic physical. The AME will exam your eyes; checking both your acuity and color vision.
Your hearing will be checked to make sure that you are able to hear at a conversational level.
Your urine will be checked for blood, sugar, and protein.
The doctor will listen to your heart and lungs to ensure there are no abnormal conditions. If you are applying for a first class medical; the level required for airline transport pilot privileges, and are over the age of 40, the AME will use an electrocardiogram (EKG) to examine your heart.
The FAA maintains a nationwide database of aviation medical examiners. This can be found at faa.gov/pilots/amelocator