Learn the disqualifications and medical requirements for all FAA Medical Certificates for private, commercial and air transport pilots.
Several medical conditions can disqualify a person from obtaining a pilot's license, though some may still be navigable through a special issuance process if well-managed. The key disqualifying conditions include:
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Vision and Hearing Issues: Severe vision impairments, such as uncorrectable poor vision or significant color blindness, and serious hearing problems can disqualify a pilot. While corrective lenses or hearing aids can often meet the standards, certain levels of impairment cannot be mitigated. Learn more about pilot vision requirements.
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Cardiovascular Conditions: Heart-related conditions such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, angina, heart attacks, and heart valve replacements may disqualify a pilot, especially if the condition is not well-controlled. A history of heart surgery or other treatments may require special evaluation.
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Neurological Disorders: Conditions like epilepsy, strokes, or transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes) can prevent certification. Unexplained loss of consciousness or seizure disorders, unless well-managed with a clear cause, are automatic disqualifiers.
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Mental Health Disorders: Severe mental health conditions, such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, or major depression, can disqualify a pilot, particularly if they affect judgment or stability. The FAA is cautious with pilots on psychiatric medications and will require documentation that mental health is being adequately managed.
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Substance-Related Disorders: Alcoholism or drug dependency, as well as a history of substance abuse, are often disqualifying unless there is proof of long-term recovery and no impairment to flight safety.
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Diabetes: Pilots with diabetes requiring insulin may face disqualification unless they demonstrate stable control of their condition. Certain oral medications may also be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
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Unexplained Loss of Consciousness: Any unexplained fainting, blackout, or loss of control of bodily functions without a clear, non-threatening cause will typically disqualify a pilot from obtaining a license.
For all classes of medical certificates, certain conditions can be approved under the "Special Issuance" process if a pilot can show that the condition is well-managed, doesn’t pose a risk to flight safety, and undergoes regular medical monitoring. An Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) can give you detailed answers to your specific medical conditions and tell you which medical conditions require a waiver.
Airline Transport Pilots need a Class 1 Medical Certificate
The biggest concerns include vision and hearing standards, cardiovascular conditions, neurological disorders, mental health, substance-related disorders, certain medications, diabetes, and unexplained losses of consciousness. Conditions that seem disqualifying can sometimes be navigated via a "Special Issuance" process, allowing pilots to demonstrate their condition is well-managed and doesn't compromise safety.
Commercial Pilots need a Class 2 Medical Certificate
Commercial pilots, who need a Class 2 Medical Certificate, fall between the requirements of Class 1 and Class 3. The standards are less stringent than for airline transport pilots but stricter than those for private pilots. Vision and hearing are still critical, although the specific thresholds may be slightly more lenient than Class 1. Cardiovascular health remains a significant concern, along with neurological disorders, mental health issues, and conditions such as epilepsy or substance-related disorders. Pilots taking certain medications, particularly those affecting cognition or coordination, may face disqualification unless they can demonstrate safe management of their condition through the "Special Issuance" process. Additional scrutiny is often placed on conditions like diabetes, which must be well-controlled without posing risks to flight safety. While the requirements are more forgiving than those for Class 1, Class 2 still demands thorough medical evaluation to ensure safety in commercial flying.
Private Pilots need a Class 3 Medical Certificate
The health requirements are less rigorous than Class 1 but still require certain standards. The major concerns remain vision and hearing (but with more lenient standards), cardiovascular conditions, neurological disorders, mental health, substance-related disorders, certain medications, diabetes, and unexplained losses of consciousness. Like with Class 1, many conditions that might seem disqualifying can be addressed with additional testing, evaluations, or a "Special Issuance" process.
For more details read our detailed article about FAA Medical Certificates and if you a veteran with a VA disability, check our guide to FAA medical and VA Disability questions to learn about disqualifying medical conditions the special issuance process for disabled veterans.