General Information
Who May Be Certified
Age RequirementsThere is no age restriction or aviation experience requirements for medical certification. Any applicant who qualifies medically may be issued a Medical Certificate, FAA Form 8500-9 (white), regardless of age. Examiners also have been delegated authority to issue the combined Medical Certificate and Student Pilot Certificate, FAA Form 8420-2 (yellow), which is age restricted because it is an airman medical and student pilot certificate (student license and medical certificate).
For issuance of the combined "Medical Certificate and Student Pilot Certificate," the applicant must have reached his or her 16th birthday. If the applicant has not reached age 16 before the examination date, see Item 6. Date of Birth for alternate procedures.
Minimum age requirements for the various airman certificates (i.e., pilot license certificates) are defined in 14 CFR part 61, Certification: Pilots and Flight Instructors, and Ground Inspectors as follows:
- Airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate: 23 years
- Commercial pilot certificate: 18 years
- Private pilot certificate: powered aircraft - 17 years;
- Private pilot certificate: gliders and balloons - 16 years;
- Student pilot certificate: powered aircraft - 16 years;
- Student pilot certificate: gliders and balloons - 14 years
An applicant for an Airman Medical and Student Pilot Certificate must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
If the AME believes that an applicant applying for a Medical Certificate and Student Pilot Certificate, FAA Form 8420-2 (yellow), cannot read, speak, write, and understand the English language, the applicant shall be referred to the nearest Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) for a determination of eligibility for the Student Pilot Certificate.
Under these circumstances, the AME may issue only a Medical Certificate, FAA Form 8500-9 (white), and the applicant must present that certificate to the FSDO when applying for a Student Pilot Certificate.