Overview of MedXPress - Pilot Medical Application for Aviation Medical Certification FAA 8500-8

Page Contents
Subtitle
Applicants will Enter Values through FAA's MedXPress
Description
This Page is an Instructional Index to FAA MedXPress Pilot Medical Application for Aviation Medical Certification FAA 8500-8
FlightPhysical.com Abbreviated Briefing

Warning: Do Not Start this Process Unless Prepared to Consent to the National Driver Register through a designated State Department of Motor Vehicles, to furnish to the FAA information pertaining to my driving record. This consent constitutes authorization for a single access to the information contained in the NDR to verify information provided in this application. Upon your MedXPress Application Submission, the FAA shall make the information received from the NDR, if any, available for my review and written comment. Authority: 23 U.S. Code 401.

FAA MedXPress allows applicants to complete and submit their FAA Form 8500-8 on- line. FAA MedXPress securely transmits the completed form and makes it available to a designated AME to review at the time of the applicant’s medical examination.

  • Sample Medical Application -- Know what to Expect
  • Errors may have Legal Ramifications
  • Study Instructions for MedXPress by Item Number
  • Use as Review prior to actual FAA Airman Medical Application
  • This is the First Section (Items 1 - 20) of the FAA Form 8500-8
  • This is the Pilot Entered Portion (Medical History)
  • The other portions of the Form (items 21-64) are for the AME
Content

FAA MedXPress is managed by the Office of Aerospace Medicine (OAM). OAM is responsible fora broad range of medical programs and services both the domestic and international aviation communities. Services provided by the OAM include:

  • Medical clearance of air traffic control specialist and other FAA employees required to meet medical standards to perform safety-sensitive duties
  • Pilot medical certification

As such, OAM has the responsibility for collecting and maintaining any information related to themedical conditions of pilots and certain covered positions within the FAA.

All airmen, air traffic controllers (ATCs) and certain other designated FAA employees are required to have FAA Medical Certificates or Clearance. The process of applying for an FAA Medical Certificate or Clearance requires completion of the OMB- approved, FAA Medical History Form 8500-8, and performance of a medical examination of the applicant by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). The AME is a private physician who is approved by the FAA to perform this function.

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- FlightPhysical.com Notice -

Below is a practice form for review and information in advance of the complex process of completing your FAA Form 8500-8 through MedXPress in advance of your AME appointment for your flight physical. This is a simulated form intended to reflect the content and spirit of the actual FAA form as closely as possible. Nothing on this page will be transmitted anywhere--instructions are for pilot applicant understanding prior to submitting the actual FAA Form 8500-8 which will be irrevocable except through your actual AME. When ready, you must proceed to the real FAA MedXpress Form prior to your actual FlightPhysical with an AME.

- FAA Warning -
(This is a practice form - no fines or imprisonment at FlightPhysical.com)

Whoever in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or who makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or entry, may be fined up to $250,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both" (Title 18 U.S. Code. Secs. 1001; 3571).

The Step-By-Step Form 8500-8 is a wizard-based format that breaks the form into smaller sections with the ability to save and quickly navigate through different sections.

The FAA Form 8500-8 is broken down into the following sections

-- General (Items 1 - 2)

-- Demographics (Items 3 - 9)

-- Prior Certification (Items 10 - 16)

-- Medication (Items 17a and 17b)

-- Medical History (Item 18)

-- Medical Visits (Item 19)

-- Declarations (Item 20)

1. Application For (Specify Which Type):   Airman Medical Cert. Airman Medical & Student Pilot Cert.
2. Class of Medical Cert.: 1st2nd3rd
3. Last Name:   First Name:   Middle Name:   Suffix: 
4. SSN:    International/Declined to Submit (An SSN will be generated by the system)
5. Address: City:
 State: Country:  Zip Code:
 Telephone Number:
6. Date of Birth: Citizenship:
7. Hair Color:
8. Eye Color:
9. Sex:MaleFemale
10. Type of Airman Certificate(s) You Hold:
None
Airline Transport
Commercial
ATC Specialist
Flight Engineer
Flight Navigator
Flight Instructor
Private
Student
Recreational
Other  
11. Occupation:
12. Employer:
13. Has Your FAA Airman Medical Certificate Ever Been Denied, Suspended, or Revoked? Yes No    If yes, give date:
14. Total Pilot Time To Date: (Civilian Only)
15. Total Pilot Time Past 6 months: (Civilian Only)
16. Date of Last FAA Medical Application:   No Prior Application

17.a. Do You Currently Use Any Medication (Prescription or Nonprescription)?   YesNo 

Medication Name* : 
Med Name required, other fields optional
Dosage:      
Dosage Unit:  
Frequency:  


Sequentially enter medications clicking "Add" button for each
Continue Until Your List is Complete.
These actions will generate a reviewable table similar to the example below:

(Reminder Practice Only - Entries do not Go anywhere)

This is what the MedXPress Medical Entry Table will look like
MedicationDosage AmountDosage UnitFrequencyPreviously Reported 
IBUPROFEN200mgAs NeededYDelete
LOSARTAN25mgDailyYDelete
--- ETC --- (Keep Adding Until All Your Meds Are Listed)
17.b. Do You Ever Use Near Vision Contact Lens(es) While Flying?  Yes  No
18. Medical History - HAVE YOU EVER IN YOUR LIFE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH, HAD, OR DO YOU PRESENTLY HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING? Answer "yes" or "no" for every condition listed below (All "yes" answers require a comment. For each "yes" you will then need to click "Add Comments" that appears to add or edit a comment).
18. a   Yes  No Frequent or severe headaches
18. b   Yes  NoDizziness or fainting spell
18. c   Yes  NoUnconsciousness for any reason
18. d   Yes  NoEye or vision trouble except glasses
18. e   Yes  NoHay fever or allergy
18. f   Yes  NoAsthma or lung disease
18. g   Yes  NoHeart or vascular trouble
18. h   Yes  NoHigh or low blood pressure
18. i   Yes  NoStomach, liver, or intestinal trouble
18. j   Yes  NoKidney stone or blood in urine
18. k   Yes  NoDiabetes
18. l   Yes  NoNeurological disorders: epilepsy, seizures, stroke, paralysis, etc.
18.m   Yes  NoMental disorders of any sort: depression, anxiety, etc.
18. n   Yes  NoSubstance dependence or failed a drug test ever; or substance abuse or use of illegal substance in the last 2 years.
18. o   Yes  NoAlcohol dependence or abuse
18. p     Yes  NoSuicide attempt
18.q   Yes  NoMotion sickness requiring medication
18. r   Yes  NoMilitary medical discharge
18.s   Yes  NoMedical rejection by military service
18. t   Yes  NoRejection for life or health insurance
18.u   Yes  NoAdmission to hospital
18. v   Yes  NoHistory of (1) any arrest(s) and/or conviction(s) involving driving while intoxicated by, while impaired by, or while under the influence of alcohol or a drug; or (2) history of any arrest(s), and/or conviction(s), and/or administrative action(s) involving an offense(s) which resulted in the denial, suspension, cancellation, or revocation of driving privileges or which resulted in attendance at an educational or a rehabilitation program.
18.w   Yes  NoHistory of nontraffic conviction(s) (misdemeanors or felonies).
18. x   Yes  NoOther illness, disability, or surgery
18.y   Yes  NoMedical disability benefits
19. Have you visited any health professionals within the last 3 years?: YesNo
20. Applicant's National Driver Register and Certifying Declarations:
I hereby authorize the National Driver Register (NDR), through a designated State Department of Motor Vehicles, to furnish to the FAA information pertaining to my driving record. This consent constitutes authorization for a single access to the information contained in the NDR to verify information provided in this application. Upon my request, the FAA shall make the information received from the NDR, if any, available for my review and written comment. Authority: 23 U.S. Code 401, Note.

      NOTE:   ALL persons using this form must sign it. NDR consent, however, does not apply unless this form is used as an
      application for Medical Certificate or Medical Certificate and Student Pilot Certificate.

I hereby certify that all statements and answers provided by me on this application form are complete and true to the best of my knowledge, and I agree that they are to be considered part of the basis for issuance of any FAA certificate to me. I have also read and understand the Privacy Act statement that accompanies this form.
  YesNo

- Save and Review Options -

You can save or review your application here but it is not complete until you enter your password and press the "Submit" button at the bottom of this page.

I'm not done yet. Save my application so I can finish it later.

FlightPhysical.com note: This preserves your work without officially submitting form.

Show me any errors I have made on my application.

FlightPhysical.com note: This button also saves your work and in addition will attempt to validate your entries against FAA algorithms (without submitting)

.

- Final Submission and Password Step -

I understand that by entering my password, I certify that I agree with the National Driver Register and Certifying Declarations. I further understand that I will not be able to change my application after I submit the information (only your AME will be able to change the application at the time of the physical exam).
I'm done. Send my application to the FAA. Password:  

FlightPhysical's Staff Take Home Message

- FlightPhysical.com Reminder -

The above example was a practice form to faciliate review and for your information only. This is a simulated form meant to reflect the content and spirit of the actual FAA form as closely as possible. Material is reproduced as accurately as possible to allow applicants to prepare for actual application with advanced understanding of these complex requirements. Nothing on this page will be transmitted anywhere--instructions are for pilot applicant understanding prior to submitting the actual FAA Form 8500-8 which will be irrevocable except through your actual AME. When ready, you must proceed to the real FAA MedXpress Form prior to your actual FlightPhysical with an AME.

- FAA Warning -
(The above was a practice form - no fines or imprisonment at FlightPhysical.com)

The FAA Warns: Whoever in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or who makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or entry, may be fined up to $250,000 or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both" (Title 18 U.S. Code. Secs. 1001; 3571).

If you're tired of all of this talk about jail and fraud and are done with e-copies for today, you can see the paper version of the FAA Form 8500-8 from 2008. Of course, you'll still have to come back later and submit electronically through MedXpress, but as of 2026, most of the item numbers and content still match. Some pilots find the paper version a useful reference.

Sources
MedXPress User Guide | Version 5.5 | June 2025