Arthritis Checklist: FAA AME Guide Arthritis Worksheet

Page Contents
Subtitle
Musculoskeletal: Arthritis Checklist
FAA Form 8500-8 Entry Number
43
(Item Number on MedXPress Medical Application)
FlightPhysical.com Abbreviated Briefing

Even if you have Arthritis (Joint Pain / Inflammation), you might still eventually pass an FAA Flight Physical and be eligible for Airman Medical Certification if you meet these 6 criteria:

  • Condition is Stable
  • Mild to Moderate symptoms without significant limitations
  • Your arthritis is 1 of these types:
    • Rheumatoid
    • Psoriatic, or
    • Osteoarthritis
  • Medications used to treat the condition are on the acceptable list
  • Normal Blood Tests within 90 days (CBC, LFTs, Creatinine)
  • If Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) is used, must have separate, normal eye evaluation
Content

The AME must review a current status report by the treating physician and any supporting documents to determine the applicant's eligibility for certification. If the applicant meets ALL the acceptable certification criteria listed below, the Examiner can issue. Applicants for first- or second- class must provide this information annually; applicants for third-class must provide the information with each required exam.

Arthritis Checklist

Derived from FAA Arthritis Worksheet, 2014 AME Guide, page 114

AME MUST REVIEW

ACCEPTABLE CERTIFICATION CRITERIA

Treating physician finds the condition stable on current regimen and no changes recommended

[ ] Yes

Symptoms

[ ] None or mild to moderate symptoms with no significant limitations to range of motion, lifestyle, or activities

Cause of Arthritis

Acceptable causes are limited to:

[ ] Rheumatoid (limited to joint no systemic disease), psoriatic, or osteoarthritis

Acceptable Medications

[ ] One or more of the following:

  • Oral steroid which does not exceed equivalent of prednisone 20 mg/day (see steroid conversion calculator),
  • Methotrexate,
  • hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil - see mandatory eye evaluation requirement below),
  • NSAIDS

Complete blood count (CBC) and complete metabolic panel

[ ] Within 90 days

[ ] Normal CBC, Liver Function Test, and Creatinine

FAA Report of Eye Evaluation

FAA Form 8500-7 is required if hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is used.

[ ] 8500-7 Favorable and no concerns (or)

[ ]N/A (ie, not on Plaquenil)

AME MUST NOTE in Item 60: AME Comments on History and Findings one of the following:

[ ] Airman meets certification criteria for arthritis.
[ ] Airman had a previous Special Issuance for this condition and now meets the regular issuance certification criteria for arthritis.
[ ] Airman does NOT meet certification criteria for arthritis. I have deferred this exam. (Mail the supporting documents to FAA identifying which criteria were not met.)