FAA Aviation Medical Certificate Requirements
Who Must Be Certified?
Pilot Medical Information: Who Must Hold an FAA Pilot Medical Certificate
Pilots must hold a current Medical Certificate when exercising the privileges of any of the following certificates:
- Airline transport pilot
- Commercial pilot
- Private pilot
- Recreational pilot
- Flight instructor (when acting as pilot in command if serving as a required pilot flight crewmember)
- Flight engineer
- Flight navigator
- Student pilot
- Civilian Tower Controllers*
*Except for a person employed by the FAA, a branch of the military services or the Coast Guard, a person acting as an air traffic control tower operator also must hold a medical certificate.