Medical certificates for CPL and ATPL holders
If you hold a CPL or an ATPL, your licence will only be valid if you hold a Class 1 EASA medical
certificate. You also need a Class 1 EASA medical certificate in order to train for a CPL or an
ATPL.
Only one EASA medical certificate can be held at any one time and you can only apply for a
licence from the aviation authority in the EASA member state that holds your medical records.
Apply for a medical certificate
You will require a medical examination by a doctor specialising in aviation medicine. If you are
aware of any personal or family medical history it would be prudent to mention this at the time of
booking your medical and they can then advise whether you will need to bring along additional
information/reports to the examination.
Download our flow chart: Guidance for Applicants for Initial Medical
Certificates in the UK (pdf)
The first step in the process is to contact an Aeromedical Centre (see below), which will be
able to provide you with personal updates as the process goes on.
Medical examination at an Aeromedical Centre
If you do not already hold a medical certificate, you must contact an Aeromedical Centre in
order to undergo a medical examination. Aeromedical Centres are specially approved medical
facilities authorised to issue EASA medical certificates for pilots.
The examination and required tests take approximately half a day and appointments can be made
directly through the AeMC. There are set charges for all examinations and tests.
Find an AeMC
All current AeMCs are listed below.
What to take with you
If you wear glasses or contact lenses you must bring your most recent optician’s report along to
the examination.
Your AeMC will be able to help you with any additional individual preparations you need to make
before your appointment.
What to expect at your examination
You will need to complete the medical certificate application form. This is a signed declaration
containing the following:
- Facts about your medical history
- Whether you have had a medical examination before, by whom and the result
- Whether you have ever been assessed as unfit or had a medical certificate suspended or
revoked
Download a blank medical certificate application
form
You may be asked to complete the form in advance of your appointment.
A medical examination at an AeMC may take up to 4 hours. The examination will include the
following:
- Medical history
- Eyesight
- Physical examination
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Lung function test
- Haemoglobin blood test
- Urine test
More detailed information on the examination
Certificate issue
A medical certificate can be issued on the same day as the examination if all the requirements are
met.
However, if the requirements are not met or further investigations are necessary then a
decision on your fitness for a medical certificate will take longer.
Validity period
A Class 1 medical certificate is valid for 12 months, unless you are 40 or over and carry out
single pilot commercial air transport operations carrying passengers; or you are over 60. In both
cases, it is 6 months.