Apply for a Class 1 medical certificate

Medical certificates for Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL) and Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) holders

If you hold a CPL or an ATPL, your licence will only be valid if you hold a Class 1 UK medical certificate. You also need a Class 1 UK medical certificate to train for a CPL or an ATPL.

Apply for a medical certificate

You will require a medical examination by an AME (Aeromedical Examiner) a doctor specialising in aviation medicine and certificated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to perform aviation medicals.

If you are aware of any personal or family medical history, we would recommend you mention this at the time of booking your medical. You will then be advised whether you will need to bring along additional information/reports to the examination.

There is further guidance available for applicants for Initial Medical Certificates in the UK.

The first step in the process is to contact an Aeromedical Centre (AeMC) on this page, which will be able to provide you with personal updates as the process goes on.

Medical examination at an AeMC

If you do not already hold a Class 1 UK medical certificate, you must contact an AeMC to undergo an Initial medical examination. AeMCs are specially approved medical facilities authorised to issue UK medical certificates for pilots. An AeMC can also issue Initial Class 3 medical certificates for Trainee ATCOs (Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs), who are not applying to join National Air Traffic Services (NATS). NATS arrange medicals for their own recruited staff.

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 a current AeMC

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 have a customer portal to be able to log on to your Cellma Medical Record. Further guidance is available on how to register for and use Cellma.

You will need to complete the application form through your Cellma record and complete the payment before your AME will be able to undertake your medical examination. This will include 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.

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

Further guidance is available about the areas the examination will cover.

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.

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