What will fail an FAA medical exam?

The FAA will deny medical certification if a pilot has one of the following medical conditions (However, if you do have one or more of these conditions, you may still be eligible for an FAA special issuance medical certificate.): (1) Severe personality disorder. (2) Psychosis. (3) A bipolar disorder.



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What the AME May Look at During Your FAA Medical Exam: Eyesight – Your near, intermediate, peripheral, far, and color vision will be tested. Hearing – According to FAA regulations, you must be able to acceptably understand speech and be able to hear a conversational voice in a quiet room at a distance of 6 feet away.

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If you ever need to submit medical records to the FAA, they will review everything you give them. Many pilots have waited months or years for their medical certificates because each new record they provide to justify their medical certificate eligibility reveals another ailment they did not disclose before.

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But the mental health assessment is limited to the observations of the AME and the pilot's self-report on their medical questionnaire. If the FAA is not aware of concerns about a U.S. pilot's safety to fly, then they cannot mandate access to information.

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Can Pilots Take Antidepressants?
  • The SSRI pathway only allows consideration for pilots who take one of four SSRIS: fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), or sertraline (Zoloft). ...
  • Other antidepressants do not have a Special Issuance pathway.


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Your FAA medical exam will generally take about 30 minutes and the medical examiner will do a physical examination checking areas such as your eyesight, hearing, lung function and others.

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Airman applicants with a BMI of 40 or more will have to be evaluated by a physician who is a board certified sleep specialist, and anyone who is diagnosed with OSA will have to be treated before they can be medically certificated.

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Criminal Background Check Required
  • Aircraft piracy.
  • Aircraft piracy outside the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
  • Armed robbery.
  • Assault with intent to murder.
  • Carrying a weapon or explosive aboard an aircraft.
  • Commission of certain crimes aboard aircraft in flight.
  • Conveying false information and threats.


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Sleep apnea has significant safety implications due to cognitive impairment secondary to the lack of restorative sleep and is disqualifying for airman medical certification. The condition is part of a group of sleep disorders with varied etiologies.

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Due to the risks to flight safety posed by ADHD, regulatory authorities worldwide consider ADHD a disqualifying condition for pilots.

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An Examiner's denial of a medical certificate is not a final FAA denial. An applicant may ask for reconsideration of an Examiner's denial by submitting a request in writing to: Federal Aviation Administration. Aerospace Medical Certification Division.

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What medical conditions does FAA consider disqualifying?
  • Angina pectoris.
  • Bipolar disease.
  • Cardiac valve replacement.
  • Coronary heart disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant.
  • Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medications.


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Most people with pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions are able to fly on a commercial aircraft without difficulty. 'Fear of flying' courses run by the major airlines may be helpful for some.

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