How to get an FAA medical certificate

An FAA medical certificate is a doctor's confirmation you're fit to fly. You don't need it for lessons — you do need it before you solo. Here's the whole process.

The steps

• •1. Fill out FAA MedXPress online (medxpress.faa.gov). Be complete and honest — you'll get a confirmation number.
• •2. Find an AME — an Aviation Medical Examiner, a regular doctor certified by the FAA. The FAA's "Find an AME" tool lists ones near you; your instructor will also know the local favorites.
• •3. Book the exam and bring your MedXPress number, ID, and any records your history calls for (see our guide on medical delays).
• •4. The exam itself is basic: vision, hearing, blood pressure, a health-history review. For most students it's 30–45 minutes, and you leave holding a third-class certificate.

Cost and timing

Expect roughly $100–$200, paid to the AME. If your history is clean, same-day issuance is the norm. If something needs FAA review, the AME defers it — which is exactly why going early beats going the week before your solo.

Once you have it, add the class and exam date to your Vector61 profile — the app computes the expiry and warns you before it lapses.