Gateway Aeromedical

What Happens After You Take the FAA Medical Exam?

Upon completion of the FAA medical exam, the AME will make one of the following three determinations:

- Approved – If all of your documentation is in order and the examiner deems you medically fit, you will be issued a medical certificate based upon the class for which you applied. This means you can start flight training if you’re a new aspiring pilot, or keep flying if this exam was for a renewal certificate.

- Denied – If the examiner finds you don’t meet the medical requirements of the class you’re testing for, they can deny your application. You are still allowed to appeal to the FAA, however, so a denial doesn’t necessarily mean you’re cut off from flying for good.

- Deferred – If the AME finds something questionable during the exam, they can defer your application. This may allow you to make changes which could result in an approval later on. For example, if you currently take a medication that’s NOT approved for flying but change to one that IS, you may be able to reschedule the exam at a later date and be approved for a medical certificate then.