---
kind: "section"
citation: "14 C.F.R. § 61.23"
title: "14"
number: "61.23"
heading: "Medical certificates: Requirement and duration."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/14/61.23"
---

# §61.23. Medical certificates: Requirement and duration.

- (a) **Operations requiring a medical certificate.** Except as provided in paragraphs [(b)](#b) and [(c)](#c) of this section, a person—
  - (1) **Must hold a first-class medical certificate—**
    - (i) When exercising the pilot-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate;
    - (ii) When exercising the second-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate in a flag or supplemental operation in [part 121](/cfr/14/part121.md) of this chapter that requires three or more pilots; or
    - (iii) When serving as a required pilot flightcrew member in an operation conducted under [part 121](/cfr/14/part121.md) of this chapter if the pilot has reached his or her 60th birthday.
  - (2) **Must hold at least a second class medical certificate when exercising—**
    - (i) Second-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate in [part 121](/cfr/14/part121.md) of this chapter (other than operations specified in [paragraph (a)(1)(ii)](#a-1-ii) of this section);
    - (ii) Privileges of a commercial pilot certificate in an aircraft other than a balloon or glider; or
    - (iii) Except as provided in [paragraph (b)(5)](#b-5) of this section, privileges of a commercial pilot certificate with a balloon class rating for compensation or hire; or
  - (3) **Must hold at least a third-class medical certificate—**
    - (i) When exercising the privileges of a private pilot certificate, recreational pilot certificate, or student pilot certificate, except when operating under the conditions and limitations set forth in [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i);
    - (ii) When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate and acting as the pilot in command or as a required flightcrew member, except when operating under the conditions and limitations set forth in [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i);
    - (iii) When taking a practical test in an aircraft for a recreational pilot, private pilot, commercial pilot, or airline transport pilot certificate, or for a flight instructor certificate, except when operating under the conditions and limitations set forth in [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i); or
    - (iv) When performing the duties as an Examiner in an aircraft when administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization, except when meeting the requirements to operate under the conditions and limitations set forth in [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i).
- (b) **Operations not requiring a medical certificate.** A person is not required to hold a medical certificate—
  - (1) **When exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking—**
    - (i) A sport pilot certificate with glider or balloon privileges; or
    - (ii) A pilot certificate with a glider category rating or balloon class rating;
  - (2) When exercising the privileges of a sport pilot certificate with privileges in a glider or balloon;
  - (3) When exercising the privileges of a pilot certificate with a glider category rating in a glider;
  - (4) When exercising the privileges of a private pilot certificate with a balloon class rating in a balloon;
  - (5) When exercising the privileges of a commercial pilot certificate with a balloon class rating in a balloon if the person is providing flight training in accordance with [§ 61.133(a)(2)(ii)](/cfr/14/61.133.md?p=a-2-ii);
  - (6) **When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with—**
    - (i) A sport pilot rating in a glider or balloon; or
    - (ii) A glider category rating;
  - (7) When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate if the person is not acting as pilot in command or serving as a required pilot flight crewmember;
  - (8) When exercising the privileges of a ground instructor certificate;
  - (9) When serving as an Examiner or check airman and administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization conducted in a glider, balloon, flight simulator, or flight training device;
  - (10) When taking a practical test or a proficiency check for a certificate, rating, authorization or operating privilege conducted in a glider, balloon, flight simulator, or flight training device;
  - (11) When a military pilot of the U.S. Armed Forces can show evidence of an up-to-date medical examination authorizing pilot flight status issued by the U.S. Armed Forces and—
    - (i) The flight does not require higher than a third-class medical certificate; and
    - (ii) The flight conducted is a domestic flight operation within U.S. airspace; or
  - (12) When exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate or higher while acting as pilot in command on a special medical flight test authorized under [part 67](/cfr/14/part67.md) of this chapter.
- (c) **Operations requiring either a medical certificate or U.S. driver's license.**
  - (1) A person must hold and possess either a medical certificate issued under [part 67](/cfr/14/part67.md) of this chapter or a U.S. driver's license when—
    - (i) Exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking sport pilot privileges in an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of [§ 61.316](/cfr/14/61.316.md) other than a glider or balloon;
    - (ii) Exercising the privileges of a sport pilot certificate in an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of [§ 61.316](/cfr/14/61.316.md) other than a glider or balloon;
    - (iii) Exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating while acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flight crewmember of an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of [§ 61.316](/cfr/14/61.316.md) other than a glider or balloon;
    - (iv) Serving as an Examiner and administering a practical test for the issuance of a sport pilot certificate in an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of [§ 61.316](/cfr/14/61.316.md) other than a glider or balloon;
    - (v) Exercising the privileges of a student, recreational or private pilot certificate if the flight is conducted under the conditions and limitations set forth in [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i);
    - (vi) Notwithstanding paragraphs [(b)(1)](#b-1), [(b)(2)](#b-2), and [(b)(6)](#b-6) of this section, exercising the privileges of sport pilot certificate at night under the conditions and limitations set forth in [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i);
    - (vii) Exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate and acting as the pilot in command or as a required flight crewmember if the flight is conducted under the conditions and limitations set forth in [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i); or
    - (viii) Serving as an Examiner and administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization if the flight is conducted under the conditions and limitations set forth in [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i).
  - (2) A person using a U.S. driver's license to meet the requirements of [paragraph (c)](#c) while exercising sport pilot privileges must—
    - (i) Comply with each restriction and limitation imposed by that person's U.S. driver's license and any judicial or administrative order applying to the operation of a motor vehicle;
    - (ii) Have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third-class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application (if the person has applied for a medical certificate);
    - (iii) Not have had his or her most recently issued medical certificate (if the person has held a medical certificate) suspended or revoked or most recent Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate withdrawn; and
    - (iv) Not know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make that person unable to operate an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of [§ 61.316](/cfr/14/61.316.md) in a safe manner.
  - (3) A person using a U.S. driver's license to meet the requirements of [paragraph (c)](#c) while operating under the conditions and limitations of [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i) must meet the following requirements—
    - (i) **The person must—**
      - (A) Comply with all medical requirements or restrictions associated with his or her U.S. driver's license;
      - (B) At any point after July 14, 2006, have held a medical certificate issued under [part 67](/cfr/14/part67.md) of this chapter;
      - (C) Complete the medical education course set forth in [§ 68.3](/cfr/14/68.3.md) of this chapter during the 24 calendar months before acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flightcrew member in an operation conducted under [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i) and retain a certification of course completion in accordance with [§ 68.3(b)(1)](/cfr/14/68.3.md?p=b-1) of this chapter;
      - (D) Receive a comprehensive medical examination from a State-licensed physician during the 48 calendar months before acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flightcrew member of an operation conducted under [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i) and that medical examination is conducted in accordance with the requirements in [part 68](/cfr/14/part68.md) of this chapter; and
      - (E) If the individual has been diagnosed with any medical condition that may impact the ability of the individual to fly, be under the care and treatment of a State-licensed physician when acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flightcrew member of an operation conducted under [§ 61.113(i)](/cfr/14/61.113.md?p=i).
    - (ii) **The most recently issued medical certificate—**
      - (A) May include an authorization for special issuance;
      - (B) May be expired; and
      - (C) **Cannot have been suspended or revoked.**
    - (iii) The most recently issued Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate cannot have been withdrawn; and
    - (iv) The most recent application for an airman medical certificate submitted to the FAA cannot have been completed and denied.
- (d) **Duration of a medical certificate.** Use the following table to determine duration for each class of medical certificate:

## Notes

### Amendments

[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40895, July 30, 1997; Amdt. 61-110, 69 FR 44864, July 27, 2004, as amended by Amdt. 61-121, 73 FR 43064, July 24, 2008; Amdt. 61-121, 73 FR 48125, Aug. 18, 2008; Amdt. 61-123, 74 FR 34234, July 15, 2009; Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42547, Aug. 21, 2009; Amdt. 61-129, 76 FR 78143, Dec. 16, 2011; Amdt. 61-129A, 77 FR 61721, Oct. 11, 2012; Amdt. 61-130, 78 FR 42372, July 15, 2013; Docket FAA-2016-9157, Amdt. 61-140, 82 FR 3164, Jan. 11, 2017; Docket FAA-2021-1040, Amdt. 61-152, 87 FR 71236, Nov. 22, 2022; Docket FAA-2021-1040; Amdt. 61-152, 87 FR 71237, Nov. 22, 2022; Docket FAA-2024-2580, Amdt. 61-158, 89 FR 90577, Nov. 18, 2024; Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 61-159, 90 FR 35212, 35218, July 24, 2025]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, 44701-44703, 44707, 44709-44711, 44729, 44903, 45102-45103, 45301-45302.

### Source

Source: Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[Docket 25910, 62 FR 16298, Apr. 4, 1997; Amdt. 61-103, 62 FR 40895, July 30, 1997; Amdt. 61-110, 69 FR 44864, July 27, 2004, as amended by Amdt. 61-121, 73 FR 43064, July 24, 2008; Amdt. 61-121, 73 FR 48125, Aug. 18, 2008; Amdt. 61-123, 74 FR 34234, July 15, 2009; Amdt. 61-124, 74 FR 42547, Aug. 21, 2009; Amdt. 61-129, 76 FR 78143, Dec. 16, 2011; Amdt. 61-129A, 77 FR 61721, Oct. 11, 2012; Amdt. 61-130, 78 FR 42372, July 15, 2013; Docket FAA-2016-9157, Amdt. 61-140, 82 FR 3164, Jan. 11, 2017; Docket FAA-2021-1040, Amdt. 61-152, 87 FR 71236, Nov. 22, 2022; Docket FAA-2021-1040; Amdt. 61-152, 87 FR 71237, Nov. 22, 2022; Docket FAA-2024-2580, Amdt. 61-158, 89 FR 90577, Nov. 18, 2024; Docket FAA-2023-1377, Amdt. 61-159, 90 FR 35212, 35218, July 24, 2025]