Medical certificate and BasicMed reference

Medical certificate classes

The class required depends on the pilot privilege being exercised. Under 14 CFR 61.23, the period for exercising a privilege depends on the class and, for some privileges, the pilot's age on the date of the medical examination. The table above summarizes standard airline transport pilot, commercial, and private pilot privilege periods.

The age bands refer to age at examination, not age today. A higher-class medical can support lower-class privileges for their applicable periods, so the end of one privilege period does not automatically describe every privilege available. The table is not a personal validity determination. Confirm the certificate class, examination date, operation, and current regulation before relying on a period.

BasicMed has two recurring dates

BasicMed is an alternative to holding an FAA medical certificate for pilots who meet its requirements and stay within its operating conditions. It is not itself a medical certificate and does not replace every medical requirement.

Two completion items run on different cycles:

• A Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist completed with a state-licensed physician within the preceding 48 calendar months.
• An FAA-approved online medical education course completed within the preceding 24 calendar months.

These are separate dates. Completing the course does not extend the examination interval, and a recent examination does not extend the course interval. Track each completion independently and check the FAA BasicMed page for the current checklist, course information, and instructions.

What to check before relying on a period

Start with the privilege you plan to exercise, then identify the medical class that applies to that privilege. Check your age on the examination date and the certificate status and restrictions that apply to you. A short table cannot account for every certificate condition, regulatory exception, or individual medical history.

Do not treat a date printed on a certificate as a complete answer for every operation. The same certificate may support different privileges for different periods. Use the current text of 14 CFR 61.23 to check the privilege and operation, especially when moving between airline transport, commercial, and private pilot privileges.

Completion is not the same as eligibility

The recurring items are only part of BasicMed. Eligibility can also depend on medical certificate history, driver license requirements, and health-related conditions. The aircraft and operation must meet the limits in 14 CFR part 68 and 14 CFR 61.113(i). Read the current rules and FAA guidance as a whole. Do not use the two-cycle summary as a checklist for an individual pilot.

Before relying on BasicMed, verify both completion dates and the separate eligibility requirements. Then confirm the specific aircraft and proposed operation against the current rules. The operating provisions address aircraft and flight limitations, including aircraft weight, occupants, altitude, speed, and where the flight may be conducted. Do not assume that eligibility for one aircraft or operation carries over to another.

Common questions

Does the age band use my age today?

No. The age comparison in the table is based on age at the medical examination. Check the examination date and applicable privilege in 14 CFR 61.23.

Does a higher-class medical stop supporting lower privileges when the higher privilege period ends?

Not necessarily. A higher-class medical can support lower-class privileges for a different period. Verify the applicable privilege period rather than treating one date as the end of all privileges.

Does completing the BasicMed course make me eligible?

No. The course is one recurring requirement. The examination checklist, medical history, driver license requirements, and operating conditions also matter.

Is BasicMed a medical certificate?

No. BasicMed is a separate qualification pathway for operations that meet its requirements. It does not replace every FAA medical certificate requirement.

Medical fitness remains a separate responsibility

Meeting certificate requirements or BasicMed conditions does not by itself establish fitness for a particular flight. Under 14 CFR 61.53, a pilot must not act as pilot in command or in another capacity when a known medical condition or treatment makes the pilot unable to meet the applicable requirements. Questions about a condition, medication, or medical application are individual matters. Consult an Aviation Medical Examiner or the FAA rather than interpreting this summary as medical advice.

Sources and methodology

This page summarizes medical privilege periods and recurring BasicMed completion intervals. It does not determine eligibility or interpret an individual medical history. The controlling sources are the current eCFR text and FAA BasicMed guidance. Regulations and FAA materials can change, so confirm the current versions before relying on this reference.

• 14 CFR 61.23, medical certificates and BasicMed qualification
• 14 CFR 61.113(i), BasicMed operating privileges
• 14 CFR part 68, BasicMed requirements
• 14 CFR 61.53, medical prohibition
• FAA BasicMed information, course, and checklist
• FAA medical certification
• FAA Aviation Medical Examiner locator

Related tools and resources

• Pilot currency checker