Airman Medical Certification System Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do with the hard copy of the exam?
If the airman completes an application using FAA’s MedXPress and provides you with a confirmation number, you should import the application and submit the exam using AMCS. The applicant will not need to sign an 8500-8 form because MedXPress captures an electronic signature. When you import the application and successfully transmit it to AMCD, you have captured that electronic signature. If you successfully complete that process, you do not need to send any portion of the hard copy.
If, for some reason, you are unable to import the MedXPress application, you may accept the MedXPress summary sheet as long as the applicant signs it in your office.
You may also accept a “TurboMedical” application. TurboMedicals are available to applicants using the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) website. The applicant should sign the TurboMedical in your office and it should be attached to an FAA 8500-8 form.
If an airman fills out the paper 8500-8 form in your office, submits a summary sheet from FAA’s MedXPress (because you were unable or unwilling to import), or submits a “TurboMedical”, the original is to be submitted to the AMCD. In cases of falsification by the airman, this procedure will usually obviate the necessity of asking an AME to testify in a National Transportation Safety Board hearing. Also, since the Privacy Act imposes certain responsibilities regarding the maintenance of original records, sending these forms to the AMCD will relieve the AME of those responsibilities and reduce the liability of both the AME and the FAA for possible mishandling of records. Therefore, the appropriate process for dealing with the Form 8500-8 is as follows:
- The applicant completes the front side of the form and signs.
- The AME and staff conduct the examination. While it is not mandatory that the results of the examination be entered on the backside of Form 8500-8, you will need to record the data for later use.
- The examination is completed, the certificate is issued (assuming the airman is qualified), and the examination data is immediately transmitted to the AMCD – or, as an alternative, and the data is later transmitted to the AMCD.
- The AME copy of the 8500-8 forms is placed in a file.
- The originals are marked "TRANS" (for transmitted) and are mailed to the AMCD.
- Deferred medical certificates need to be mailed as soon as possible.
- Airman files with no pathology can be sent every two weeks.
