Important information about the impact COVID-19 on the enforcement of expiring medical certificates
Recent events regarding the COVID pandemic have led to significant access problems to Aviation Medical Examiners and other medical specialists. In response, the FAA has issued a comprehensive policy via the Federal Register that covers COVID-related regulatory relief. This Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR 118-1) grants relief to medical certificate privileges that expire from March 31, 2020 through August 31, 2020. This relief extends medical certificates for a maximum of three (3) additional months or until September 30, 2020, whichever occurs sooner. The SFAR does not modify the requirements of §61.53 regarding prohibition on operations during medical deficiency. The specific language for the SFAR can be found at the Federal Register.
If you are able, we continue to encourage airmen to accomplish their regularly required airman medical certificate exam with an FAA AME.
The Office of Aerospace Medicine will publish any updated or new, approved medical certificate alternatives and/or certificate extensions as soon as those processes are approved and available.
If you have been asked to provide additional medical information and your treating physician or other clinician is unable to assist at the current time due to COVID, we can provide a one-time extension upon your request.
We continue to work with senior leadership and subject matter experts within the FAA and the Department of Transportation to craft interim medical certificate solutions during the COVID pandemic. Thank you for continuing to assist our airman.
Medical Certificates
- Contact the Aerospace Medical Certification Division
- How to obtain a Medical Certificate
- FAA MedXPress (online FAA Form 8500-8 application)
- Pilot Information - Over-the-Counter Medications
- Questions and Answers
- Request a Copy of Your Medical Certificate
- Locate an AME
- Locate a HIMS (Human Intervention Motivation Study) AME: MS Word, PDF
HIMS AMEs are trained in evaluating airmen for substance- or alcohol-related conditions or other mental conditions. HIMS AMEs can provide sponsorship and monitoring for such conditions when required by the FAA for medical certification purposes.
Requesting Medical Records
To protect your identity and the release of the correct records, completion of the Medical Records Request Form (PDF) is required to release your medical records. Please mail or fax your completed Request for Airman Medical Records form to:
Federal Aviation Administration
Aerospace Medical Certification Division / AAM-331
CAMI, Building 13
P.O. Box 25082
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-9867
The fax number is (405) 954-9326.
Aviation Medical Examiners
- Aviation Medical Examiner Home Page
- Aerospace Medical Certification Subsystem (AMCS) Online Support
- Aviation Medical Examiner Training
- Federal Air Surgeon's Medical Bulletin
- Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners
- Regional Flight Surgeon Contact Information
- When Your Pilots Use MedXPress …
Drug and Alcohol Program
Health & Fitness of Pilots
BasicMed
MedXPress Information for the Pilot
FAA MedXPress is a web application pilots must use to submit their certification applicant information (Items 1 through 20) of the FAA Form 8500-8. Pilots need only a valid email address to create a MedXPress account to use FAA MedXPress. MedXPress is designed to expedite the processing of a pilot's request for certification and shorten the pilot's office visit with the AME.
- MedXPress User Guide (PDF)
- FAA MedXPress (use to complete FAA Form 8500-8)