AME Search
The easy way to find an Aviation Medical Examiner near you!
What are the classes of flight physicals?
There are three different classes of FAA Medical Certificates:
- First Class - Needed for operations requiring Airline Transport certificate. This medical certificate is good for 12 calendar months if under the age of 40 and only 6 calendar months if over the age of 40.
- Second Class - Needed for operations requiring Commercial certificate. This medical certificate is good for 12 calendar months.
- Third Class - All other pilots (student, private, CFIs). This medical is good for 60 calendar months if you are under the age of 40 and only 24 calendar months if you are over the age of 40.
How many Aviation Medical Examiners are there in the US?
There are ~2,100 Aviation Medical Examiners in the US. They are designees of the FAA and must be licensed physicians. Not all AMEs can issue a 1st Class Medical. A senior Aviation Medical Examiner can perform 1st class medicals, but a three-year period must pass before an AME can request to become a Senior AME. Flight physicals are a small part of most AME’s practice. The FAA only requires 10 exams per year to maintain AME status.
There are ~200 Human Intervention and Motivational Study (HIMS) AMEs in the US. If you have a mental health issue or substance abuse problem, you may need to see a HIMS AME.
Which AME should I pick?
You should find an Aviation Medical Examiner near you that has a passion for aviation. An experienced AME, who follows proper procedures, can save you problems down the road. You may even need to go beyond your immediate area to find someone with the experience you need. Leaving reviews on our website can help people find the best AME.