What Is an Aviation Medical Examiner?
An Aviation Medical Examiner, usually shortened to AME, is a physician designated by the FAA to perform medical exams for pilots and issue FAA medical certificates when the applicant meets the required standards.
Reviewed against FAA guidance: July 9, 2026
What an AME does
An AME reviews the MedXPress application and medical history, performs the required examination, and records one of the permitted outcomes: issue a certificate, defer the application for FAA review, or deny it when the applicant is clearly ineligible. The FAA can review an AME’s determination.
An AME is acting as an FAA designee
During the certification examination, the AME is performing a federal designee function rather than serving only as the applicant’s treating physician. For complex conditions, medical-status reports generally need to come from the pilot’s treating provider; the AME applies FAA certification standards to that evidence.
AMEs are not all identical
All AMEs follow FAA standards, but offices differ in appointment availability, communication, pricing, medical class focus, and experience with complex cases. Some AMEs are also HIMS AMEs, which matters for certain FAA monitoring and recovery pathways.
When to call before scheduling
Call before booking if you have a medical history item, a prior FAA letter, a medication question, a special issuance, a HIMS case, or an urgent expiration date. The office may tell you what records to bring, whether a consultation is appropriate, or whether another AME is a better fit.
Related guides
Official sources
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This guide provides general educational information, not medical or legal advice. FAA requirements and medical-certification guidance can change. Confirm the current requirements for your circumstances with the FAA and an appropriately qualified AME.