How Long Is an FAA Third-Class Medical Certificate Good For?
An FAA third-class medical certificate is generally valid for 60 calendar months for pilots who were under 40 on the examination date and 24 calendar months for pilots who were 40 or older. The expiration date falls on the last day of the applicable month, not necessarily the anniversary of the medical exam. Knowing how the FAA counts those months helps pilots plan renewals and understand which flying privileges remain available afterward.
How Long a Third-Class Medical Certificate Lasts
For most pilots, the length of a third-class medical certificate depends on the pilot’s age on the date of the medical examination. Under federal regulations, the certificate generally remains valid for the applicable period after the month in which the exam took place.
| Age on examination date | General validity period | How the expiration date is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40 | 60 calendar months | Through the last day of the month 60 months after the examination month |
| 40 or older | 24 calendar months | Through the last day of the month 24 months after the examination month |
For example, if a pilot under 40 completes the medical examination in April, the certificate generally remains valid through April 30 five years later. If a pilot who is 40 or older has an examination in April, the certificate generally remains valid through April 30 two years later.
These are general validity periods under 14 CFR § 61.23. A certificate may have a different expiration date or operating conditions if the FAA issues it with a special limitation, or if the FAA takes action affecting its validity. Pilots should read the certificate and any attached instructions rather than relying on a general rule alone.
What “Calendar Months” Means
“Calendar months” means the FAA calculates the period by month, rather than by counting a fixed number of days from the appointment. The certificate generally remains valid through the last day of the month in which its validity period ends. The day of the month on which the medical examination occurred does not normally become the expiration day.
This detail can matter when a pilot schedules an exam near the beginning or end of a month. The FAA’s rules use the month of examination as the starting point for the calculation, so checking the printed expiration date and the applicable regulation is more reliable than estimating from the exact appointment date.
A pilot’s age is assessed on the examination date for this calculation. Turning 40 during the certificate’s validity period does not, by itself, change a certificate that was issued under the under-40 duration. Conversely, a pilot who is already 40 on the examination date generally receives the 24-calendar-month duration for third-class privileges.
What a Third-Class Medical Certificate Allows
A third-class medical certificate is commonly associated with private pilot flying and certain recreational pilot privileges. It indicates that the FAA’s medical certification requirements for the applicable privileges have been met, subject to any restrictions or special issuance conditions on the certificate.
Medical certification is only one part of being legally able to fly. A pilot must also hold the appropriate pilot certificate and ratings, meet recency and currency requirements, follow aircraft and operating rules, and comply with any conditions attached to the medical. A valid medical certificate does not replace those requirements.
The medical class needed depends on the privileges being exercised. A higher-class medical may be required for some commercial or airline transport operations. A pilot should confirm which medical standard applies to the intended flight instead of assuming that a third-class certificate covers every kind of flying.
What Happens When the Certificate Expires?
When a third-class medical certificate reaches its expiration date, the pilot generally may no longer use it to exercise privileges that require a valid third-class medical. The effect is not necessarily that the pilot certificate itself expires. Rather, the pilot may be unable to act as pilot in command for a flight that requires current medical qualification unless another legal pathway applies.
Whether the pilot can continue flying depends on the planned operation and the rules that apply. Some pilots may qualify to fly under BasicMed, and some sport pilot operations may be conducted under different medical eligibility rules. These options have their own conditions and limits; an expired third-class certificate does not automatically make a pilot eligible for them.
For example, BasicMed is not simply an extension of an expired medical certificate. It has eligibility requirements, including prior FAA medical certification history, a medical examination by a state-licensed physician, completion of an approved online course, and compliance with operating limitations. The FAA explains the requirements on its BasicMed information page.
Sport pilot rules may permit certain operations without holding an FAA medical certificate, but pilots must meet the applicable eligibility requirements and must not know or have reason to know of a medical condition that makes them unsafe to operate an aircraft. The aircraft, operating privileges, and other restrictions also matter. The FAA’s current guidance should be checked before relying on this option.
Renewing a Third-Class Medical Certificate
Pilots seeking a new medical certificate generally arrange an examination with an FAA-designated aviation medical examiner (AME). The FAA’s AME locator helps applicants find an examiner. The FAA MedXPress system is used to complete the medical application before the examination; applicants should follow the current FAA instructions for submitting the form and attending the appointment.
Preparation can help avoid delays. Applicants should have accurate information about medications, medical diagnoses, prior FAA medical applications, and relevant treatment. They should answer the application truthfully and provide records if requested. A medical examiner may issue a certificate, defer the application to the FAA for further review, or deny it, depending on the circumstances and applicable standards.
Pilots with a complicated medical history may benefit from gathering records and reviewing FAA guidance before the exam. A deferral is not the same as a final denial, but it can require additional documentation and time. Scheduling well before a certificate expires can reduce the chance that a pending review disrupts planned flying.
Some certificates are issued under special issuance authority or with limitations. In those cases, the FAA may require follow-up evaluations, testing, or reports to maintain eligibility. The certificate’s printed terms and FAA correspondence take precedence over the standard 60- or 24-month rule.
How Different Medical Classes Compare
The FAA issues first-, second-, and third-class medical certificates for different levels of pilot privileges. A third-class medical is not interchangeable with a higher class when an operation requires the higher standard. The certificate’s duration also depends on both the class and the privileges being exercised, so pilots should check the relevant subsection of § 61.23.
| Medical class | Common association | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| First class | Airline transport pilot privileges | Validity for ATP privileges has age-based rules; after that period, a certificate may retain lower-class privileges for a period if the regulation allows. |
| Second class | Commercial pilot privileges | Required for certain commercial operations; the applicable duration depends on the privileges exercised. |
| Third class | Private and some recreational pilot privileges | Generally 60 calendar months if under 40 at the exam, or 24 if age 40 or older. |
Because higher-class certificates can continue to support lower-class privileges for specified periods, a certificate’s printed class alone may not tell the whole story. The pilot must apply the age, examination date, privilege, and duration rules in the regulation to the flight in question.
Common Questions About Third-Class Medical Expiration
Does the certificate expire on the anniversary of the exam?
Usually not. The FAA calculates validity in calendar months and generally sets the end date at the last day of the applicable month. A pilot should use the expiration date shown on the certificate and verify it against FAA rules if anything is unclear.
Does turning 40 shorten an existing certificate?
Generally, no. The relevant age for the standard third-class duration is the pilot’s age on the examination date. Turning 40 later does not ordinarily change the expiration date of a certificate issued when the pilot was under 40.
Can a pilot fly after the medical expires?
Not for an operation that requires a current third-class medical, unless another legal qualification applies. BasicMed or sport pilot medical rules may be options for some pilots, but eligibility and operating limits must be checked carefully before flying.
Does an expired medical invalidate a pilot certificate?
No. A pilot certificate and a medical certificate are separate credentials. The pilot certificate does not generally expire merely because the medical does, but the pilot may not exercise privileges that require a current medical until the applicable requirement is met.
How to Verify a Certificate’s Validity
Before flying, a pilot can check the certificate’s printed expiration date, review any limitations or special issuance instructions, and confirm the medical requirement for the intended operation under 14 CFR § 61.23. If a certificate has unusual wording or the pilot’s circumstances do not fit the standard age-based rules, the FAA or an aviation medical examiner can provide guidance.
Medical rules can be fact-specific, and FAA guidance and regulations may be updated. For a decision involving a pending application, a medical condition, or a special issuance, pilots should consult the FAA’s current materials and qualified aviation medical professionals rather than relying solely on a general expiration calculation.