EASA Class 1 Medical: what it is and what to expect.
Before you can fly commercially, you need a certificate that confirms you are fit to do so. The EASA Class 1 medical is that certificate. It is the health standard that underpins every CPL, MPL and ATPL, and it is the single most important administrative step in the pilot training journey. Knowing what it involves, where to get it, and when to book it saves time, money, and a great deal of anxiety.
This page is general information only and is not medical advice. Only a qualified Aeromedical Examiner or an approved Aero-Medical Centre can assess your individual fitness for a Class 1 certificate.
12 months
Reduces to 6 months from age 60, or from age 40 for single-pilot commercial passenger operations
AeMC only
The initial certificate must be issued by an approved Aero-Medical Centre
AME or AeMC
Revalidations and renewals can later be conducted by an authorised AME or AeMC
CPL / MPL / ATPL
Needed to exercise commercial pilot privileges under EASA Part-FCL
A note on these figures: validity periods can be updated by the regulator. Always confirm current requirements with an approved Aero-Medical Centre, an Aeromedical Examiner, or your national aviation authority. SkyStudy is an independent study aid and is not affiliated with EASA or any civil aviation authority.
What the initial examination involves
The initial Class 1 is a structured clinical assessment carried out by specialist aviation medical staff. It is more thorough than the revalidation checks you will face later in your career. Here is a plain description of what the appointment typically covers, so you know what to prepare for and what to bring.
Medical history
You will be asked to provide a detailed account of your past and current health, including any medications, surgery, mental health history, and relevant family history. Being honest and thorough at this stage works in your favour, as examiners are experienced in working with disclosed conditions and putting them in context.
Eyesight
Visual acuity (with and without correction) and colour vision are both assessed. Distance and near vision are checked because both matter for cockpit work. Perfect unaided vision is not a requirement, but your corrected vision must reach the defined standard under EASA Part-MED.
Hearing
An audiogram, a formal hearing test conducted in a soundproofed environment, is part of the initial assessment. The test checks that you can hear clearly across the frequencies used in aeronautical voice communications.
Cardiovascular health
A resting ECG records the electrical activity of your heart. Blood pressure is measured, and your cardiovascular history is reviewed. For younger applicants a resting ECG is standard practice; more detailed tests may be added as you renew your certificate over a long career.
Lung function
Spirometry or a comparable breathing test measures how well your lungs work. Results are considered in the context of your age, height, and overall clinical picture rather than as a simple isolated number.
Blood, urine and general physical
Blood tests check a range of markers including blood count, liver function, and fasting glucose. A urine sample is also taken. The examiner completes a general physical examination and a mental health review as part of the same appointment.
Who needs a Class 1 and where to get it
Who needs a Class 1 and where to get it
Who needs a Class 1?
Any pilot who wants to exercise commercial pilot privileges under EASA Part-FCL needs a valid Class 1 medical certificate. That covers everyone working towards or holding a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL), a Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL), or an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL). If you are flying only on a Private Pilot Licence (PPL), the requirement is a Class 2 medical, which is a meaningfully lighter assessment. The Class 2 is still a real medical check, but the standard is less demanding than the Class 1 required for commercial operations.
In practice, if your goal is to fly for an airline, work as a commercial charter pilot, or build the licences that lead to a professional flying career, you will need a Class 1 at some point. The sensible move is to confirm early whether you can hold one, before your training budget grows large.
Where to get it
The initial Class 1 medical assessment must be carried out at an approved Aero-Medical Centre (AeMC). These are specialist clinics approved under EASA Part-MED to conduct the full initial examination. A first-ever Class 1 cannot be issued by a general practitioner or a standard occupational health provider.
Once you hold a Class 1 and it needs to be revalidated or renewed, the process becomes more flexible. Revalidations and renewals can typically be conducted either by an authorised Aeromedical Examiner (AME) or at an AeMC. Your national aviation authority publishes a list of approved AeMCs and AMEs operating in your country. Checking that list is the right first step for finding a centre near you. A starting point for authority websites is available on our official sources page.
Common concerns, answered calmly
Common concerns, answered calmly
Many aspiring pilots worry about specific health issues before they even book the assessment. Most of those worries are considerably bigger in the imagination than in the consulting room. Here are the questions that come up most often. For a wider run-through of eligibility worries, including glasses, colour vision, age and ADHD, see the can I become a pilot? guide.
“I wear glasses. Will that disqualify me?”
No, not automatically. Corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses) are permitted within defined visual acuity limits set out in EASA Part-MED. Many working airline pilots wear corrective lenses on the flight deck every day. Whether your particular prescription falls within the allowed limits is a factual question that only an Aeromedical Examiner can answer after testing your vision directly.
“I have a medical condition. Does that exclude me?”
Not necessarily. EASA Part-MED includes a framework for assessing conditions on a case-by-case basis, and many conditions that people assume are automatic disqualifiers are in fact managed through follow-up testing or operating limitations. The examiner's job is to assess your individual situation with clinical judgement, not to apply a blanket rule. Bring your medical records and be open about your history.
“What if the initial outcome is unfavourable?”
An unfavourable initial result is not always final. There are review and appeal processes available under EASA Part-MED, and a second opinion from another AeMC is sometimes sought. Your examiner will explain the outcome and what options are available to you. This is one more reason to get the assessment done early, while there is still time to explore alternatives before committing to training.
“Should I disclose every past illness?”
Yes. Aviation medical standards require honesty, and withholding relevant history can invalidate a certificate even after it has been issued. In practice, examiners deal with disclosed health histories all day and are well placed to put past conditions into proper context. Transparency is both legally required and practically in your best interest.
Validity and renewal
Validity and renewal
Validity and renewal
A Class 1 medical certificate is generally valid for 12 months. That means you will renew it regularly throughout your career. Renewal appointments are shorter than the initial assessment, and later in your career they can often be done with an authorised AME rather than requiring a return to an AeMC.
MED.A.045(a) cuts that 12 months to 6 in two separate cases. The first is age: once you reach 60, validity halves. The second is not about age alone, and it is the one pilots miss: from age 40, validity is also 6 months if you are engaged in single-pilot commercial air transport operations carrying passengers.
That second trigger needs all three conditions at once: single-pilot, commercial air transport, and passengers on board. A 40-year-old first officer in a two-crew airline flight deck still holds a 12-month certificate, and so does a single-pilot cargo operator. An air taxi or sightseeing pilot flying passengers alone does not. If you plan a career through single-pilot commercial flying, budget for two medicals a year from your fortieth birthday. These periods can be updated by the regulator, so always confirm the current rules with your AeMC, AME, or national aviation authority before assuming a particular period applies to you.
Letting a Class 1 certificate lapse removes your ability to exercise commercial privileges until renewal is complete. Most professional pilots treat the renewal date as a calendar commitment they protect just as carefully as any flight exam or licence revalidation.
The smart-order tip: go before you spend
The single most practical piece of advice in professional pilot training is this: book your initial Class 1 medical before you spend significant money on flight training. The Class 1 is the certificate your entire commercial career depends on. If something prevents you from holding it, you want to know before the invoices start, not after.
An initial Class 1 assessment costs a fraction of even one phase of flight training. Completing it first gives you a clear picture of your medical fitness while the financial stakes are still low. If the outcome is favourable, you can proceed with confidence. If further assessment is needed, you have time and options to explore. Either way, you are making a better-informed decision about whether and how to proceed with a career that can cost a significant sum to pursue.
For more context on how the Class 1 fits into the broader training path, see our complete guide to becoming a pilot.
Related guides
The Class 1 medical is one gate among several on the route to a professional flying career. These guides cover the other key stages and help you build a complete picture of the path ahead. The pilot salary guide is also worth reading early, so the investment you are making is set against a realistic picture of what the career pays.
How to become a pilot
The full EASA training path from zero to airline co-pilot, with every licence, rating, and cost stage explained in one guide.
Private Pilot Licence (PPL)
What the PPL involves, what it costs, and how it sets the foundation for every commercial licence above it.
Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
The licence that lets you fly for payment and the key step on the route to a frozen ATPL.
Pilot salary guide
A realistic look at what commercial pilots earn at different career stages, to help you plan the investment clearly.
Official sources
Links to EASA, national aviation authorities, and other primary sources for medical standards and licensing rules.
What is ATPL?
The ATPL explained in plain English: what it means, what the 13 theory subjects cover, and how the revision phase works.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
What is an EASA Class 1 medical?
Who needs a Class 1 medical certificate?
What does the initial Class 1 medical exam involve?
Can I get a Class 1 medical if I wear glasses?
How long is a Class 1 medical valid?
Should I do the medical before starting pilot training?
How much does an EASA Class 1 medical cost?
What are the EASA Class 1 medical requirements?
Medical confirmed? The ATPL theory is the next big chapter.
SkyStudy covers every EASA ATPL theory subject with exam-style practice questions, spaced repetition, and timed mock exams aligned to the published EASA ATPL learning objectives. Free to start, no card needed.
This page is general educational information for student pilots and may be out of date. Aviation rules, training requirements, costs, medical standards, and exam details change over time and vary by country, authority, and training organisation, so details here may no longer be current or may differ in your case. Always confirm the current details with your approved training organisation (ATO) and national aviation authority before relying on them. SkyStudy is an independent study aid, is not affiliated with EASA or any aviation authority, and does not guarantee any exam or licence outcome.
Last reviewed July 2026