Regulation Text
§ 61.23 Medical certificates: Requirement and duration.
(a) Operations requiring a medical certificate. Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, a person—
(1) Must hold a first-class medical certificate:
(i) When exercising the pilot-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate;
(ii) When exercising the second-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate in a flag or supplemental operation in part 121 of this chapter that requires three or more pilots; or
(iii) When serving as a required pilot flightcrew member in an operation conducted under part 121 of this chapter if the pilot has reached his or her 60th birthday.
(2) Must hold at least a second class medical certificate when exercising:
(i) Second-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate in part 121 of this chapter (other than operations specified in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section);
(ii) Privileges of a commercial pilot certificate in an aircraft other than a balloon or glider; or
(iii) Except as provided in paragraph (b)(5) of this section, privileges of a commercial pilot certificate with a balloon class rating for compensation or hire; or
(3) Must hold at least a third-class medical certificate—
(i) When exercising the privileges of a private pilot certificate, recreational pilot certificate, or student pilot certificate, except when operating under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i);
(ii) When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate and acting as the pilot in command or as a required flightcrew member, except when operating under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i);
(iii) When taking a practical test in an aircraft for a recreational pilot, private pilot, commercial pilot, or airline transport pilot certificate, or for a flight instructor certificate, except when operating under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i); or
(iv) When performing the duties as an Examiner in an aircraft when administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization, except when meeting the requirements to operate under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i).
(b) Operations not requiring a medical certificate. A person is not required to hold a medical certificate—
(1) When exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking—
(i) A sport pilot certificate with glider or balloon privileges; or
(ii) A pilot certificate with a glider category rating or balloon class rating;
(2) When exercising the privileges of a sport pilot certificate with privileges in a glider or balloon;
(3) When exercising the privileges of a pilot certificate with a glider category rating in a glider;
(4) When exercising the privileges of a private pilot certificate with a balloon class rating in a balloon;
(5) When exercising the privileges of a commercial pilot certificate with a balloon class rating in a balloon if the person is providing flight training in accordance with § 61.133(a)(2)(ii);
(6) When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with—
(i) A sport pilot rating in a glider or balloon; or
(ii) A glider category rating;
(8) When exercising the privileges of a ground instructor certificate;
(9) When serving as an Examiner or check airman and administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization conducted in a glider, balloon, flight simulator, or flight training device;
(10) When taking a practical test or a proficiency check for a certificate, rating, authorization or operating privilege conducted in a glider, balloon, flight simulator, or flight training device;
(11) When a military pilot of the U.S. Armed Forces can show evidence of an up-to-date medical examination authorizing pilot flight status issued by the U.S. Armed Forces and—
(i) The flight does not require higher than a third-class medical certificate; and
(ii) The flight conducted is a domestic flight operation within U.S. airspace; or
(12) When exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate or higher while acting as pilot in command on a special medical flight test authorized under part 67 of this chapter.
(c) Operations requiring either a medical certificate or U.S. driver's license. (1) A person must hold and possess either a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter or a U.S. driver's license when—
(i) Exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking sport pilot privileges in an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316 other than a glider or balloon;
(ii) Exercising the privileges of a sport pilot certificate in an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316 other than a glider or balloon;
(iii) Exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating while acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flight crewmember of an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316 other than a glider or balloon;
(iv) Serving as an Examiner and administering a practical test for the issuance of a sport pilot certificate in an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316 other than a glider or balloon;
(v) Exercising the privileges of a student, recreational or private pilot certificate if the flight is conducted under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i);
(vi) Notwithstanding paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(6) of this section, exercising the privileges of sport pilot certificate at night under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i);
(vii) Exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate and acting as the pilot in command or as a required flight crewmember if the flight is conducted under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i); or
(viii) Serving as an Examiner and administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization if the flight is conducted under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i).
(2) A person using a U.S. driver's license to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) while exercising sport pilot privileges must—
(i) Comply with each restriction and limitation imposed by that person's U.S. driver's license and any judicial or administrative order applying to the operation of a motor vehicle;
(ii) Have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third-class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application (if the person has applied for a medical certificate);
(iii) Not have had his or her most recently issued medical certificate (if the person has held a medical certificate) suspended or revoked or most recent Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate withdrawn; and
(iv) Not know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make that person unable to operate an aircraft meeting the performance limits and design requirements of § 61.316 in a safe manner.
(3) A person using a U.S. driver's license to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) while operating under the conditions and limitations of § 61.113(i) must meet the following requirements—
(i) The person must—
(A) Comply with all medical requirements or restrictions associated with his or her U.S. driver's license;
(B) At any point after July 14, 2006, have held a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter;
(C) Complete the medical education course set forth in § 68.3 of this chapter during the 24 calendar months before acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flightcrew member in an operation conducted under § 61.113(i) and retain a certification of course completion in accordance with § 68.3(b)(1) of this chapter;
(D) Receive a comprehensive medical examination from a State-licensed physician during the 48 calendar months before acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flightcrew member of an operation conducted under § 61.113(i) and that medical examination is conducted in accordance with the requirements in part 68 of this chapter; and
(E) If the individual has been diagnosed with any medical condition that may impact the ability of the individual to fly, be under the care and treatment of a State-licensed physician when acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flightcrew member of an operation conducted under § 61.113(i).
(ii) The most recently issued medical certificate—
(A) May include an authorization for special issuance;
(B) May be expired; and
(C) Cannot have been suspended or revoked.
(iii) The most recently issued Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate cannot have been withdrawn; and
(d) Duration of a medical certificate. Use the following table to determine duration for each class of medical certificate:
| If you hold | And on the date of examination for your most recent medical certificate you were | And you are conducting an operation requiring | Then your medical certificate expires, for that operation, at the end of the last day of the |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) A first-class medical certificate | (i) Under age 40 | an airline transport pilot certificate for pilot-in-command privileges, or for second-in-command privileges in a flag or supplemental operation in part 121 requiring three or more pilots | 12th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate. |
| (ii) Age 40 or older | an airline transport pilot certificate for pilot-in-command privileges, for second-in-command privileges in a flag or supplemental operation in part 121 requiring three or more pilots, or for a pilot flightcrew member in part 121 operations who has reached his or her 60th birthday. | 6th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate. | |
| (iii) Any age | a commercial pilot certificate (other than a commercial pilot certificate with a balloon rating when conducting flight training), a flight engineer certificate, or an air traffic control tower operator certificate | 12th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate. | |
| (iv) Under age 40 | a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver's license as medical qualification) | 60th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate. | |
| (v) Age 40 or older | a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver's license as medical qualification) | 24th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate. | |
| (2) A second-class medical certificate | (i) Any age | an airline transport pilot certificate for second-in-command privileges (other than the operations specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section), a commercial pilot certificate (other than a commercial pilot certificate with a balloon rating when conducting flight training), a flight engineer certificate, or an air traffic control tower operator certificate | 12th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate. |
| (ii) Under age 40 | a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver's license as medical qualification) | 60th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate. | |
| (iii) Age 40 or older | a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver's license as medical qualification) | 24th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate. | |
| (3) A third-class medical certificate | (i) Under age 40 | a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver's license as medical qualification) | 60th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate. |
| (ii) Age 40 or older | a recreational pilot certificate, a private pilot certificate, a flight instructor certificate (when acting as pilot in command or a required pilot flight crewmember in operations other than glider or balloon), a student pilot certificate, or a sport pilot certificate (when not using a U.S. driver's license as medical qualification) | 24th month after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate. |
Research Notes
Medical Certificate Classes and Required Operations
Section 61.23 governs two distinct questions: (a) which operations require which class of medical, and (d) how long each class lasts. The two questions are independent — a second-class medical can be used for third-class operations, but at the shorter second-class validity interval for that privilege.
First-class medical (§ 61.23(a)(1)): Required for PIC privileges under an ATP certificate, for SIC privileges in specific flag/supplemental Part 121 operations requiring three or more pilots, and for any crewmember aged 60 or older in Part 121 operations. ATP airline operations require first-class medicals — there is no equivalent to a commercial certificate's second-class pathway in the ATP context.
Second-class medical (§ 61.23(a)(2)): Required for commercial pilot PIC privileges in powered aircraft (not balloons or gliders), and for Part 121 SIC operations not covered by the first-class requirement.
Third-class medical (§ 61.23(a)(3)): Required for private, recreational, and student pilot operations; for CFIs acting as PIC or required crewmember; and for practical tests and proficiency checks in powered aircraft (not simulators, gliders, or balloons).
Medical Certificate Duration — The Famous Table
The duration table in § 61.23(d) is the most-consulted table in general aviation. Key rules:
- First-class for ATP PIC, under 40: 12 months. For ATP PIC operations only — for all other operations, uses the third-class duration (60 or 24 months depending on age).
- First-class for ATP PIC, age 40+: 6 months. The infamous "6-month class-1" rule that defines airline captain scheduling.
- Second-class for commercial operations, any age: 12 months for commercial operations; then drops to 60 or 24 months (depending on age) for private/recreational operations.
- Third-class, under 40: 60 months (5 years).
- Third-class, age 40+: 24 months (2 years).
The "downgrading" principle: a first-class or second-class medical can be used for lower-class operations after the higher-class validity expires, but only at the duration applicable to the lower class of operation. A commercial pilot whose second-class expires at month 12 can still fly as a private pilot using that same medical certificate for 60 months (if under 40) or 24 months (if over 40) from the date of the exam.
Operations Not Requiring a Medical — § 61.23(b)
Several notable exemptions from medical requirements: sport pilot operations in gliders and balloons; private pilot certificate holders flying gliders and balloons; flight instructors not acting as PIC or required crewmember; ground instructors. These exemptions reflect the lower risk profile of these operations and aircraft categories.
BasicMed — § 61.23(c)(3) Cross-Reference
BasicMed allows qualifying pilots to use a driver's license instead of a medical certificate for certain operations under § 61.113(i). The qualifying conditions are detailed at § 61.23(c)(3)(i)-(iv): driver's license must be current, pilot must have held a medical at some point after July 14, 2006, must complete the online medical education course every 24 months, must get a physician examination every 48 months, and the most recently issued medical certificate cannot have been denied or revoked.
Critical BasicMed disqualifier: if your last FAA medical was denied (application completed and denied — not just not pursued), BasicMed is unavailable. Pilots with significant medical history should work with an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) before submitting a formal application. A conditional denial or a withdrawal of an application before action is different from a completed denial — the exact regulatory language matters.
References: FAA BasicMed Program; AC 61-65J.
Medical Class Durations + BasicMed — § 61.23 Decoded
Three classes of medical, plus BasicMed as the driver's-license alternative for non-commercial flying. The duration of each one isn't intuitive — it depends on the class, your age at the exam, and what privileges you're exercising. Here's the honest map.
| Medical | Privileges it unlocks | Duration — under 40 | Duration — 40 and older |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-class | ATP PIC; Part 121 captain seat | 12 calendar months (then steps down) | 6 calendar months (then steps down) |
| Second-class | Commercial pilot privileges | 12 calendar months | 12 calendar months |
| Third-class | Private, recreational, student, CFI acting as PIC, sport-pilot-as-third-class | 60 calendar months (5 years) | 24 calendar months |
| BasicMed (Part 68) | Private/recreational/student/CFI privileges, with operating limits | Driver's license + CMEC every 48 mo + online course every 24 mo | Same — no age tier |
Three structural things the table doesn't show you:
- "Calendar month" is a real legal term. A medical issued on May 15 doesn't expire May 15 of the expiration year — it expires the last day of May. The reg counts from the end of the month it was issued in. That extra slack at the end of the month is built in. Don't squander it; don't miscount it either.
- First-class downgrades automatically. A first-class doesn't vanish when its first-class privilege expires. It becomes a second-class medical for the rest of what would have been a second-class duration, and then a third-class medical for the rest of what would have been a third-class duration. One AME visit, three tiers of validity stacked on top of each other. Know which tier you're in today, not which one you walked out of the AME's office with.
- BasicMed lives in Part 68, but § 61.23(c)(3) is the door. § 61.23 sends you to Part 68 for the actual requirements. To use BasicMed you must (a) have held a valid FAA medical issued after July 14, 2006, (b) complete the CMEC physical with a state-licensed physician every 48 months, and (c) complete the online medical education course every 24 months. BasicMed flying is capped at under 18,000 feet MSL, 250 KIAS, no more than 6 passengers, no more than 6,000 lb gross weight, and the flight must stay within the US (unless the destination country authorizes it). No compensation or hire.
The rule of thumb most students get wrong: "Do I have a current medical?" isn't the right question. "What class am I current to exercise today?" is the right question.
What an Examiner Asks About § 61.23
§ 61.23 is on every checkride from private through ATP. Examiners aren't looking for memorized duration tables — they're looking for whether you understand the class system and can do the calendar-month math on yourself.
- "What class of medical do you need today to exercise the privileges you're being tested for?" For a private checkride: third-class (or BasicMed, if you qualify). For commercial: second-class. For ATP: first-class. Don't say "any medical" — name the class.
- "When does your medical expire, and how do you know?" Find the issue date on the certificate. Add the duration for your class and age. The expiration falls on the last day of that month. Be ready to do it out loud.
- "What is BasicMed, and what can't you do with it?" The under-18,000-ft / under-250-KIAS / 6-pax / 6,000-lb / no-compensation / US-only operating limits. And the gate: you must have held a valid FAA medical after July 14, 2006.
- "You're a student pilot flying solo cross-country today. What medical do you need?" Third-class. Student pilots fly under third-class privileges; BasicMed isn't available to a student who's never held a medical.
- Trick question: "Your first-class medical was issued May 15, 2024, and you're 38. Today is November 1, 2025. What class are you current for?" Answer: first-class expired May 31, 2025 (12 months, end of month). Second-class privileges run through May 31, 2025 also (same 12-month duration). Third-class privileges run through May 31, 2029 (60 months from issue). So today — November 1, 2025 — you're current as a third-class only.
The examiner wants to see you treat your medical the way you'd treat fuel: know exactly how much you have, where the limits are, and what happens at each step down.
Medical Math at a Glance, Under § 61.23
You're a 38-year-old CFI candidate. You walked out of the AME's office on March 10, 2025 with a fresh first-class medical. Here's what § 61.23 actually gives you — and where most candidates get the math wrong.
The reg pulls you to:
- First-class privileges (ATP PIC, Part 121 captain): valid 12 calendar months — through March 31, 2026. After that, the certificate doesn't "expire" — it steps down.
- Second-class privileges (commercial PIC): valid 12 calendar months from the issue date — also through March 31, 2026. For a 38-year-old, the first-class first-tier and second-class durations happen to be the same window.
- Third-class privileges (private, CFI acting as PIC, instructing for hire under § 61.23(a)(3)(iv)): valid 60 calendar months — through March 31, 2030. That's the five-year tail of the certificate.
What competent adds: Don't think of yourself as "a CFI with a first-class medical." Think of yourself as a CFI whose first-class privileges expire March 31, 2026, whose second-class privileges expire March 31, 2026, and whose third-class privileges expire March 31, 2030. On April 1, 2026, you're still legal to instruct (third-class privileges cover CFI duties), but you're not legal to fly commercial passenger ops for hire. If your 40th birthday lands during this window, the next first-class renewal will only run 6 months at a time — plan your career-medical cadence around that.
The reg gives you three certificates stacked into one. Most violations of § 61.23 aren't "expired medical" — they're "exercising privileges of a class that already stepped down." Know which tier you're flying on today.
Amendment History
AOA Notes
These notes correspond to the highlighted phrases in the regulation text above. Each one flags something worth knowing — a common misread, a checkride gotcha, or a practical pro tip.
CFI Commentary
Highlighted phrases in the regulation text above link to instructor notes at the bottom of this page. Look for the amber or blue highlights — each one flags a gotcha or a pro tip worth knowing.