FAR 67.213 — Second-Class Medical Standards
FAR 67.213 sets the general medical standards for a second-class airman medical certificate, covering diabetes, disqualifying conditions, and medications.
In Plain English
FAR 67.213 lists the general medical standards you must meet to hold a second-class airman medical certificate — the class typically required for commercial pilot privileges. It focuses on overall health rather than specific systems like vision or hearing.
To qualify, an applicant must have:
- No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus that requires insulin or any other hypoglycemic drug for control.
- No other organic, functional, or structural disease, defect, or limitation that the Federal Air Surgeon determines either makes you unable to safely perform your duties, or could reasonably be expected to do so during the certificate's validity period.
- No medication or treatment that the Federal Air Surgeon similarly determines would interfere with safely performing pilot duties, currently or during the certificate's duration.
Why it matters: commercial operations carry passengers and cargo for hire, so the FAA wants to ensure that subtle medical or pharmacological issues won't impair a pilot mid-flight. Even if a condition isn't specifically listed, the Federal Air Surgeon has discretion to disqualify based on case history and qualified medical judgment.
Regulation Text
14 CFR § 67.213§ 67.213 General medical condition.
The general medical standards for a second-class airman medical certificate are:
(a) No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus that requires insulin or any other hypoglycemic drug for control.
(b) No other organic, functional, or structural disease, defect, or limitation that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the condition involved, finds—
(1) Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or
(2) May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
(c) No medication or other treatment that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the medication or other treatment involved, finds—
(1) Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or
(2) May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What does FAR 67.213 say about diabetes for a second-class medical?
Per FAR 67.213(a), an applicant cannot have an established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus that requires insulin or any other hypoglycemic drug for control.
Q2Can a condition not specifically listed in the regulations still disqualify you from a second-class medical?
Yes. Under FAR 67.213(b), any other organic, functional, or structural disease, defect, or limitation can be disqualifying if the Federal Air Surgeon finds it makes the applicant unable to safely perform pilot duties, now or during the certificate's duration.
Q3How are medications addressed in the second-class general medical standards?
FAR 67.213(c) states an applicant may not be using any medication or treatment that the Federal Air Surgeon determines would make them unable to safely perform their duties or that may reasonably be expected to do so during the certificate's validity.
Studying for a checkride?
Related Sections in Part 67
§ 67.1
Medical Certificate Applicability
§ 67.101
First-Class Medical Eligibility
§ 67.103
First-Class Medical Eye Standards
§ 67.105
First-Class Medical ENT Standards
§ 67.107
First-Class Medical Mental Standards
§ 67.109
First-Class Medical Neurologic Standards
§ 67.111
First-Class Medical Cardiovascular
§ 67.113
First-Class Medical Standards