FAR 67.3 — Medical Certificate Issuance
FAR 67.3 explains who is entitled to an FAA medical certificate. Learn the issuance rule for student pilots preparing for the checkride and oral exam.
FAR 67.3 is short but foundational: if you meet the medical standards in Part 67, you are entitled to an appropriate medical certificate. The determination is based on two things:
- A medical examination performed by an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)
- An evaluation of your history and condition
In plain English, the FAA can't arbitrarily withhold a medical from someone who actually meets the standards. If your exam and reported history check out, you get the class of certificate that matches what you qualified for (first, second, or third class — each defined elsewhere in Part 67).
Why it matters operationally: this is the legal hook that makes the medical process objective rather than discretionary. It also reminds pilots that honest disclosure of medical history is part of qualifying — the AME isn't just measuring you on exam day, they're evaluating your overall history and condition. Misrepresenting that history can cost you the certificate you'd otherwise be entitled to under 67.3.