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Third-Class Medical Eligibility

FAR 67.301 — Third-Class Medical Eligibility

FAR 67.301 sets the eligibility rule for a third-class airman medical certificate. Learn what it means for student and private pilots.

In Plain English

FAR 67.301 is the gateway rule for the third-class airman medical certificate — the medical most student pilots, private pilots, recreational pilots, and flight instructors operate under.

The rule is short and simple: to get a third-class medical certificate, or to keep being eligible for one, you must meet the requirements laid out in the rest of Subpart D of Part 67.

Subpart D then breaks those requirements into specific medical standards, including:

  • Eye standards
  • Ear, nose, throat, and equilibrium standards
  • Mental standards
  • Neurologic standards
  • Cardiovascular standards
  • General medical condition standards

Why it matters operationally: if you cannot meet these standards, an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) cannot issue you a third-class medical, and your privileges that depend on it (like solo student flight or exercising private pilot privileges without BasicMed) are unavailable. Eligibility is continuing — losing it after issuance can ground you until the condition is resolved or a special issuance is obtained.

Regulation Text
14 CFR § 67.301
§ 67.301 Eligibility. To be eligible for a third-class airman medical certificate, or to remain eligible for a third-class airman medical certificate, a person must meet the requirements of this subpart.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What class of medical certificate does FAR 67.301 address, and who typically uses it?
FAR 67.301 covers eligibility for the **third-class airman medical certificate**, which is the medical generally used by student, recreational, and private pilots, as well as flight instructors.
Q2Under FAR 67.301, what must a person do to obtain or keep a third-class medical certificate?
Per FAR 67.301, a person must meet the requirements of Subpart D of Part 67 — both to be issued a third-class medical and to remain eligible for one.
Q3Does FAR 67.301 only apply at the time of your medical exam?
No. FAR 67.301 makes eligibility ongoing — you must continue to meet the Subpart D requirements to remain eligible for the third-class medical, not just qualify on exam day.
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Private Pilot Requirements
Including medical certificates
How to Become a Pilot
Medical class explained
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
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FAR 67.301 — Third-Class Medical Certificate Eligibility