Pilots and air traffic controllers (ATCs) must hold a current medical certificate to exercise the privileges of their licence. Different classes of medical certificate reflect your licence type and what you can do under that licence.
There are no medical requirements for learning to fly when you are in the aircraft with your flight instructor.
Your medical examiner and our AvMed team assess your medical conditions, medications, and health status.
CASA delegates then, decide whether you gain a medical certificate for your license type. In most cases, you can gain a medical certificate even when a medical issue is present. Our delegates assess your medical risk and uses safety measures such as conditions on your medical certificate.
Before you start flying, you should discuss any medical conditions with both your:
- suitably qualified medical practitioner, such as a DAME
- flying school instructor.
Discussing your medical conditions is important if you plan to be a professional pilot.
Class 1 medical certificate
You need a Class 1 medical certificate to exercise the privileges of a:
- air transport pilot licence
- commercial pilot licence (other than balloons)
- multi-crew pilot (aeroplane) licence
- flight engineer licence
- student flight engineer licence.
Commercial and air transport pilot licence holders can perform some operations with a Class 2 medical certificate. Learn more about the Class 2 medical certificate.
Class 1 medical certificate validity
A Class 1 medical certificate is valid for one year unless otherwise advised. We generally grant a Class 2 certificate at the same time as a Class 1. A Class 2 certificate may be valid for longer.
Class 2 medical certificate
A Class 2 medical certificate is required to exercise the privileges of a:
Private and recreational pilot licence holders can also perform some operations with a Basic Class 2 certificate. Learn more about the Basic Class 2 medical certificate.
Class 2 medical certificate validity
Class 2 medical certificates are valid for:
- 4 years if you are under 40 years on the day of your medical examination
- 2 years if you are over 40 years.
Class 2 certificate expanded privileges
Commercial pilots with a Class 2 medical certificate can also fly commercial flights without passengers if the maximum take-off weight is less than 8618 kg. This includes in-flight training because of a general exemption to the regulations.
Student pilots learning to fly must have a Class 2 or Basic Class 2 medical certificate before they can fly solo.
On the spot Class 2 medical certificates
All designated aviation medical examiners (DAMEs) are authorised to assess you against the medical standard and can issue you with a Class 2 medical certificate on-the-spot.
A DAME can’t issue you an on-the-spot certificate if you:
- previously had a Class 2 application denied
- have one of three excluding medical conditions:
- psychosis
- irreversible dementia
- epilepsy.
Not all DAMEs have chosen to participate in this scheme. DAMEs opted in are referred to as DAME2s.
Check the list of DAME2s. If your DAME is on the list, you can ask them about it when you make your appointment with them.
Basic Class 2 medical certificate
A Basic Class 2 medical certificate is an alternative to a full Class 2 certificate for a:
Basic Class 2 certificates are cheaper and the application process is easier compared to Class 2 certificates.
The medical standards have less flexibility. The Basic Class 2 process does not allow for the management of medical conditions a DAME or CASA can consider when issuing a normal Class 2 certificate. This is because the doctors assessing a Basic Class 2 do not have specialist aviation medicine training.
Basic Class 2 certificate restrictions
The following restrictions apply to a Basic Class 2 certificate:
- only private day operations under the visual flight rules (VFR) and below 10,000 feet
- a maximum of 5 passengers
- only piston engine aircraft
- maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of less than 8618 kg
- no use of operational ratings (such as instructor rating or instrument rating)
- no use of flight activity endorsements (for example, aerobatics and low level).
These restrictions don’t apply if a qualified pilot with a valid Class 1 or Class 2 medical certificate is in a control seat.
Basic Class 2 requirements
You can get a Basic Class 2 examination from any medical practitioner who does medicals for commercial motor vehicle drivers. The medical standard is the same as the unconditional commercial driver standard and allows for vision correction and for hearing aids.
Learn more about the standard on the Austroads website.
You will receive a Basic Class 2 medical certificate if you meet the standard unconditionally. This excludes glasses and hearing aids.
Basic Class 2 disqualifying conditions
You can still apply for a Class 2 medical certificate if you:
- don’t meet the unconditional commercial drivers license medical standard for your Basic Class 2 medical
- have a pre-existing medical condition.
For a Class 2 medical certificate application, you will need a full assessment from a DAME. DAMEs assess health issues relevant to aviation and have more flexibility to consider your specific circumstances.
Learn more about the Class 2 medical certificate.
Class 3 medical certificate
You must have a Class 3 medical certificate for a:
- air traffic control licence
- flight service officers.
A Class 3 medical certificate is valid for 2 years, unless otherwise advised. For more information visit the AirServices website.
Class 5 medical self-declaration
The Class 5 medical self-declaration allows recreational and private pilots to self-assess and self-declare without requiring a medical assessment.
The pathway is for pilots seeking a recreational pilot's licence (RPL). It is also an entry point for those looking to be able to commence flight training.
Learn more about the Class 5 medical self-declaration.
Recreational aviation medical practitioner’s certificate
A recreational aviation practitioner’s certificate (RAMPC) is another alternative for a recreational pilot licence.
RAMPC’s are cheaper and the application process is easier compared to Class 1 and Class 2 certificates.
The medical standards for RAMPC are less flexible. An RAMPC does not allow for the management of medical conditions. This is because the doctors assessing a RAMPC do not have specialist aviation medicine training.
RAMPC restrictions
The following restrictions apply to a RAMPC certificate:
- only single engine piston aircraft (fixed wing or helicopter) with a maximum take-off weight of 1500 kg or less
- only day operations under the visual flight rules (VFR) and below 10,000 feet
- no more than one passenger on board
- no acrobatic flight.
The airspace and passenger restrictions don’t apply if the pilot in a control seat has:
- suitable qualifications
- valid Class 1 or Class 2 medical certificate.
The acrobatic restrictions don’t apply if the pilot in a control seat:
- has suitable qualifications
- is acrobatic flight endorsed
- has a valid Class 1 or Class 2 medical certificate.
RAMPC requirements
You can get a RAMPC examination from any medical practitioner who does medicals for private motor vehicle drivers.
The medical standard is based on the unconditional private drivers license standard (Austroads), with some additional disqualifying conditions.
RAMPC disqualifying conditions
You can’t hold a RAMPC if you either:
- do not meet the unconditional private driver’s license standard
- have certain disqualifying medical conditions, but you can still apply for a Class 2 medical certificate.
For a Class 2 medical certificate application, you need a full assessment from a DAME. DAMEs assess health issues relevant to aviation and have more flexibility to consider your specific circumstances. Learn more about the Class 2 medical certificate.
Details of the RAMPC disqualifying medical conditions are provided in:
Licence and medical certificate guide
| Licence | Class 1 | Class 2 | RAMPC | Basic Class 2 | Class 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational pilot licence (aeroplane) | Applies | Applies | Applies | Applies | Applies |
| Recreational pilot licence (helicopter) | Applies | Applies | Applies | Applies | Applies |
| Private pilot licence (aeroplane) | Applies | Applies | Applies1 | Applies2 | Applies3 |
| Private pilot licence (helicopter) | Applies | Applies | Applies1 | Applies2 | Applies3 |
| Commercial pilot licence (aeroplane) | Applies | Applies4 | Does not apply | Does not apply | Does not apply |
| Commercial pilot licence (helicopter) | Applies | Applies4 | Does not apply | Does not apply | Does not apply |
| Multicrew pilot licence | Applies | Does not apply | Does not apply | Does not apply | Does not apply |
| Air transport pilot licence (aeroplane) | Applies | Does not apply | Does not apply | Does not apply | Does not apply |
| Air transport pilot licence (helicopter) | Applies | Does not apply | Does not apply | Does not apply | Does not apply |
1Holders of a RAMPC can exercise the privileges of the PPL under the operational limitations of the RAMPC unless the holder has a Class 1 or 2 medical certificate
2CASA EX69/21 - Can exercise the privileges of the PPL under the operational limitations of the Basic Class 2 medical certificate unless the holder has a Class 1 or 2 medical certificate
3CASA EX01/24 - Can exercise the privileges of the PPL under the operational limitations of the Class 5 unless the holder has a Class 1 or 2 medical certificate
4CASA EX66/21 - Part 7 - Foreign cadet pilots (medical certificate for CPL flight test)