What is the duration of the FAA Medical Certificate?
1st Class* 6 months for use as 1st class 2nd Class* 12 months for use as 2nd class 3rd Class: Under 40 years old – 3 years At and over 40 years old – 2 years * 1st & 2nd class certificates incrementally degrade to the next lower class. E.g. 1st class becomes a 2nd class after 6 months and then becomes a 3rd class after total of 12 months since issue. All certificates are valid until the last day of the month in which they were issued. E.g. Certificate issued 3 August is valid until 31 August in two or three years as dictated by the age 40 rule. Some Special Issuance certificates are valid only for a specified time, such as six months or one year due to desire to have closer follow-up on the medical condition requiring special issuance.
