How To: Apply for your Medical & Student Pilot

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Medical:

The very first thing you must do is ensure you meet the medical requirements to be a pilot.  The FAA has four levels of medicals:

1st Class: Required to be an airline pilot

2nd Class: Required to be a commercial pilot

3rd Class: General

Basic: Must have held a 3rd or greater previously, and can only "fly for fun."

It is my recommendation that if your goal is professional aviation, your first medical should be a first class.  There is nothing worse that completing $250,000 dollars or more of an education only to find out you cannot hold a first class medical and will never be an airline pilot.

To Apply:

First visit https://medxpress.faa.gov/medxpress/

Make a profile (don't lose the login information, you will need it forever!)

Complete a new medical application.

Once complete, it will give you a tacking number.  SAVE THIS NUMBER!!!

Then, visit https://designee.faa.gov/#/designeeLocator and find an "AME."  The more specific you make your search, the harder this site is to find someone.  I recommend just putting in a city or state and search through the list.  Contact the doctor, make an appointment.

Once you have your medical completed by the doctor, move to the next step.  If your medical is denied, there is a "Special Issuance" or "Statement of Demonstrated Ability" that you can do if your AME says you could probably get approved through that.

**Are you disqualified before even starting?  Find out here: https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/faq/response6/

Student Pilot Certificate-

Before you can start flight training, you must apply to get a student pilot certificate.  This ensures that you meet the federal requirements to receive flight training and/or be a pilot.  

To Apply:

First visit: https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/Default.aspx

Create a login (don't lose the login information, you will need it forever!)

You will be an "Applicant."

I made this video on how to apply: https://youtu.be/EKp6rr6TJvU

**This video was created in 2017.  IACRA may update their website and this video may become outdated.

Copy your FTN number.  I recommend making a contact in your phone labeled "FTN."  You will need this number for every certificate and rating you do for the rest of your life.

Once you complete the application, you will need to wait until you get to your school and sit down with a flight instructor.  Your flight instructor will have to login to IACRA using their "recommending instructor" login and pull your student pilot application via your FTN number.  They will recommend approval of your certificate. In a few days time, the FAA will approve or deny.  If approved, you will receive a temp certificate in which you can download from logging into IACRA.  



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