FAA Medical Expiration Calculator
Put in your birth date, the date of your last exam and the seat you fly. You get the exact day each privilege on your certificate ends, the one date that actually grounds you, and whether to expect an ECG at the next first-class exam.
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How long an FAA medical lasts
Durations come from 14 CFR 61.23(d). They are counted in calendar months from the month of the exam, so every privilege ends on the last day of a month. Your age is the age you were on the exam date.
| Privileges you are using | Under 40 at the exam | 40 and over at the exam |
|---|---|---|
| ATP pilot in command (first class) | 12 calendar months | 6 calendar months |
| Part 121 second in command, commercial (second class) | 12 calendar months | 12 calendar months |
| Private, student, recreational, instructing (third class) | 60 calendar months | 24 calendar months |
A certificate steps down rather than dying. A first class certificate is used at first class level until that period ends, then at second class level, then at third class level. A first officer holding first class keeps flying on its second class privileges after the first class ones lapse, unless the airline requires first class.
Which class your seat needs
- Airline captain: first class, because you are using ATP pilot in command privileges.
- Part 121 first officer: at least second class. First class at 60 and over, or in a flag or supplemental operation that needs three or more pilots. Many airlines ask for first class by policy.
- Commercial flying for hire: at least second class.
- Private, student, recreational, or instructing as pilot in command: third class. BasicMed is a separate route with its own rules and is not covered here.
When the ECG comes due
First class only. The FAA's examiner guide calls for an ECG at the first application after your 35th birthday, then on an annual basis after your 40th. If you are a 40-plus captain renewing every six months, that works out to an ECG at every other exam.
Book the exam early in the month it is due, not the last week. A blood pressure reading taken after a red-eye, or a form question that needs paperwork, is far easier to sort out with three weeks left on the certificate than with three days.
FAQ
How long is a first class medical good for?
For airline transport pilot privileges, a first class medical lasts until the end of the 12th month after the exam if you were under 40 on the exam date, and the end of the 6th month if you were 40 or older. After that it keeps working at second class level until the end of the 12th month, and at third class level until the end of the 60th month (under 40) or 24th month (40 and over).
Does a first officer need a first class medical?
Under 14 CFR 61.23 a Part 121 first officer needs at least a second class medical. First class is required at 60 and over, or in a flag or supplemental operation that needs three or more pilots. Many airlines require first class by company policy anyway, so check your own carrier's rule. A first officer holding a first class certificate keeps flying on its second class privileges after the first class ones lapse.
When do pilots need an ECG for a first class medical?
The FAA requires an ECG at the first application for a first class medical after your 35th birthday, then on an annual basis after your 40th birthday. Second and third class applicants do not need a routine ECG. Your AME does it in the office, so plan a few extra minutes at the appointment.
Is the medical expiration the exact date of my exam?
No. Medical certificate durations are counted in calendar months, so privileges run to the last day of the month, not the anniversary of the exam date. An exam on March 3 and an exam on March 28 expire on the same day. Your age is taken on the date of the exam, so turning 40 after the exam does not shorten that certificate.
Sources
- 14 CFR 61.23, Medical certificates: Requirement and duration (eCFR). Who needs which class, and the duration table in paragraph (d).
- FAA Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners, Item 58, ECG. First application after the 35th birthday, annually after the 40th.
- FAA Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners, Duration of medical certificates.
Checked October 19, 2026. This calculator is a planning aid, not legal advice. Your certificate, your AME and the current regulation are the authority for your own case.