Medical Certificate Class 2 (Part-MED)
No medical, no flying: a PPL holder may only exercise licence privileges with a valid Class 2 medical certificate. This lesson covers who issues the certificate, how long it is valid depending on your age, and what the examination includes — all favourite exam topics, especially the validity periods.
Classes of medical certificate
ICAO Annex 1, Chapter 6 (Medical provisions for licensing) defines the international framework. In the EU, Annex IV (Part-MED) of Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 applies directly:
| Certificate | Required for |
|---|---|
| Class 1 | CPL / ATPL (professional pilots) |
| Class 2 | PPL, SPL, BPL (private pilots) |
| LAPL medical certificate | LAPL (own, less strict standard) |
ICAO additionally knows a Class 3 for air traffic controllers; in the EU, controller medicals are regulated separately (Part-ATCO.MED).
Who examines and issues the certificate?
- AME (Aero-Medical Examiner) — a doctor approved by the competent authority to perform aviation medical examinations.
- AeMC (Aero-Medical Centre) — an approved aero-medical centre with broader diagnostic capabilities.
The rule to remember:
- Class 2: the initial examination and every revalidation/renewal may be performed by an AME (an AeMC may of course also do it).
- Only the initial Class 1 examination must be performed at an AeMC.
- In case of specific medical findings, the AME may refer the applicant to the authority or an AeMC for further assessment.
Period of validity (MED.A.045)
The validity of a Class 2 certificate depends on the holder's age:
| Age of pilot | Class 2 validity |
|---|---|
| Under 40 years | 60 months (5 years) |
| 40–49 years | 24 months (2 years) |
| 50 years and older | 12 months (1 year) |
Two practical rules attach to this:
- Last day of the month: the certificate remains valid until the last day of the month in which it expires (MED.A.045).
- Revalidation window of 45 days: if the revalidation examination takes place within the 45 days immediately before expiry, the new period runs from the old expiry date — you lose no validity by going to the AME early.
Content of the examination (MED.B.001 et seq.)
- Medical history (anamnesis) and general physical examination
- Eyes and vision, ears/hearing, ENT
- Cardiovascular system — ECG routinely from age 40
- Pulmonary function
- Urinalysis
- At the initial examination above age 40: additional blood tests (lipids, glucose)
LAPL medical certificate
The LAPL has its own medical standard, less strict than Class 2, issued by an AME. Validity: 60 months until age 40, 24 months thereafter. A holder of a valid Class 2 (or Class 1) certificate automatically meets the LAPL medical requirement.
Germany
Part-MED applies directly. Approval and oversight of AMEs and AeMCs is exercised by the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) in Braunschweig; a directory of approved AMEs is published on the LBA website. Initial and subsequent Class 2 examinations may be performed by any approved AME — an AeMC (e.g. DLR Cologne) is possible but not required. Flying after the medical has expired means the licence privileges may not be exercised; doing so anyway is an administrative offence under the LuftVG and a breach of Part-FCL.
Exam essentials
- A PPL requires a Class 2 medical certificate; Class 1 is for CPL/ATPL.
- Class 2 validity: 60 months under age 40, 24 months from 40 to 49, 12 months from age 50.
- The certificate is valid until the last day of the expiry month; a revalidation exam within 45 days before expiry preserves the full new period from the old expiry date.
- Class 2 initial and revalidation examinations may be done by an AME; only the initial Class 1 examination must be done at an AeMC.
- An ECG is routine from age 40.
- The LAPL medical is valid 60 months until age 40 and 24 months thereafter; a valid Class 2 covers LAPL privileges.
- Without a valid medical, licence privileges may not be exercised.