Aviation · 14 CFR 61.23
FAA medical certificate expiration, by class and age.
Enter your class, the privilege you are flying under, your exam date and birth date. The calculator applies the end-of-month rule from the duration table.
Inputs
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Expiration date
How the FAA counts medical duration
14 CFR 61.23(d) sets one table. A certificate runs to "the end of the last day of the" Nth month after "the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate", where N depends on the class you hold, your age on the exam date, and the operation. Age 40 is the break: under 40 or 40 and older on the exam date.
The duration table in numbers
| Class | Privilege | Under 40 | 40 or older |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Airline transport pilot, pilot in command | 12 months | 6 months |
| First | Commercial | 12 months | 12 months |
| First | Private and lower | 60 months | 24 months |
| Second | Commercial | 12 months | 12 months |
| Second | Private and lower | 60 months | 24 months |
| Third | Private and lower | 60 months | 24 months |
The airline transport row also covers second-in-command on a flag or supplemental part 121 flight needing three or more pilots, and a part 121 pilot flightcrew member who has reached age 60.
Worked example
A 35-year-old private pilot with a third-class certificate examined on March 15, 2026 is covered for 60 calendar months after March, so through March 31, 2031. A 46-year-old with a first-class certificate examined the same day flying as airline transport pilot in command is covered for 6 months, through September 30, 2026. The same certificate is still good for commercial privileges until March 31, 2027 and for private privileges until March 31, 2028.
What this does not cover
- BasicMed and sport pilot operations that use a U.S. driver license.
- Special issuance and time-limited certificates; the date on your letter controls.
- Medical requirements for other certificates and foreign operations.
FAQ
Does a medical certificate expire on the date of the exam?
No. The table counts months after the month of the exam and runs to the end of the last day of the final month.
Which age counts, my age today or at the exam?
Your age on the date of the examination shown on the medical certificate.
Why does a first-class certificate show 6 months for airline pilots over 40?
The table gives 6 months after the exam month for airline transport pilot pilot-in-command privileges at age 40 and older. The same certificate keeps lower-privilege durations afterward.
Is a third-class certificate valid for commercial flying?
No. The table lists commercial privileges only under first and second class.
Does this replace BasicMed?
No. BasicMed is a separate pathway under other rules and is not part of this table.
How long is a private pilot medical good for if I am over 40?
24 calendar months after the exam month under any of the first, second or third class rows.
Sources
Retrieved 2026-11-02. Statute and regulation text read through the eCFR API (current as of 2026-10-29) or the publisher URLs below.
- 14 CFR 61.23, Medical certificates: Requirement and duration: Duration table (d), by class, privilege and age on the exam date.
Not legal advice or flight instruction
This page summarizes federal aviation rules for general information. It is not legal advice or flight instruction and does not replace the regulation, an instructor, or the FAA. Check the current rule and your own certificate privileges before you fly. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.