A medical certificate can be revalidated before it expires or renewed after it has expired.
Revalidation and renewal examinations should take less time than for initial issue and they may not require all the additional tests. This depends on when the last test was carried out, the type of certificate held and your age at examination.
Revalidation
You can revalidate a Class 1 medical certificate by taking a revalidation examination at an Aeromedical Centre (AeMC) or by appointment with an Aeromedical Examiner (AME).
You can take your revalidation examination up to 45 days before your certificate’s expiry date.
Expiry date for revalidated certificates
When you revalidate a medical certificate, the validity period following revalidation will be calculated from its original expiry date.
Download our full table of medical certificate validity periods (PDF)
Renewal
If you do not revalidate your certificate in the 45 days leading up to its expiry date, you will need to have it renewed.
You can renew a Class 1 medical certificate by taking a renewal examination at an Aeromedical Centre (AeMC) or by appointment with an Aeromedical Examiner (AME), subject to the following conditions:
- If your certificate expired more than 2 years before your application to renew it, the examiner will need to assess your aero-medical records before carrying out the renewal examination
- If your certificate expired more than 5 years before your application to renew it then you will have to follow the same process as for initial issue
Expiry date for renewed certificates
The expiry date is calculated from the date of your renewal examination.
Download our full table of medical certificate validity periods (PDF)
New medical records system now available
Please see the guidance on the new medical records system (Cellma).
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