Because human physiology plays a tremendous role in aviation, the requirement to remain physically qualified for flight begins as a student and carries on throughout a pilot's entire career. Students in the Bachelor of Science in Aviation Sciences (B.S.A.) Professional Pilot program must obtain an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate prior starting any flight training. Although a second class medical certificate is all that is required to begin flight training, students who intend to pursue a career as a commercial, corporate, or military pilot would be well advised to obtain a first class medical certificate right from the start.
FAA medical certificates are issued after the completion of a successful medical evaluation provided by a designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). Additionally, the FAA MedXPress system allows the Medical Certificate application to be completed electronically and be available to the FAA designated AME you select for review.
To locate the nearest AME in your area, the FAA provides an interactive search tool on their site. Please use the link in the box above.