Sport pilots DO NOT need a third-class medical certificate.

To receive your third-class medical certificate, you need to undergo a physical examination by an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). To do this, schedule an appointment with an AME of your choosing and complete an official FAA application form. Third-class medical certificate requirements are, and not limited to, the following:

• Eye
  • Distant vision: Visual acuity of 20/40 or better in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.
  • Near vision: Visual acuity of 20/40 or better at 16 inches in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.
  • Color vision: Ability to perceive those colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties.
• Ear/Nose/Throat/Equilibrium
  • Hearing: Demonstrate an ability to hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears, at a distance of 6 feet from the examiner, with the back turned to the examiner or provide acceptable audiometric testing results of unaided hearing acuity.
  • No disease or condition that interferes with, or is aggravated by, flying or interferes with clear and effective speech communication.
  • No disease or condition that is or may be caused by vertigo or a disturbance of the equilibrium.
• Mental/Neurologic/ Cardiovascular
  • May not have any established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:
    • Personality disorder.
    • Psychosis (referring to a person who has or may have delusions, hallucinations, bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms).
    • Bipolar disorder.
    • Substance abuse/dependence on alcohol or any pharmacological substance with in the previous two years.
    • Epilepsy or any other seizure disorder, disturbance of consciousness, or neurologic condition that would inhibit a person from flying safely.
    • Coronary heart disease, cardiac valve or heart replacement, permanent cardiac pacemaker implantation. (FAA)

Medical certificates DO expire. If you are a private, 40 years-old or over, you must undergo a physical examination every two years to renew your medical certificate. If you are under 40 years old, you must renew your medical certificate every five years.