{
  "slug": "pilot-medical-cost",
  "title": "Pilot Medical Certificate Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Pilot Medical Certificate Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pilot-medical-cost",
  "summary": "Compare cost and renewal frequency across medical certificate options.",
  "description": "Pilots choosing between a 3rd/2nd/1st class FAA medical, BasicMed, and sport pilot self-certification face very different cost and renewal-frequency tradeoffs, and the cheapest headline exam fee isn't always the cheapest long-run option once renewal frequency and any special issuance costs are factored in. This calculator projects total cost over a chosen period given the exam fee, renewal interval, and an allowance for special issuance follow-up testing that some pilots need for specific conditions.",
  "formula": "Total cost over period = (period years ÷ renewal interval years) × exam fee + special issuance allowance.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=pilot-medical-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "medicalType",
      "label": "Medical pathway",
      "kind": "select",
      "hint": null,
      "default": "3rd",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "3rd",
          "label": "3rd class FAA medical"
        },
        {
          "value": "2nd",
          "label": "2nd class FAA medical"
        },
        {
          "value": "1st",
          "label": "1st class FAA medical"
        },
        {
          "value": "basicmed",
          "label": "BasicMed"
        },
        {
          "value": "sport",
          "label": "Sport pilot (driver's license)"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "examFee",
      "label": "Exam / physician fee",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 150,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "periodYears",
      "label": "Period to project",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 10,
      "unit": "yrs",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 40
    },
    {
      "id": "specialIssuance",
      "label": "Extra special-issuance testing cost (if any)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0,
      "unit": "$/yr",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Total cost over period",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "renewals",
      "label": "Number of renewals in period",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "baseCost",
      "label": "Base exam cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "specialTotal",
      "label": "Special issuance costs",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "avgAnnualCost",
      "label": "Average annual cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Medical pathway: 3rd class FAA medical",
      "Exam / physician fee: 150 $",
      "Period to project: 10 yrs",
      "Extra special-issuance testing cost (if any): 0 $/yr"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Total cost over period: $300",
      "Number of renewals in period: 2",
      "Base exam cost: $300",
      "Special issuance costs: $0",
      "Average annual cost: $30"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter medical pathway.",
      "Enter exam / physician fee ($).",
      "Enter period to project (yrs).",
      "Enter extra special-issuance testing cost (if any) ($/yr).",
      "Read your total cost over period on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "medicalType": "3rd",
        "examFee": 90,
        "periodYears": 6,
        "specialIssuance": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "medicalType": "3rd",
        "examFee": 150,
        "periodYears": 10,
        "specialIssuance": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "medicalType": "3rd",
        "examFee": 240,
        "periodYears": 16,
        "specialIssuance": 0
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What's the actual renewal interval for each class?",
      "a": "3rd class is valid 60 months (5 years) under age 40, 24 months (2 years) at 40 or older. 2nd class is valid 12 months for commercial privileges, reverting to 3rd class duration for private privileges after. 1st class is valid 12 months for airline transport pilot privileges under age 40, 6 months at 40+. This calculator uses the simplified under-40 durations; older pilots should model shorter intervals."
    },
    {
      "q": "How does BasicMed compare in cost and hassle?",
      "a": "BasicMed requires a one-time FAA medical exam in your history, then a physician's exam using an FAA-provided checklist every 4 years plus an online medical education course every 2 years, at whatever your regular doctor charges (often $150-300, sometimes covered by insurance as a routine physical). It avoids the FAA's certification process entirely but restricts you to smaller, slower aircraft and specific operating limitations."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why would someone with special issuance costs stick with an FAA medical instead of BasicMed?",
      "a": "If your qualifying condition requires ongoing special issuance under the standard FAA medical process, moving to BasicMed generally requires having held a valid medical (regular or special issuance) at some point after July 14, 2006, and once on BasicMed you don't do a repeat FAA special issuance for that condition. But some pilots stay on FAA medicals because they need first or second class privileges, which BasicMed doesn't provide."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is sport pilot self-certification really free medically?",
      "a": "Yes — sport pilots operating under 61.23(c)(2) can use a valid U.S. driver's license instead of any FAA medical or BasicMed process, provided they've never been denied or had an FAA medical revoked/suspended. This is the cheapest pathway medically but restricts you to light sport aircraft with specific weight, speed, and seating limitations."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/flight-review-cost",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/flight-school-ppl-total-cost"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Pilot Medical Certificate Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/pilot-medical-cost)"
}