Denial of medical certificate

If an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) denies your medical certificate, you have 30 days to request reconsideration by writing to the Federal Air Surgeon's office in Oklahoma City. If you don't appeal within 30 days, your application is considered withdrawn.

The regulation distinguishes between denial levels. An AME's denial isn't considered an official FAA Administrator denial, meaning you can appeal without triggering formal enforcement proceedings. However, denials by the Federal Air Surgeon, Manager of Aeromedical Certification Division, or Regional Flight Surgeon are considered Administrator denials (with limited exceptions for specific substance abuse and mental health standards), which carry more significant legal implications.

If the FAA reverses an already-issued medical certificate—even partially—this counts as a denial, and you must surrender the certificate when requested. This matters because it affects your appeal rights and whether the denial becomes part of your official FAA record.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*