Avoid a paperwork mishap! Preflight your medical

THE HIGH-LEVEL STUFF:

Watch this YouTube video from AOPA on how you can help avoid a deferral on your exam.

Review this important and helpful page from the FAA on what to expect at your exam

Requires at least free-level ChatGPT account. (Created by Justin Sterett, MD, AME).

*if there is any discrepancy between what this says and C.F.R./FAA guidance, the official guidance takes precedence

DOWN IN THE WEEDS:

If you have never had a medical certificate from FAA before, and have questions about your medical history, medications, or any other health problems and how it may affect you getting a medical certificate, we strongly recommend you schedule a consultation visit first, or, at a minimum, speak with Dr. Haugen by phone before your appointment.

Why? Once your MedXPress number has been entered into the AMCS system to begin your exam, the clock begins ticking. If Dr. Haugen discovers during your visit that you need further evaluation by your regular doctor or a specialist, or if you need to gather medical records, this could lead to serious delays in getting your medical certificate. It would be much better to get all of your material together ahead-of-time, so that Dr. Haugen has the best chance of determining that you meet all the criteria for certification, possibly avoiding a "deferral" to the FAA.

There are certain conditions that used to be routinely disqualifying, but which are now considered "Conditions AMEs Can Issue" (CACI) If the requirements set by the FAA are met. If you have any of the following CACI conditions (FAA Link) you will need to bring all your medical records for review. We strongly recommend a consultation or phone call with us first.

Certain conditions are "Specially Disqualifying" as specified in Federal Regulation (14 C.F.R. 67) These conditions mandate a deferral to the FAA for Special Issuance. Dr. Haugen will not be able to issue your initial certificate if you have one of these conditions. We strongly recommend a consultation visit before your initial exam if you have one of these.

Some of the disqualifying conditions may be eligible for AME-Assisted Special Issuance (AASI) for subsequent certification (not initial). You will know this ahead-of-time because your prior letter from FAA will have stated that you have this circumstance, and will tell you what you need to bring to your visit.

Many other conditions and medications (FAA link) are potentially disqualifying. Dr. Haugen will work with you to help you understand these issues. Again, a consultation may be helfpul first.

If your medical history and physical are straightforward, without any conditions of concern to the FAA, you should be able to leave your appointment with a medical certificate in hand! However, there are numerous conditions which may require, at minimum, additional documentation from your regular doctor, or, there may be additional evaluations which FAA could require you to have.

If you already have Special Issuance, or your exam reveals that you will need to pursue Special Issuance, extra time may be required beyond the regular physical for Dr. Haugen to go through all of the medical records you supply, and to upload them to the FAA. Dr. Haugen may require you to book additional Consultation time for this.

All FAA physicals begin with the airman completing an online medical history using the FAA MedXPress system prior to arrival at the clinic.

We strongly encourage you to review the FAA's User Guide for MedXPress, updated June 2025. It is here.

NOTE: When completing your history in MedXPress, once you have a "Yes" answer anywhere in your history, it is ALWAYS YES. It is a "lifetime" yes. If you have a prior "yes" answer, but answer "no" on the current form, you will experience difficulty getting your certificate. The FAA takes any discrepancies in an applicant's record very seriously, and those discrepancies are easily presumed to be malicious and intentional rather than innocent and accidental. See the sobering language in 14 C.F.R. 67.403 regarding "incorrect statement":
- "The following may serve as a basis for suspending or revoking a medical certificate; withdrawing an Authorization or SODA; or denying an application for a medical certificate or request for an authorization or SODA:
  - (1) An incorrect statement, upon which the FAA relied, made in support of an application for a medical certificate or request for an Authorization or SODA."

Your MedXPress history is only valid for 60 days. You must complete your physical within this time or you will have to start a new MedXPress session.

WHAT TO BRING:

BRING YOUR MEDXPRESS CONFIRMATION NUMBER AND PRINTOUT WITH YOU TO YOUR APPOINTMENT

If you currently have a Special Issuance or SODA letter:
- Bring your SI or SODA Letter from FAA with any medical documentation that your Letter states is necessary

If you need to supply medical records, the FAA has particular requirements for the type and level of detail that makes for an acceptable record. Please carefully review this FAA document on Current, Detailed, Clinical Progress Note.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE:

We will enter your MedXPress confirmation number into the FAA AMCS system to begin your physical.

After checking in:
- You will need to provide a urine sample on arrival, to detect glucose (sugar) and albumin (protein).
- You will have height, weight and vital signs checked.
- You will have a vision test performed

Dr. Haugen will review your medical history, any medical records you brought, your vision test, and urine results. He will perform a physical exam according to the FAA requirements

If everything is in order, and all exam elements meet FAA medical standards set forth in 14 C.F.R. part 67, Dr. Haugen will issue you your medical certificate, which he and you will both sign before you leave the clinic.

If all the required medical standards were not met, Dr. Haugen is obligated to defer your certification to the FAA for their decision. Note: a "deferral" is not the same as a "denial."
- As of mid-2025, the average time for a deferred case to be decided by FAA is approximately 6 months.

Note: These exams are different from the FAA "BasicMed" exams. Dr. Haugen does not perform BasicMed, but Dr. Kooyer and Dr. Sondreal do, right in the same location. For BasicMed, please schedule with one of them by calling UrgentMED, 701-232-9000.

Also note that nothing on this site creates a doctor-patient relationship, and no doctor-patient relationship is established by the FAA flight physical you receive at Fargo Flight Physical. Dr. Haugen is not your regular doctor and is neither diagnosing nor treating your medical problems. These are regulatory exams only, and are categorically different from the care you receive in your regular doctor's office or clinic. This is true of every Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).