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Review the current FAA medical application instructions, answer the history questions accurately, and contact your Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) office before your appointment to ask which records fit your situation. For applicants treated only with therapy—or who have not taken medication for more than two years—the FAA generally suggests bringing a current, detailed clinical progress note and relevant prior records. Current antidepressant use may involve a separate, case-specific FAA authorization process.
Start with the current FAA application instructions
Before completing MedXPress and FAA Form 8500-8, review the current medical history instructions. The FAA asks about mental disorders of any sort, including depression and anxiety. Each applicable history item must be answered yes or no. For an affirmative answer, provide the requested explanation and approximate date.
A condition you have already reported still requires a yes answer if it has not changed; a prior disclosure is not a reason to leave the item blank or answer no. The FAA says an affirmative answer to Item 18.m. requires supplemental history taking, and the eventual disposition depends on the details and the condition being treated. A mental-health history alone does not establish whether a certificate will be issued.
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Item 19 is a separate question about visits within the last three years to specified health professionals for treatment, examination, or medical or mental evaluation. The instructions define exceptions, so use the current form rather than assuming every counseling or wellness visit is treated the same way. See the FAA’s medical application history instructions.
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Organize your history before the appointment
A concise timeline can help you give consistent answers and respond to follow-up questions. Organize the information you have; the FAA’s exact requirements depend on the case.
- Diagnoses and approximate dates, including whether a condition is current.
- Relevant symptoms and their course over time.
- Treatment dates, including therapy and medication names and dates taken.
- Hospitalizations, observation, or other significant evaluations, if applicable.
- Your current status and any relevant change since information was previously reported to the FAA.
Bring organized copies of relevant records and keep a copy for yourself. The FAA recommends asking the AME office in advance which records are needed for your particular circumstances.
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Records to bring for therapy-only treatment or time off medication
If your mental-health condition is currently treated solely with therapy, or you have not taken medication for more than two years, the FAA generally suggests bringing a current, detailed clinical progress note and relevant records of prior evaluations or treatment. The progress note should address:
- Diagnosis.
- History of the condition.
- Course of treatment.
- Current status.
Ask your treating professional for a note that covers these points, and ask the AME office whether it wants other records for your case. The FAA’s applicant FAQ describes this general recommendation; it is not a guarantee that the same documents will be sufficient in every case.
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If you currently take an antidepressant
Do not assume that all antidepressants or diagnoses follow the same certification route. The FAA has a limited protocol for consideration of certain medications under specified conditions, including eligible diagnoses and stability criteria. Authorization is case-specific, and an AME may not be able to issue a certificate under that pathway. Ask the AME office what applies before the appointment, and do not make treatment decisions based on certification assumptions.
The FAA’s protocol also describes requirements that may apply if an airman chooses to discontinue medication, including a minimum off-medication period and a treating-physician report for regular issuance. Those requirements are not advice to stop medication. Discuss any treatment change with the clinician who manages your care. See the FAA’s antidepressant medication protocol.
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When the FAA requests a psychiatric evaluation
A formal psychiatric evaluation is not a universal requirement for every applicant with a mental-health history. If the FAA requests one, its specifications call for relevant records—including prior hospitalization, observation, and treatment records—sufficient to assess the nature and extent of prior disorders. The evaluation includes a records review, thorough clinical interview, mental status examination, and integrated findings with an explicit diagnosis and professional opinions and recommendations.
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The FAA strongly advises using a psychiatrist with aerospace psychiatry experience or familiarity with aviation standards for an evaluation requested under these specifications. Follow the request and instructions for your case rather than arranging this evaluation on the assumption that every applicant needs one. The FAA psychiatric evaluation specifications describe the applicable documentation.
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Ask the AME office what applies to your case
Before the appointment, contact the office and explain the relevant basics: whether treatment was therapy only or included medication, whether you currently take medication, the condition and treatment timeline, and whether the FAA has requested an evaluation. Ask which records to bring and whether discussing the case with a HIMS AME is appropriate. The FAA notes that HIMS AMEs can provide evaluation, sponsorship, or monitoring in cases where those are required; not every applicant needs one.
The FAA’s medical certificate FAQ advises applicants with medical conditions or medication to ask the AME office what records to bring. Records and review needs can vary, and an AME may need to defer a decision when FAA review is required.
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