Get your Class 1 medical before you pay
Why a professional-pilot medical should come before the first big payment.
Last updated 1 Nov 2026
What it is
Professional licences (CPL and ATPL) require a Class 1 medical certificate, issued by an aeromedical centre or an approved aeromedical examiner. Private licences require a Class 2 medical, and the LAPL its own lighter medical.
Do it first
Some conditions can prevent you from holding a Class 1 certificate, and some take time to assess. Doing the initial examination before committing to an integrated course protects you from paying for training you cannot use.
Ask the school whether it requires the Class 1 before the course starts, and which aeromedical centres it works with.