Initial medical certification for air traffic controllers ATCOs

Anyone wishing to become an Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO) will need to obtain a Class 3 medical certificate as part of the licensing requirements. The initial medical examination must be carried out at an Aeromedical Centre.

A step-by-step guide to the classes of medical certificates for pilots and air traffic controllers and how to apply can be found in this overview.

Pre-requisites

There is no minimum age for the application of a Class 3 medical certificate. However, those applicants under the age of 17 may require additional specialist paediatric review.

What happens next?

The initial medical examination includes:

• a full physical medical examination by a doctor
• detailed eyesight tests including a colour vision assessment
• a resting electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart
• spirometry to assess your lung function
• an audiogram to evaluate your hearing
• urine testing
• blood test to check lipids