Before Your Medical
What to bring, and what to expect.
The key things to know before your appointment. We will send you full details by email after you book.
Before Your Appointment
Pilots — register with the CAA.
All pilots, including those attending for a renewal or revalidation, must register on the CAA Cellma system and apply for a medical certificate before their appointment. You will need to pay the CAA fee as part of this process.
This is a legal declaration of your health and needs to be as complete and accurate as possible. Please take your time completing it.
Registration and application can take several days, so please do not leave it late.
Cabin crew — complete your pre-booking form.
After you book, we will send you a medical history form by email. Please complete and return this at least 72 hours before your appointment.
This is a legal declaration of your health. You are required to disclose your full medical history, including all conditions, diagnoses, treatments, medications, and specialist consultations, even if resolved or many years ago. The form must be completed fully and accurately.
What to Bring
What to bring to your appointment.
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Photo ID
Please bring your UK driving licence or passport. It must be the original document. We are unable to continue the medical with copies or photographs.
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Previous medical certificate
If you have a certificate from a previous examination, please bring it with you.
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Medical records
Please bring any relevant medical records you have access to, such as hospital letters, specialist reports, or ECG results for conditions you have declared. However, we will generally give you specific guidance during the medical as to what we need from your GP and how to obtain this, so do not worry if you do not have all the information to hand.
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Medication list
Please bring a written list of any prescribed or regular medications you take, including the doses.
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Urine sample
A urine test is part of the examination. Please arrive with a full bladder.
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Glasses and contact lenses
Please bring your glasses and a recent optician prescription. Do not wear contact lenses on the day of your appointment, but do bring them with you so they can be assessed separately.
Pilots only If this is your first aviation medical and you wear glasses or contact lenses, you will need to visit any high street optician beforehand and ask them to complete the CAA eye test form. Please send us a copy in advance if possible.
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Urine sample
A urine test is part of the examination. Please arrive with a full bladder.
How to Prepare
Preparing for the examination.
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Clothing
Please wear shorts and a t-shirt to your appointment, or have these on underneath your clothing, as we will need to examine your arms and legs. Loose-fitting, two-piece clothing is recommended to minimise the need to undress during the examination.
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ECG preparation Pilots only
You may require an ECG as part of your examination. If so, please read the email instructions we send you carefully on how to prepare. You can see the lead placement diagram here.
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Eating and drinking
No fasting is required. Eat and drink as you normally would. Please avoid caffeine on the day of your medical.
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Chaperone
If you would like a chaperone present during your examination, please let us know as early as possible. There is an additional charge and we may need to rearrange your appointment date. It is not possible to provide a chaperone on the day without advance notice. See our chaperone policy for more information.
On the Day
How the appointment works.
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Arrive and park
Free parking is available on site at Sunny Bank Mills. See our location and directions page for details on how to find us and where to park.
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Medical history review
We will review the CAA Cellma form you completed before your appointment and discuss anything that needs more detail.
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Examination
The examination follows the standards required by the CAA. It is a full head-to-toe assessment of all major body systems, including eyes, ears, nervous system, heart, lungs, abdomen, musculoskeletal (arms and legs), skin, blood pressure and weight.
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Urine test
A urine sample is collected and tested as part of the examination.
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ECG
If required (first aviation medical, age 40, age 50). The cost of the ECG is included in your Class 2 fee.
After Your Examination
What happens next.
There are three possible outcomes from your examination.
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Certificate issued on the day
If everything is straightforward, we issue your CAA medical certificate at your appointment.
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Further information needed
If something in your medical history or during the examination requires clarification, we may need to obtain further information from your medical records, your GP, or a specialist. We will explain exactly what is needed and write any referral letters required.
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Specialist report required
In some cases a specialist report or investigation may be required to meet CAA standards. We will give you clear guidance on what the report needs to include and the standards the CAA expects. You will pay the specialist directly for any reports or investigations.
Additional costs
Where further work is needed after your appointment, such as reviewing or collating reports, writing referral letters, or corresponding with the CAA on your behalf, this is referred to as casework. Casework is charged at £100 per hour in 30-minute blocks.
We will always let you know if casework is needed and give you a clear indication of the likely charges before proceeding.
Common Questions
Common questions about your appointment.
How long does the appointment take?
Up to 90 minutes for Class 2 / LAPL. 60 minutes for Cabin Crew Attestation.
What if something in my medical history has changed?
Email us in advance with the detail. It is much better to flag things early than to discover a problem on the day.
Will I get my certificate the same day?
In some cases certificates can be issued on the day. In other cases, issue may be deferred until the relevant information is available to make a decision. We will always explain exactly what is needed and give you a clear estimate of timescales.
Do I need to fast?
No. Eat and drink normally. Please avoid caffeine on the day of your medical.
Can I cancel or reschedule?
You can cancel or reschedule free of charge with more than 5 days notice. Within 5 days, a 50% fee applies. Within 48 hours, the full fee is charged.
Can I have a chaperone?
Yes, please let us know as early as possible. There is an additional charge and we may need to rearrange your appointment date. See our chaperone policy for details.
What is casework?
Casework covers any additional work needed after your appointment to meet CAA standards, such as reviewing reports, writing referral letters, or corresponding with the CAA on your behalf. It is charged at £100 per hour in 30-minute blocks. We will always let you know if casework is needed and give you a clear estimate of the likely time involved.
Ready to book your medical?
Urgent, weekend and evening appointments available on request. Booking takes about a minute.