How long is a DGCA Class 1 medical valid?

Twelve months for commercial operations, and twenty-four months for student and private licence holders.

Can I be a pilot if I wear glasses?

Yes, provided your corrected vision falls within DGCA limits. The assessment records your refraction and the correction you use.

Does colour blindness disqualify you from a CPL?

Colour vision deficiency is the most common reason candidates are found unfit. Get tested before committing money to training.

Where is the initial Class 1 medical conducted?

At DGCA-approved aeromedical evaluation centres, including AFCME New Delhi and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Bengaluru.

Medical & Fitness

DGCA Class 1 and Class 2 Medical: Tests, Centres and Validity

By We One Aviation Ground SchoolPublished 31 August 20264 min read

Short answer

A DGCA Class 2 medical is enough to start training and fly solo. A Class 1 assessment is required before you exercise commercial privileges. Class 1 covers vision, hearing, cardiovascular and general health against ICAO Annex 1 standards, and is issued for 12 months for commercial operations and 24 months for student and private licences. Budget Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 for both.

What is the difference between Class 1 and Class 2?

	Class 2	Class 1
Purpose	Student Pilot Licence and PPL	CPL and ATPL, commercial privileges
Depth	Entry-level fitness screening	Full aeromedical assessment
Where	DGCA-authorised medical examiner	DGCA-approved aeromedical centre
Validity	As endorsed on the certificate	12 months commercial, 24 months student and private
When to do it	Before you pay any flying school	Before commercial privileges are exercised

Clear the Class 2 first. It costs a fraction of the Class 1 and screens out most disqualifying findings early.

What does the DGCA Class 1 medical check?

The assessment follows ICAO Annex 1 aligned standards. It is a full day of examinations rather than a single consultation, and the investigations ordered vary with your age and history.

Vision: distance and near acuity, colour vision, refraction, use of corrective lenses
Hearing: audiometry against aviation thresholds
Cardiovascular: history, blood pressure, resting ECG, further cardiac work-up where indicated
General clinical examination: ENT, dental, musculoskeletal, neurological, abdominal
Laboratory work: blood, urine and other investigations by age and risk factors
Psychological and history review

Where is the initial Class 1 medical done in India?

Initial Class 1 assessments are conducted at DGCA-approved aeromedical evaluation centres. The two most commonly used by student pilots are AFCME in New Delhi and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Indian Air Force, in Bengaluru. Other Indian Air Force centres and empanelled civil facilities also appear on the DGCA approved list.

Appointments at both centres fill up. Book several weeks ahead, and carry every past medical record you have, including old prescriptions and surgical notes.

The current list of approved centres is published by DGCA. Check it before booking rather than relying on a coaching centre recommendation.

How long does a medical stay valid?

Class 1 for commercial operations: 12 months
Class 1 for student and private licences: 24 months
Class 2: as endorsed, and renewed on the schedule stated on the certificate

Renewal is a lifelong obligation. A lapsed Class 1 grounds a working airline pilot the same way it grounds a student.

What does the medical cost?

Class 1 assessments commonly run between Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000 at approved centres, and students should plan Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 across both classes once repeat investigations, travel and specialist referrals are counted.

Any additional test the examiner orders, such as a treadmill test or a specialist opinion, is billed on top.

What commonly causes a Class 1 to be deferred?

Deferral is more common than outright rejection. A finding that needs a specialist opinion pauses your file rather than closing it.

Colour vision deficiency, which is the single most common hard stop for aspiring pilots
Uncorrected visual acuity outside limits, or refractive error beyond the permitted range
Blood pressure readings outside limits on repeated measurement
Hearing loss beyond audiometric thresholds
Body mass index outside acceptable limits
Undeclared past surgery or medication history discovered during the examination

Declare your history honestly. A finding you concealed and the examiner discovers is treated far more seriously than the finding itself.

Practical advice before you book

Get a colour vision test at any ophthalmologist before you spend a rupee on training
Fix dental issues in advance, since dental findings routinely delay files
Carry original reports of any past illness, surgery or hospital admission
Avoid crash dieting before the assessment; laboratory results will show it
Book the Class 1 with enough margin that a deferral does not derail your flying schedule

Frequently asked questions

Which medical do I need to start pilot training?: A DGCA Class 2 medical is enough to begin training and fly solo. A Class 1 assessment is required before you exercise commercial privileges on a CPL.
How long is a DGCA Class 1 medical valid?: Twelve months for commercial operations, and twenty-four months for student and private licence holders.
Can I be a pilot if I wear glasses?: Yes, provided your corrected vision falls within DGCA limits. The assessment records your refraction and the correction you use.
Does colour blindness disqualify you from a CPL?: Colour vision deficiency is the most common reason candidates are found unfit. Get tested before committing money to training.
Where is the initial Class 1 medical conducted?: At DGCA-approved aeromedical evaluation centres, including AFCME New Delhi and the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Bengaluru.

Sources

Fees, exam dates and regulatory limits change. Confirm current figures against the DGCA Pariksha portal and the applicable Civil Aviation Requirements before acting on them.