FAA Private Pilot Airplane (PAR)RegulationsEasy
A private pilot receives a third-class medical certificate on August 12, 2023. If the pilot is under 40 years old, when will this medical certificate expire for operations requiring a private pilot certificate?
- AAugust 12, 2028.
- BAugust 31, 2028.
- CAugust 12, 2026.
- DAugust 31, 2025.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. August 31, 2028.
For a pilot under 40, a third-class medical certificate is valid for 60 calendar months. The expiration is always on the last day of the month, so from August 2023, 60 calendar months takes it to August 2028, expiring on August 31, 2028.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This incorrectly calculates the day of the month for expiration; medical certificates expire on the last day of the month.
- C. This incorrectly calculates the month and day, and is too short for a pilot under 40.
- D. This would be the expiration for a pilot 40 or over (24 months).
Third-Class Medical Validity (Under 40)
A third-class medical certificate issued to a pilot under 40 years old is valid for 60 calendar months for private pilot operations, expiring on the last day of the month.
- Category: Third-Class Medical.
- Pilot's Age: Under 40 years old.
- Validity Period: 60 calendar months.
- Expiration: Last day of the month, 60 months after issuance.
Memory trick: Medical Validity: Age Matters, Month Ends.