ATC medicals?

Tangodelta29

Tangodelta29

Well-Known Member
I'd be interested to know if there are certain medical requirements for ATC. Do they have to medicals every so often like pilots? What kind of things disqualify you? Thanks a lot, I know near to nothing about it.
 
Individuals must pass a rigid medical exam, which includes:
  • Vision Standards - Applicants for ATCS employment in an en route center or a terminal must have distant and near vision of 20/20 or better in each eye separately, without correction, or have lenses that correct distant and near vision to 20/20, each eye separately. Applicants for a flight service station specialist position must have distant and near vision of 20/20 or better in at least one eye, without correction, or have lenses that correct distant and near vision to 20/20, in at least one eye.
  • Color Vision Standards - Applicants must have normal color vision.
  • Hearing Standards - Applicants must have no hearing loss in either ear of more than 25 db at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz, and no more than a 20 db loss in the better ear by audiometer, using ANSI (1969) standards.
  • Cardiovascular Standards - Applicants must have no medical history of any form of heart disease. A history of high blood pressure requiring medication will require special review.
  • Neurological Standards - Applicants must have no medical history or clinical diagnosis of a convulsive disorder, or a disturbance of consciousness, without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause, and must not be under any treatment, including preventive, for any condition of the nervous system.
  • Psychiatric Standard - Any medical history or clinical diagnosis of a psychosis, or other severe mental disorders, is disqualifying.
  • Diabetes - A medical history or diagnosis of diabetes mellitus will require special review.
  • Substance Abuse/Dependency - A history of substance abuse/dependency, including alcohol, narcotic, non-narcotic drugs, and other substances will be extensively investigated.
  • Psychological Exam - Individuals must take and pass a psychological exam.
  • General Medical - All other medical conditions will be evaluated on an individual basis. All applicants' medical histories and current examinations will be carefully reviewed. This includes past medical records and, if applicable, a review of military medical records.
I believe they have to do bi-annual med test after being hired.
 
We carry what basically is a class II airmen medical, I think there is one or two tests that might be different. When I get my ATC medical done I always ask for my airmen medical on the chance I might want to fly again (I've yet to use it... LOL) and they give me an extra vision test or something, I forget exactly what it is.

The initial medical screen is pretty rigorous from what I remember. If you can pass an FAA class II medical you should not have a problem.
 
Fox Xray said:
We carry what basically is a class II airmen medical, I think there is one or two tests that might be different. When I get my ATC medical done I always ask for my airmen medical on the chance I might want to fly again (I've yet to use it... LOL) and they give me an extra vision test or something, I forget exactly what it is.

The initial medical screen is pretty rigorous from what I remember. If you can pass an FAA class II medical you should not have a problem.
Click to expand...

Fox Xray - I don't know if you know this one, but if you go into the testing already holding a current Class II medical, can you skip the medical portion? It seems they've started doing everything on the same day now.
 
Livestrg05 said:
Fox Xray - I don't know if you know this one, but if you go into the testing already holding a current Class II medical, can you skip the medical portion? It seems they've started doing everything on the same day now.
Click to expand...

I would doubt it very much. My medical exam was many years ago but it was pretty intensive from what I remember. They took blood, hooked you up and tested your heart, it was detailed. It was probably the same as what an airline does to a prospective pilot.
 
Livestrg05 said:
Fox Xray - I don't know if you know this one, but if you go into the testing already holding a current Class II medical, can you skip the medical portion? It seems they've started doing everything on the same day now.
Click to expand...

I have a Class II physical because I'm an Air Force ATC. The FAA said I will still have to take their test...even though it's the same one I just passed last month...oh well
 
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