DGCA Class 2 Medical: Eligibility, Tests, Process & Cost (2026)

DGCA Class 2 Medical: Complete Guide for Aspiring Pilots

What is the DGCA Class 2 Medical? It is the mandatory entry-level health certification required to obtain a Student Pilot License (SPL) or Private Pilot License (PPL) in India. You must clear this baseline evaluation with a DGCA-approved examiner before you can apply for a commercial Class 1 Medical.

Embarking on a career in aviation is incredibly exciting, but before you can step into a cockpit or join a flying club in India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) requires absolute proof of your physical and mental fitness.

The Class 2 Medical is the fundamental stepping stone. It acts as an initial filter to ensure that aspiring student pilots do not possess any underlying, disqualifying health conditions. While it is not as exhaustive or restrictive as the rigorous Class 1 Medical conducted at military hospitals, it is still a comprehensive evaluation that you must prepare for properly.

This guide breaks down every aspect of the DGCA Class 2 Medical examination for 2026, including the step-by-step eGCA process, exactly what tests the doctors will perform, and how much you should budget for the evaluation.

Key Takeaways

The Essential First Step: You must possess a valid Class 2 Medical before you can apply for a Class 1 Medical or legally operate an aircraft as a student pilot in India.
Conducted by Civil Doctors: Unlike the Class 1, you can take your Class 2 Medical at various DGCA-approved civil clinics across the country.
Cost Expectation: The examination usually costs between ₹3,500 and ₹5,000, making it slightly more affordable than the Class 1.
eGCA Registration is Mandatory: You cannot simply walk into a clinic. You must generate a PMR (Personal Medical Record) number on the eGCA portal first.
Validity Periods: The certificate is valid for 24 months if you are under 40, halving to 12 months once you cross that age threshold.

What is the Class 2 Medical?

The DGCA Class 2 Medical evaluates your baseline physical and mental health. The aviation regulator enforces these standards to guarantee that student pilots and private pilots are physiologically capable of handling an aircraft without posing a risk to themselves or others.

While commercial airline pilots (CPL and ATPL holders) are held to the incredibly strict Class 1 standard, student pilots and private flyers operate under slightly more relaxed tolerances, which are encapsulated in the Class 2 assessment.

A standard Class 2 assessment is valid for 24 months for pilots under the age of 40. Between the ages of 40 and 50, the validity drops to 12 months. Once a pilot turns 50, the assessment is only valid for 6 months.

How Do You Become Eligible?

The Class 2 Medical is the entry point, so there are no prior medical certificates required. However, there is a strict administrative prerequisite: the eGCA portal.

To be eligible to undergo the examination, you must first register on the government's eGCA (electronic Governance of Civil Aviation) portal. During this registration, the system will generate a PMR (Personal Medical Record) number for you.

Your PMR number is your permanent medical identity within the Indian aviation system. You cannot book an appointment, and a doctor cannot examine you, without this specific registration number.

How Much Does the Examination Cost?

Budgeting for your first medical check is straightforward, as you have the flexibility to choose your examiner.

The DGCA authorizes independent, certified civilian doctors—known as Class 2 Medical Examiners—to conduct these tests in their private clinics or associated diagnostic centers. Because they operate independently, the fees can vary slightly depending on the city and the specific clinic's overhead.

Typically, the total cost for the Class 2 Medical ranges from ₹3,500 to ₹5,000. You pay this directly to the examiner's clinic. If your baseline blood tests or ECG show any anomalies, the examiner may request additional specialist consultations (like a cardiologist review), which would be an out-of-pocket extra cost.

How Does the Process Work?

The administrative workflow for pilot medicals in India has been entirely digitized through the eGCA portal, which makes tracking your application significantly easier than in the past.

Register on eGCA: Create an account on the eGCA portal and generate your PMR number.
Select an Examiner: Browse the official list of DGCA-approved Class 2 examiners available on the portal. Contact the doctor directly to fix an appointment date.
Submit Application: Once the date is confirmed by the doctor, log back into eGCA, select the specific examiner, and submit your formal Class 2 Medical application.
Attend the Examination: Visit the clinic on your scheduled date. Ensure you arrive fasting for at least 10 hours for the required blood tests.
Issue of Assessment: The doctor performs the tests and uploads the results to the DGCA server. The DGCA medical cell in New Delhi reviews the file and issues your final, digitally signed Class 2 Medical Assessment directly to your eGCA dashboard.

What Tests Are Conducted?

While not as exhaustive as the Class 1 evaluation conducted at military bases, the Class 2 Medical still involves a very thorough physical and pathological workup.

Cardiovascular Health: A resting Electrocardiogram (ECG) is mandatory to check for arrhythmias or congenital heart defects. Your blood pressure will also be closely monitored.
Pathology and Blood Work: You must undergo comprehensive fasting blood and urine tests. These panels screen for diabetes, liver and kidney dysfunction, and abnormal lipid profiles.
Hearing (Audiometry): A standard Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA) test is conducted to ensure you can hear aviation frequencies clearly.
Vision and Eye Health: The examiner will test your visual acuity, depth perception, and check for color blindness using Ishihara plates. Corrective lenses (glasses) are allowed, provided your corrected vision reaches the 6/9 standard.
General Physical: A routine physical examination of your respiratory system, nervous system, and musculoskeletal mobility.

Where Can You Take the Test?

The convenience of the Class 2 Medical lies in its accessibility. Unlike the initial Class 1, which restricts you to specific Air Force establishments, the Class 2 can be conducted by private doctors scattered across the country.

The DGCA publishes an updated roster of approved "Class 2 Medical Examiners" on its official website. These are highly qualified aviation medicine specialists operating in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune, as well as in several tier-two cities.

Always ensure you select a doctor from the current, active DGCA list, as medicals conducted by non-approved general practitioners are legally invalid.

What Happens If You Fail?

The fear of failing the medical examination is common among aspiring pilots. If the examiner detects an issue, they do not simply revoke your flying dreams permanently on the spot.

Temporary Unfitness (TU): If a minor, correctable issue is detected—such as elevated blood pressure, temporary vision issues, or a minor infection—you will be declared Temporarily Unfit. The DGCA will outline a specific timeframe for you to correct the issue (e.g., via medication or weight loss). Once resolved, you undergo a review, and the TU status is lifted.

Permanent Unfitness (PU): If the tests reveal a severe, non-correctable condition that poses a direct threat to flight safety (such as significant heart disease, certain neurological disorders, or severe color blindness), you will face a Permanent Unfitness ruling. While appeals are possible through a specialized DGCA medical board, they require substantial clinical evidence proving the original diagnosis was flawed.

Documents Required for Class 2 Medical

To complete your examination smoothly, you must carry both online application references and physical verification documents to your approved Aviation Medical Examiner (AME):

Government Photo ID: Original and photocopy of your Aadhaar Card, Passport, or PAN Card.
Date of Birth Proof: 10th standard mark sheet or birth certificate.
Photographs: 2 to 4 recent passport-sized photographs.
eGCA Application Printout: Copy of your online application/registration generated through the official eGCA Portal.
Vision Aid Prescription: Latest prescription for your spectacles or contact lenses (if you wear them), along with your glasses.
Medical History Records: Past surgery summaries, hospital discharge reports, or active prescriptions if you take long-term medication or have a pre-existing condition.
Lab Test Reports: Routine blood and urine test results, ECG, and X-ray reports if your AME or testing protocol requires prior local lab investigations.

Class 1 vs. Class 2 Medical

Here is a quick overview of how the Class 2 compares to the stricter Class 1 assessment:

Feature	DGCA Class 2 Medical	DGCA Class 1 Medical
Who Needs It?	Student Pilots (SPL) and Private Pilots (PPL).	Commercial Pilots (CPL) and Airline Transport Pilots (ATPL).
Prerequisites	None (eGCA PMR number required).	Must hold a valid Class 2 Medical assessment.
Examiners	Wide network of DGCA-approved Class 2 civil doctors.	Initial restricted to 13 specific IAF & civil centres.
Cost Expectation	₹3,500 to ₹5,000	₹5,000 to ₹7,000+
Validity (Under 40)	24 months.	12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs a DGCA Class 2 Medical?

The Class 2 Medical is mandatory for obtaining a Student Pilot License (SPL) and Private Pilot License (PPL). It is also the required first step before applying for a Class 1 Medical for your CPL.

How much does the Class 2 Medical cost?

The standard fee charged by DGCA-approved Class 2 medical examiners ranges between ₹3,500 and ₹5,000, depending on the specific clinic and city.

How long is the Class 2 Medical certificate valid?

For pilots under 40 years of age, the Class 2 Medical assessment is valid for 24 months. For pilots aged 40 to 50, it is valid for 12 months, and for those over 50, it drops to 6 months.

Can I wear glasses during the Class 2 test?

Yes, corrective lenses are completely acceptable. Your corrected vision must meet the 6/9 standard, which is slightly more relaxed than the Class 1 requirement of 6/6.

Do I need to do tests before visiting the examiner?

Some examiners prefer you to get routine blood work and an ECG from a local lab before your visit, while others have in-house facilities. Always confirm with your chosen examiner when booking your appointment.

What is a PMR number?

PMR stands for Personal Medical Record. It is a unique permanent ID generated when you register on the eGCA portal. This number links all your future aviation medical records throughout your flying career.

Official Resources

For the most up-to-date and comprehensive guidelines, please refer to the Official DGCA Class 2 Medical Document.

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