FAA Medical ID Numbers Records Request
Suppose you communicate with the FAA about your medical certification outside your exam, such as looking for your historical records. You may find references to specific identification numbers such as Applicant ID, MID, and PI in that case. But what are these numbers? What do they mean? How can you find them? What can you get regarding historical records from the FAA about your medical certification?
The Applicant ID is unique to each person. It is a system-generated number assigned at the first application and meant to identify a particular applicant. Sometimes, people change addresses or accidentally mistype their names or social security numbers. The Applicant ID is intended to follow one person with any interaction with FAA medical certification. Your Applicant ID is printed on the lower left corner of your FAA medical certificate.
MID
Where the Applicant ID is unique to the individual, the MID is unique to the exam. Pilots may do exams every few years or every six months, depending on their age and medical class. Each exam is tracked in the FAA system to differentiate it from the hundreds of thousands of other exams. A MID can be used to find a specific exam showing the applicant, the AME, and all the questions, answers, and exam findings. This number is printed on the lower right corner of your FAA medical certificate but is labeled “Control No.”
PI
Think of the P as “pathology” or “problem,” and you’ll see that the PI number is more of a case file number. Any time there is a question about a certification, and questions are going back and forth, a PI number will be assigned. As the shortest number of the three linked to the individual, the exam, and any associated supporting documentation, the PI number is the FAA’s preferred way to look up a case file. PI numbers are only assigned by an authorized user if needed, unlike the Applicant ID and MID, which are automatic system-generated numbers. Once a PI number is assigned, it will remain with the airman for the life of their files.
Records Request
One of the things we recommend is to save PDF copies of every MedXPress submission you complete. That way, when you go for your next exam, you aren’t wondering what you did or did not report on the last exam or how you worded a particular answer. By having these copies, you can easily reference them and add what is new or different.
If you have not been keeping these for yourself, you can request a complete copy of your FAA medical file. This is done by submitting the FAA Request for Airman Medical Records (FAA form 8065-2) to CAMI in Oklahoma City. You can request a complete or partial record over a specified period.
What you get (and what you don’t get)
The FAA will provide you with copies of all prior applications for medical certification along with the certificate results. You will also get any communication between you and the FAA’s medical certification teams and all previously provided medical records. Some information they won’t release is generally limited to specialized testing, and the FAA will identify which information was withheld in their cover letter. For example, HIMS Neurocognitive testing has data that can’t be released to the general public. Doing so could compromise the validity of future testing.
It generally takes a month or more for the FAA to process your request and deliver your record, so make sure to plan.
Summary
Each applicant will get a single Applicant ID and may have many exams, each with their MID number. A PI number will also be assigned if there is a focused medical review. The Applicant ID and the MID numbers are visible on your medical certificate. However, you will only know the PI number if you receive a letter from the FAA discussing your case. If you would like a copy of your FAA airman medical files, submit the FAA form 8065-2, Request for Airman Medical Records, and you can get a copy of all of your previous FAA medical exam interactions.
# FAA Medical ID Numbers Records Request
