The DGCA Class 2 medical: your first real gate
There are two DGCA medicals in a pilot's life: Class 2 and Class 1. You need the Class 2 first. It is faster, cheaper, available in most cities, and it is the single best thing to do before you commit money to training. This guide explains what it checks, where to get it, what it costs, and why it is your smartest first move.
The DGCA Class 2 medical is the entry-level fitness check that lets you start flight training and hold a Student Pilot Licence. It is done by any DGCA-empanelled Class 2 examiner (there are around 150 across India), usually in a single visit for a modest fee, and booked through the eGCA portal. Do it before paying a school: it flags most problems that would later stop you at the stricter Class 1.
Why do this first
A flight school will happily take your enrolment fee before anyone checks whether you are medically fit to hold a licence. If a condition would stop you at the Class 1 stage, you want to know now, not after paying for months of ground school. The Class 2 is your early-warning system, at a fraction of the cost.
People pay lakhs for training, then discover at the Class 1 stage that a vision or health issue makes them ineligible. A Class 2 medical costs a tiny fraction of that and flags most problems early. Do it before you pay a school a single rupee.
What the Class 2 is for
The Class 2 medical certifies you fit enough to begin training and to hold a Student Pilot Licence (SPL) and Private Pilot Licence (PPL). It checks the fundamentals: vision, colour vision, hearing, heart, blood pressure and general health. It is less exhaustive than the Class 1, but it uses the same core standards, so passing it is a strong sign you will clear the Class 1 too.
Class 2 vs Class 1: how they differ
| Class 2 medical | Class 1 medical | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Start training; SPL and PPL | Required for the Commercial Pilot Licence |
| Where | ~150 DGCA-empanelled examiners across India | Initial only at 13 approved centres (3 IAF + civil AME hospitals) |
| How thorough | Core check, single visit | Full head-to-toe, often 1 to 2 days |
| When to do it | First, before you spend on training | After a valid Class 2, when you start commercial training |
| Cost | Modest examiner fee | Higher: investigations plus DGCA fee |
The practical takeaway: the Class 2 is easy to get near you; the Class 1 is stricter and location-restricted. Clearing the Class 2 first is the low-cost way to de-risk everything that follows.
Where and how to get it
- 1
Find a DGCA-empanelled Class 2 examiner. Unlike the Class 1, the Class 2 exam is done by authorised examiners in most major cities. DGCA publishes and regularly updates the official list (the current one is dated April 2026), organised by region. Use the examiner finder, or check the DGCA list directly.
- 2
Book through the eGCA portal. DGCA's medical process runs through eGCA. You will need a basic account and your details ready; the portal and examiner guide the booking.
- 3
Attend the examination. It is typically completed in a single visit. Bring photo ID, any spectacles or lenses you use (with a current prescription), and be honest about your health history. Hiding something that surfaces at Class 1 later is far worse.
- 4
Receive your Class 2 assessment. Once assessed fit, you are cleared to begin formal training and to apply for your Student Pilot Licence.
What it costs
The Class 2 is the affordable medical: you pay the empanelled examiner's fee, which is modest compared with the Class 1 and with training itself. Because fees vary by examiner and city, confirm the amount when you book rather than relying on a fixed figure.
Validity: it is time-limited
A Class 2 certificate is valid for a set period that depends on your age: younger candidates get a longer validity, and it shortens as you get older. Rather than quote a number that can go stale, confirm the current validity window on eGCA when you are assessed (the rules sit in DGCA CAR Section 7, Series C). The practical point: it is time-limited, so do not get it done years before you actually intend to start.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Class 2 medical before a Class 1?+
Yes. The Class 1 initial medical requires you to already hold a valid Class 2. Doing the Class 2 first is both a rule and the smart, low-cost way to catch problems early.
Where can I do a Class 2 medical?+
At any DGCA-empanelled Class 2 examiner. There are around 150 across India in most major cities, listed and regularly updated by DGCA. You do not need to travel to a defence hospital (that is only for the Class 1 initial).
How much does a Class 2 medical cost?+
Only the examiner's fee, which is modest and varies by city and doctor. It is a small fraction of Class 1 or training costs, which is exactly why it is worth doing first.
How long is a Class 2 medical valid?+
It depends on your age, with younger candidates getting a longer validity. Confirm the current window on eGCA when you are assessed, and time it so it does not lapse before you start training.
What does the Class 2 check?+
Vision and colour vision, hearing, heart and blood pressure, and general health. It uses the same core standards as the Class 1, so passing it is a good sign for the Class 1.
Key takeaways
- The Class 2 is your first medical: it lets you start training and hold an SPL/PPL.
- It is done by ~150 DGCA-empanelled examiners across India, booked via eGCA, usually in a single visit.
- It is cheap and fast, so do it before paying any school: it catches most issues that would stop you at the Class 1.
- Validity is age-dependent and time-limited; confirm the current window on eGCA.
- Be honest about your health history; problems hidden now surface at Class 1 later.
Before you move on
Clear the Class 2 and you have proven you can realistically start. The bigger, stricter exam, the Class 1 medical, is next, and it has its own rules about where it must be done.