Do cabin crew need a medical certificate?

Cabin crew usually need a medical assessment before operating, but the document is not always called a medical certificate. In EASA systems, it is normally recorded as a cabin crew medical report.

Medical report versus certificate: The purpose of the assessment is to confirm that the crew member is fit to perform cabin safety duties and is not likely to be incapacitated during work. The assessment can consider general health, vision, hearing, mobility, mental health and any condition that could affect emergency performance.

A cabin crew medical report records whether the person has been assessed fit or unfit and may include limitations. Medical details are normally treated as confidential.

Validity periods vary by authority. Under EASA, cabin crew medical reports can be valid for up to 60 months, but a shorter validity may be applied if follow-up is needed. Airlines or national systems may also apply their own checks.

If you are applying across borders, confirm whether the airline needs an EASA, UK CAA or other authority-recognised medical document.

This is different from a pilot medical certificate. Cabin crew do not need to meet pilot Class 1 standards, but they still need to be fit enough for their safety role.

A medical limitation may still allow flying if it does not prevent emergency duties. The airline and authority decide whether the limitation is compatible with the operation.

Candidates should keep copies of medical documents and expiry dates. Airlines may ask for proof before training, before line flying or when transferring between bases or authorities.

Next step: Check the Cabin Crew Requirements Guide before applying for current cabin crew jobs.