How long does it take to get cat 1 medical?

[yjh02061]

Hello.

I heard that it can take about 3 months to get Canada category 1 medical these day.
I want to know if this is true.

Also, my flight school requires me to complete my medical in order to start my training.
If it takes about 3 months to get medical, then is there any temporary medical that I can get in Canada?
Or is there any form of verification which can approve that I pass the medical before I receive result from Transport Canada?(I even didn’t take medical check yet.)
I don’t want to delay my training any more.

Are there some methods other than just waiting for medical?

[TurkeyFarmYQX]

Definitely doesn't take three months. Mine was less than a month.

[JasonE]

Depends on region and workload at the time.

[BGH]

I’ve held a cat1 for about 25 years,renewed without issues end of June & heard nothing until I sent them an email in December; got an email back next day saying it was just processed & here’s the bill. Pacific Region.

Daryl

[Pilotdaddy]

Was told 90 days was typical (assuming no follow-ups) for the Ontario region when I got mine last year.

[ayseven]

It is an excellent question. They are not in a hurry. And if you stopped flying for many many reasons, and want to go back, which they are immediately suspicious of: 7 months and counting. They are hoping I just give up, but I am not giving up, and you shouldn't either. Try to be patient, we will all get there.

[RedAndWhiteBaron]

I had my Cat I done on January 15th. I was at the North York TC office on the 20th of February, and they told me there that they were still processing medicals from November then. So, yeah, a 3 or 4 month wait.

My instructor has recommended I get a Cat IV medical in the meantime, which is just a form countersigned by your doctor affirming that you have no medical conditions that may incapacitate you while in command of an aircraft. A student pilot permit can be issued with a Cat IV medical which would allow you to solo. You would, however, still need the Cat I for your CPL/PPL (assuming you're not also waiting on a Cat III). Might be worth looking into.

[co-joe]

You don't need a cat 1 to start training, you need it in hand to do the flight test. Correct me if I'm wrong...A Cat 3 should do, but obviously you want to know you can get the cat 1 before you spend too much money.

[photofly]

Why would you bother with a category 3 medical, then spend another hour with the doctor and another $200 to get a category 1?

[paytoplay]

Took me 7 weeks from the exam till it was issued and then placed in the mail through the Ontario region and that was with weekly phone calls for updates.

[yjh02061]

Thank you guys. Helped a lot!!

[A321]

Does anyone have recent experience (RE: Processing time) applying for a CAT 1 medical in the Prairie Region? As well, does anyone know if having held a previous CAT 1 (20 years ago) and still have the LVC with the blank for the temporary Physician Signature... does this reduce turn around time for a CAT1 vs starting from scratch as an initial CAT 1 applicant?

[photofly]

IT probably increases the turnaround time, as your previous medical records will have to be retrieved from the archive, which was outsourced to Malaysia in 2006.

[Airbusdriver69]

Thank you guys. Helped a lot!!

Did you get it yet?

How long did it take? And which region are you in?

Thanks

[yjh02061]

Yes I got it. It took roughly 3-4months. Sorry for late reply just checked this. In Waterloo region.

[RedAndWhiteBaron]

Does anyone have recent experience (RE: Processing time) applying for a CAT 1 medical in the Prairie Region? As well, does anyone know if having held a previous CAT 1 (20 years ago) and still have the LVC with the blank for the temporary Physician Signature... does this reduce turn around time for a CAT1 vs starting from scratch as an initial CAT 1 applicant?

I didn't hold a CAT 1, but I did hold a CAT 3 25 years prior to switching careers. I would guesstimate that retrieving that old CAT 3 out of archives added a couple of months to the processing time. For reference, my initial CAT 1 was done 2020/01/15 and I got my sticker in the mail 2020/05/20. I didn't have any complicating factors or restrictions other than "glasses or contact lenses must be worn", either then or now. I did need to poke and prod them a couple of times. Bear in mind that my wait time was less affected by Covid than it would have been if I started in 2021.

[edit]
Ontario region.
[/edit]

[hweir]

Took me 7 weeks from the exam till it was issued and then placed in the mail through the Ontario region and that was with weekly phone calls for updates.

Do you have the number that you reached them at? I am struggling to get a hold of them.