FAA Exams
When the FAA or your Aviation Medical Examiner requires a neuropsychological or psychological evaluation before your medical certificate can be issued, it has to be done by an FAA-listed evaluator, follow the FAA’s published test specifications, and reach the FAA with every required document. NSG’s providers are here to help with each step in the process.
Send us your FAA letter or call (888) 606-0086
- FAA-listed evaluators. HIMS neuropsychologists and psychologists on the FAA’s published list.
- Five clinics. Two in Houston, plus Dallas, Atlanta, and Pensacola.
- Sent for you. The complete package goes directly to the FAA and your AME.
Which evaluation do you need?
Your FAA letter or your AME’s deferral names the evaluation. If you are not sure which one applies, send us the letter and we will tell you before you book.
- ADHDADHD Fast Track
For pilots who disclosed a history of ADHD or ADD, or past ADHD medication, and who have had no symptoms, no functional problems, and no ADHD medication for at least four years.
What happens: a records review and a clinical interview. No testing.
About two hours. In person or by secure video in most states. Your AME can often issue your certificate once the completed FAA ADHD Summary is returned.
- ADHDADHD Standard Track
Required when any Fast Track screening item is a “yes” (for example, any ADHD medication in the past four years) or when the FAA asks for it directly.
What happens: the FAA’s ADHD test battery, including CogScreen-AE and a urine drug screen, with an FAA HIMS neuropsychologist.
A full day, in person. Must be completed within 90 days of your AME exam, so tell us your exam date when you call.
- AntidepressantAntidepressant (SSRI) protocol
For pilots seeking certification while taking an FAA-accepted antidepressant under a HIMS AME, on the same medication and dose for at least three months.
What happens: a clinical interview and the CogScreen-AE aviation cognitive screening. If the screening raises a concern, the FAA’s supplemental battery is added the same day.
Half a day, in person.
- Psychiatric historyPsychological Evaluation
For a history of depression, anxiety, PTSD, or another psychiatric diagnosis or treatment when the FAA asks for a psychological evaluation.
What happens: a detailed clinical interview, the FAA-specified intellectual and personality testing, and additional measures chosen for your referral question.
Half a day, in person. The FAA sometimes also requires a separate psychiatric evaluation; we will tell you if your letter calls for one.
- Neurological, substance, HIVFull Neuropsychological Evaluation
For potential neurocognitive impairment (head injury, concussion, stroke, seizure, memory or attention concerns), substance abuse or dependence under the HIMS program, HIV, or any other FAA neuropsychological referral.
What happens: the complete FAA core battery, including CogScreen-AE, with a comprehensive report.
A full day, in person.
- Not sure which one?
Send us the letter. We read it, confirm the evaluation type against the FAA’s specification, and call you back before anything is booked.
We also perform FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) Tier 2 psychological evaluations and fitness-for-duty evaluations for aviation employers.
How it works
- Send us the letter. Email or fax your FAA or AME letter. We confirm the evaluation type, schedule you, and send a written list of the records you need to gather.
- Gather your records. Send us everything as soon as you have it. Your report cannot be completed until every required record has arrived, and waiting on records is the most common cause of delay. If the FAA has a medical file on you, we complete the FAA records request (Form 8065-2) with you at check-in; it takes the FAA six to eight weeks to send it.
- Evaluation day. Sleep well, eat breakfast, take your usual medications, and bring photo identification, glasses or hearing aids, and a list of current medications. There is nothing to study. Practicing tests in advance can invalidate your results and will be noted in the report.
- The report. Your evaluator writes to the FAA’s specifications, with the score summary and every test printout the FAA requires, and sends the complete package directly to the FAA Aerospace Medical Certification Division and to your AME. You receive a copy.
The FAA, not the evaluator, makes the certification decision. Our job is a complete, accurate, FAA-ready evaluation delivered without avoidable delay.
What to send us
Every evaluation: the FAA or AME letter, and all records related to the condition the FAA asked about (treating providers, hospitals, pharmacy records, any prior testing).
ADHD evaluations, either track, per the FAA ADHD Document Checklist:
- Pharmacy records for the past four years
- Records of the ADHD diagnosis and treatment, and any other ADHD or learning evaluations
- Driver’s license records from every state where you have held a license in the past four years
- All academic transcripts through your highest degree, with any 504 plan or IEP
- A typed, signed, and dated personal statement following the FAA’s ADHD Personal Statement Guidelines
- A second copy of everything for your AME
Our FAA evaluators
Every NSG FAA evaluation is performed by a neuropsychologist or psychologist on the FAA’s published list of HIMS Neuropsychologists and Psychologists, who has completed the FAA Aerospace Behavioral Health Seminar, the HIMS Basic Education Seminar, and CogScreen-AE training.
- Nick Wisdom, PhD, ABPPHouston (League City), TX
- Robert Collins, PhD, ABPPHouston (Missouri City), TX
- Erin Sullivan-Baca, PhD, ABPPDallas (Plano), TX
- W. Alex Alverson, PhD, ABPPAtlanta (Alpharetta), GA
- Daniel Proto, PhD, ABPPPensacola, FL
FAA evaluations are scheduled at these clinics. Other NSG locations can refer you to the nearest one.
Questions pilots ask
- Are your evaluators FAA approved?
- Yes. The FAA publishes the list of HIMS Neuropsychologists and Psychologists it accepts, and every NSG FAA evaluator is on it. You may not use an evaluator who is not.
- Is the evaluation covered by insurance?
- No. FAA certification evaluations are not medically necessary services and are not billed to insurance. The fee for your evaluation type is quoted when you schedule and is due before the evaluation begins. If the FAA specifications require additional testing based on your initial results, we tell you before it is added.
- Can I do the evaluation by video?
- Only the ADHD Fast Track, and only when you are physically located in Texas or a PSYPACT state during the appointment. Every other FAA evaluation is in person.
- My AME sent me before I applied. I have no FAA letter or PI number. Can you still see me?
- Yes. This is common, and for ADHD and antidepressant cases it is how the FAA designed the process. Send us your AME’s written referral. Your report goes to your AME, who uploads it with your application.
- How soon can I be seen, and how long until the report is sent?
- Call and we will give you the next available date at the clinic nearest you. Reports are completed once all required records are in; missing records are the reason a report is late almost every time. ADHD Standard Track evaluations must be completed within 90 days of your AME exam, so tell us the exam date when you call.
- Do you work with HIMS AMEs and aviation medical consultants?
- Yes. We coordinate directly with your AME and, at your request, with consulting services that manage your FAA application.
- What if my letter lists more than one issue?
- Send us the letter. Some combinations (for example ADHD plus a substance history) change the evaluation type and the test battery, and we will scope the evaluation before you book.
We’re here to help.
Questions about scheduling, insurance, referrals, or what to expect? Our FAQ covers the most common ones.
Visit FAQSchedule an Evaluation
Call, fax, or email our office and our team will take it from there.
- Phone: (888) 606-0086
- Fax: (346) 223-0296
- Email: office@nsgnetwork.com