Pilots with a substance use disorder, whether abuse or dependence, must be in satisfactory recovery before the FAA will certify them. This three-page specification, updated 01/29/2020, requires two separate evaluations, psychiatric and neuropsychological, to assess the disorder, the quality of recovery and any other psychiatric condition or neurocognitive deficit, and lists what each report must contain.
A psychiatrist board-certified by the ABPN or the American Board of Osteopathic Neurology and Psychiatry, who is also board certified in addiction psychiatry or trained in the HIMS program, writes the psychiatric report. A neuropsychologist on the FAA's provider list performs the testing and writes the neuropsychological report.
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Specifications for Psychiatric and Neuropsychological Evaluations for Substance Abuse/Dependence
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Board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Board of Osteopathic Neurology and Psychiatry, plus either board certification in addiction psychiatry or training in the HIMS program. The FAA prefers HIMS-trained psychiatrists and warns that one without this background may limit the report's usefulness.
Yes. For substance abuse and dependence evaluations, the neuropsychologist must be on the FAA Neuropsychologist List. The report must interpret a full neuropsychological and psychological battery, including the core battery from the FAA's secure portal, with pilot norms where available.
Pilots found eligible for unrestricted certification need no further evaluations. Those found eligible for special issuance undergo periodic re-evaluations, and the special issuance authorization letter spells out which evaluations or tests are required.