FAA Neuropsychological and Psychological Evaluations for Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers

Navigating the FAA's medical certification process can be complex, especially when neuropsychological or psychological evaluations are required. If you're pursuing or renewing your medical certificate and the FAA has requested additional evaluation due to your mental health history, medication use, or a flagged issue, I can help you through the process with clarity and efficiency.

Aviation Neuropsychological Assessments by FAA certified clinical neuropsychologists

About Me

I'm Dr. Jason Olin, a licensed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist, certified by the FAA to conduct both neuropsychological and psychological evaluations. I have specialized training in aviation-related cognitive and psychological assessment, and I understand how important timely and accurate documentation is when your ability to fly is on the line.

These evaluations are lengthy and follow very specific guidelines. They include the review of many documents and records, a thorough interview, testing, and the completion of a detailed report. Although you are the person responsible for the cost of the assessment, these evaluations are written objectively to assist with FAA flight certification decision-making.

For ATCS employment candidates, the evaluation usually involves a comprehensive interview and administration of tests of personality. In those cases, you are assigned by the FAA to a specific psychologist.

When is an FAA Evaluation Required?

The FAA may request an evaluation if:

You've been referred by your Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) after submitting your application.
You have a history of depression, anxiety, ADHD, or other mental health conditions.
You’ve used medications such as antidepressants, stimulants, or other psychotropics.
You've had past substance use or legal incidents (e.g., DUI).

In some cases, the FAA will specify whether they require a psychological or neuropsychological assessment. If not, I’ll help clarify what’s needed based on your case history and FAA guidance.

There is an exception to this process related to ADHD. This applies to individuals who have had a past diagnosis or treatment for ADHD more than 4 years ago, and who also are symptom free currently. Those individuals may reach out to a psychologist or neuropsychologist first, to conduct a fast track evaluation. You do not have to first see an AME.

Records Review & Information Gathering

You'll send me your relevant documents, including:

FAA correspondence
AME notes
Medical, educational, or psychological records
DMV, legal, or military service records (as applicable)

I’ll review everything to understand your background and FAA concerns before we meet.

Interview and Testing (CogScreen)

We'll schedule a structured interview—usually 60–90 minutes—where I’ll ask about your mental health history, functioning, and any past or current concerns. This helps me assess how you're doing now and how it connects to your FAA case.

If the FAA requires a neuropsychological evaluation, I’ll administer standardized cognitive assessments, such as the CogScreen-AE or other measures relevant to attention, memory, processing speed, and executive function.

FAA-Compliant Report

I’ll compile a detailed report that directly addresses FAA criteria and includes:

A summary of your history and functional status
Interpretation of test results (if applicable)
A professional opinion on airman safety and suitability

The report is sent to the FAA or your HIMS AME. You may not receive a copy yourself, per FAA policy.

How Long Does it Take?

Turnaround time depends on how quickly I receive your records and complete the interview/testing. The FAA can take 30-75 days to share your file with me. Most evaluations are completed within 2 weeks from the date of the evaluation.

Schedule Your Evaluation

If you've received a letter from the FAA requesting an evaluation—or you’re not sure what the next step should be—I’d be happy to talk you through your options. Use the contact form below or call my office to get started.

Your ability to fly matters. Let’s get this part of the process handled with confidence and clarity.

Schedule a Consultation

My Aviation Story

I Love Aviation

I've always loved aviation, but lack the temperament to be a pilot. I had a passion for building airplane models, with favorites being the F-4, F-104, B-52, SR-71, and the Boeing 2707 SST. I've also taken several introductory flights on 151s and 172s, and have a curiosity about aviation accidents (books like I Learned Flying from That and Air Disasters).

I satisfy myself playing flight simulators. I currently fly both X-Plane and Microsoft flight simulator using a Honeycomb Alpha Yoke. My flight sim experiences harken back to SubLogic's first version, played on my brother's Apple ][+.

I'm also fortunate that my office is very close to SNA. Seeing the flights at sunset is a thrill (though the evening departures of the FedEx and UPS planes can be quite noisy).