How to Prepare for Your FAA Neuropsychological Evaluation (2026)
- Jun 4, 2025
- 2 min read
Facing a full FAA neuropsychological evaluation can feel like an exam with no study guide. The good news? You don’t need to “study,” but you do need to come prepared.
If you have received your FAA letter, you can learn more about FAA Neuropsychological Evaluations here.
What to Send in Advance
Your FAA deferral or denial letter
Psychiatric, neurological, or rehab records
Academic records and DMV records
Copies of any prior neuropsychological testing or evaluations
Request these before your appointment to avoid delays. Every concern named in your deferral letter has to be addressed in the report, and the evaluator cannot close out a concern without the records that speak to it. Missing documentation is one of the most common causes of follow-up requests and delay, so the more complete your records, the smoother the process.
How to Prepare Mentally and Physically
Aim for a normal night of sleep. Fatigue affects concentration and memory scores. One restless night is not a reason to cancel, but if you are seriously sleep-deprived or ill on the day, contact us, since acute fatigue and illness can affect performance.
Avoid alcohol for at least 72 hours before testing.
Eat a healthy breakfast. You will be tested for several hours, with scheduled breaks and a lunch break.
Do your honest best rather than trying to manage your performance. Both over-effort and under-effort patterns can be detected, and inconsistent performance can flag you for retesting. This is also why heavy practice on CogScreen-style tasks beforehand can work against you, since results that do not match the rest of your profile get noticed.
What This Evaluation Actually Measures
This evaluation is a snapshot of cognitive and emotional functioning relevant to your work as an airman, measured against FAA criteria. It is not a judgment of your intelligence or your flying ability. Most pilot clients walk away saying the experience was easier than they expected, especially when they knew what to expect.
Want to talk through your FAA letter or concerns?
If you are navigating FAA certification and unsure whether ADHD Fast Track applies to you, you can review the FAA ADHD Fast Track overview here.
Written by Jason Olin, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Neuropsychologist.
Dr. Olin provides psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for high-stakes testing and licensing decisions, including FAA-related evaluations. He sees clients onsite in Newport Beach, California, and by telehealth across 43 PSYPACT states and New York.
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