5 ranked AME offices near Tacoma and TIW, for pilots who need a flight physical.
Finding a flight physical in Tacoma does not have to be hard. We ranked 5 offices near TIW using public Google Maps results. The list uses Google ratings, review volume, aviation focus, and search visibility. This helps you compare local options in one place.
Some offices are aviation-focused. Others are local doctors who showed up in AME searches. Always confirm the current FAA designation and the class you need before you book. Fees and hours vary by office, so call ahead. The FAA Designee Locator is the official way to check an examiner.
Northwest Aviation Medicine is an aviation-focused office in Gig Harbor, about 6.2 miles from downtown. It has a 5.0 Google rating and many public reviews. It is open 5 weekdays. Call the office to confirm the classes it handles and the current price.
Larson Aeromedical Services is an aviation-focused medical examiner in Kent, about 17 miles from downtown. It has a website but no public Google rating or reviews listed. Call to confirm hours, the classes it handles, and the current fee.
Dr. Anne L. Coatney, DO is a doctor in Tukwila, about 16.8 miles from downtown. This office showed up in local AME searches. Call to confirm it holds a current FAA designation and handles the class you need.
Lukens David L DO is a family practice physician in Tacoma, about 0.6 miles from downtown. It has a 3.0 Google rating from a small number of public reviews. This office showed up in local AME searches. Call to confirm it holds a current FAA designation and handles your class.
Dr. Donald L. Sinden, DO is a family practice physician in Puyallup, about 10.2 miles from downtown. It has a 3.5 Google rating from a small number of public reviews. This office showed up in local AME searches. Call to confirm it holds a current FAA designation and handles your class.
Listings come from public Google Maps data. Ratings and hours can change. Confirm the examiner holds a current FAA designation on the FAA Designee Locator. Spot an error? Tell us.
Only an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner can issue an FAA medical certificate. Use the FAA Designee Locator to check the doctor's current status. A local search result does not prove a current designation. If you are unsure, call the office and ask, or confirm with the FAA before you book.
Fill out FAA Form 8500-8 online in MedXPress before the exam. Bring the confirmation number. The MedXPress application stays valid for 60 days. Also bring glasses or contacts if you use them, a list of medicines, and any records your examiner asks for. Answering falsely on the form is a federal offense.
The AME can deny or defer your case. A deferral sends the file to the FAA Aerospace Medical Certification Division in Oklahoma City or a Regional Flight Surgeon. Reviews can take weeks or months. Some conditions can be handled with a Special Issuance, an AME Assisted Special Issuance, or a Conditions AMEs Can Issue worksheet. Ask your examiner which path applies.
BasicMed lets some private pilots fly without a current medical certificate. You must have held a valid FAA medical certificate at some point after July 14, 2006. You also take an approved online course every 24 months and get an exam from any state-licensed physician every 48 months. Flights must stay below 18,000 feet MSL, at 250 knots or less, and not for compensation or hire. Check the current FAA BasicMed page for aircraft and passenger limits.