Kidney transplant
What the FAA's documents say about kidney transplant, in plain words, with the FAA's own words one press away.
FAA term: Renal Transplant
Short version
The FAA's table has one row for it.
| Situation | What the examiner does | Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Renal transplantRenal transplant, all classes | Defers to the FAA | FAA review |
Show the FAA's words: the FAA's table for Kidney transplant
- Renal transplant · FAA review
A renal transplant. The Item 41 table's row is for all classes. The table says See Renal Transplant Protocol, and Requires FAA Decision. The protocol lists what an applicant with a history of renal transplant must submit if consideration for medical certification is desired.
Item 41. G-U System – General Disorders … Renal Transplant … All … See Renal Transplant Protocol … Requires FAA Decision
An applicant with a history of renal transplant must submit the following if consideration for medical certification is desired:
- A note on the table, 1
The same FAA page also has a row, after its chronic kidney disease rows, for ESRD requiring dialysis or kidney transplant. It says See the table above for more information, and DEFER.
ESRD requiring dialysis or kidney transplant … See the table above for more information. … DEFER
The FAA pathways for kidney transplant
- FAA reviewYour AME defers. The FAA decides.Renal transplant
Your step-by-step plan
Step 1: The hospital records
The first thing the protocol lists.The hospital admission, operative report and discharge summary.
Show the FAA's words: The hospital records
An applicant with a history of renal transplant must submit the following if consideration for medical certification is desired:
Hospital admission, operative report and discharge summary
FAA source: Renal Transplant. FAA date 8 December 2010; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 2: The current status report
What it includes, the lab results among them.A current status report including the things below.
Including
- The etiology of the primary renal disease
- History of hypertension or cardiac dysfunction
- Sequela prior to transplant
- A comment regarding rejection or graft versus host disease (GVHD)
- Immunosuppressive therapy and side effects, if any
- The results of a CBC, BUN, creatinine, and electrolytes
Show the FAA's words: The current status report
Current status report including:
The etiology of the primary renal disease
History of hypertension or cardiac dysfunction
Sequela prior to transplant
A comment regarding rejection or graft versus host disease (GVHD)
Immunosuppressive therapy and side effects, if any
The results of the following laboratory results: CBC, BUN, creatinine, and electrolytes
FAA source: Renal Transplant. FAA date 8 December 2010; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
What the examiner checks
Renal transplantDefers to the FAAFAA review
The table says See Renal Transplant Protocol, and Requires FAA Decision. The protocol lists what an applicant with a history of renal transplant must submit if consideration for medical certification is desired.
If the examiner defers
Show the FAA's words: what the examiner does on each row
- Renal transplant · FAA review
A renal transplant. The Item 41 table's row is for all classes. The table says See Renal Transplant Protocol, and Requires FAA Decision. The protocol lists what an applicant with a history of renal transplant must submit if consideration for medical certification is desired.
Item 41. G-U System – General Disorders … Renal Transplant … All … See Renal Transplant Protocol … Requires FAA Decision
An applicant with a history of renal transplant must submit the following if consideration for medical certification is desired:
If the examiner defersFAA review
The Item 41 table marks renal transplant, for all classes, Requires FAA Decision.
What the FAA lists to send
- Item 1. The protocol lists the hospital admission, operative report and discharge summary.
- Item 2. It also lists a current status report, which includes, among other things, the results of a CBC, BUN, creatinine, and electrolytes.
Show the FAA's words: if the examiner defers
When the examiner defers
- Reason 1
The Item 41 table marks renal transplant, for all classes, Requires FAA Decision.
Item 41. G-U System – General Disorders … Renal Transplant … All … See Renal Transplant Protocol … Requires FAA Decision
What the FAA lists to send
- Item 1
The protocol lists the hospital admission, operative report and discharge summary.
Hospital admission, operative report and discharge summary
- Item 2
It also lists a current status report, which includes, among other things, the results of a CBC, BUN, creatinine, and electrolytes.
Current status report including: … The results of the following laboratory results: CBC, BUN, creatinine, and electrolytes
Good to know
Points from the FAA's own documents that are easy to miss.
What a progress note must include
In most cases it should come from a visit with the treating physician no more than 90 days ago, and cover the history, medications with dosages and side effects, exam findings, test results, diagnosis, assessment and plan, prognosis and follow-up. The FAA's sheet says to make sure the physician adds the prognosis. A portal note or an After Visit Summary that does not meet these criteria is not enough, and neither is a simple "ok to fly" letter. The FAA's documents also call it a status report.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 1
your patient portal to print out “notes” or an “After Visit Summary (AVS).” … Patient Portal notes or an AVS that do not meet the criteria listed below for a detailed Clinical Progress Note are NOT sufficient for FAA purposes. … To be “current,” in MOST CASES, the detailed Clinical Progress Note should be from an evaluation in which you saw your treating physician no more than 90 days ago. … It Must include the following items: … A summary of the history of the condition, … Current medications, dosages, and side effects (if any); … Clinical exam findings; … Results of any testing performed; … Diagnosis; … Assessment and Plan; … Prognosis (This item may not be on a standard progress note, make sure your physician adds this information.); and … Follow-up … Please note: A letter stating, “Mr. Smith is ok to fly” (or any other simple note), is NOT a current, detailed Clinical Progress Note and is NOT acceptable. … You may also see this called a “current status report” or “status report” in current FAA Guidance. Any reference to a “status report” equals the criteria listed on this sheet.
The lab results are part of the status report
The protocol lists the results of a CBC, BUN, creatinine, and electrolytes as the last thing the current status report includes, not as an item of their own.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 2
Current status report including: … The results of the following laboratory results: CBC, BUN, creatinine, and electrolytes
FAA sources
Every FAA document this page relies on, with the FAA's own date and the date Crosscheck last read it. The documents to print open at the FAA, so they are always the FAA's current ones.
This reports what the FAA has published. It is not medical advice, and it does not say how the FAA or an examiner will decide a case.