Tourette syndrome or tic disorder
What the FAA's documents say about tourette syndrome or tic disorder, in plain words, with the FAA's own words one press away.
Covers: All classes
Show the FAA's words: which classes the FAA's table covers
TOURETTE SYNDROME or TIC DISORDER All Classes
Short version
The FAA's table sorts it into three rows.
| Situation | What the examiner does | Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Row ATic disorder present 5 or more years, not worsening | Examiner issues | Examiner can issue |
| Row BPresent less than 5 years, unknown cause, OR worsening, OR adult-onset | Defers to the FAA | Special Issuance |
| Row CTourette syndrome | Defers to the FAA | Special Issuance |
Show the FAA's words: the FAA's table for Tourette syndrome or tic disorder
- Row A · Examiner can issue
A tic disorder (chronic motor or vocal tic) present 5 or more years and not worsening. The row's note says adult-onset tic disorder goes to Row B. The table says ISSUE if the examiner can determine the condition is under control, no medications or treatment are required, and the individual has NO symptoms that would interfere with flight duties or communication. The examiner annotates this information in Block 60.
A. Tic disorder (Chronic motor or vocal tic) present 5 or more years Not worsening … If the AME can determine: • The condition is under control, • No medications or treatment required, and • The individual has NO symptoms that would interfere with flight duties or communication: Note: Adult-onset tic disorder, go to Row B … ISSUE Annotate this information in Block 60.
- Row B · Special Issuance
A tic disorder (chronic motor or vocal tic) present less than 5 years, unknown cause, OR worsening, OR adult-onset tic, as the row prints them. The table lists what to submit for FAA review. The examiner defers, submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance, and annotates elements or findings in Block 60.
B. Tic disorder (Chronic motor or vocal Tic) Present less than 5 years Unknown cause OR Worsening OR Adult-onset tic … Submit the following for FAA review: … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance Annotate (elements or findings) in Block 60.
- Row C · Special Issuance
Tourette syndrome. The table lists what to submit for FAA review. The examiner defers, submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance, and annotates elements or findings in Block 60.
C. Tourette Syndrome Submit the following for FAA review: … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance Annotate (elements or findings) in Block 60.
The FAA pathways for tourette syndrome or tic disorder
Which one describes yours?
The FAA's table sorts it these ways. Choose yours to see its plan.
Your step-by-step plan
Step 1: Row A: what the examiner determines
A tic disorder present 5 or more years, not worsening.For Row A, your AME determines the findings the table lists. If your AME can determine them, the table says ISSUE.
If the AME can determine
- The condition is under control
- No medications or treatment required
- NO symptoms that would interfere with flight duties or communication
At the exam
- Your AME annotates this information in Block 60
Show the FAA's words: Row A: what the examiner determines
If the AME can determine: • The condition is under control, • No medications or treatment required, and • The individual has NO symptoms that would interfere with flight duties or communication: Note: Adult-onset tic disorder, go to Row B
ISSUE
FAA source: Tourette Syndrome or Tic Disorder. FAA date 30 August 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
ISSUE Annotate this information in Block 60.
FAA source: Tourette Syndrome or Tic Disorder. FAA date 30 August 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 2: See your AME
The table says ISSUE if the examiner can determine the condition is under control, no medications or treatment are required, and the individual has NO symptoms that would interfere with flight duties or communication. The examiner annotates this information in Block 60.Exam day- The table says ISSUE if the examiner can determine the condition is under control, no medications or treatment are required, and the individual has NO symptoms that would interfere with flight duties or communication. The examiner annotates this information in Block 60.
Show the FAA's words: See your AME
A. Tic disorder (Chronic motor or vocal tic) present 5 or more years Not worsening
If the AME can determine: • The condition is under control, • No medications or treatment required, and • The individual has NO symptoms that would interfere with flight duties or communication: Note: Adult-onset tic disorder, go to Row B
ISSUE Annotate this information in Block 60.
FAA source: Tourette Syndrome or Tic Disorder. FAA date 30 August 2023; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
What the examiner checks
It depends on which row of the FAA's table describes the case.
Row AExaminer issuesExaminer can issue
The table says ISSUE if the examiner can determine the condition is under control, no medications or treatment are required, and the individual has NO symptoms that would interfere with flight duties or communication. The examiner annotates this information in Block 60.
Row BDefers to the FAASpecial Issuance
The table lists what to submit for FAA review. The examiner defers, submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance, and annotates elements or findings in Block 60.
If the examiner defersRow CDefers to the FAASpecial Issuance
The table lists what to submit for FAA review. The examiner defers, submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance, and annotates elements or findings in Block 60.
If the examiner defers
Show the FAA's words: what the examiner does on each row
- Row A · Examiner can issue
A tic disorder (chronic motor or vocal tic) present 5 or more years and not worsening. The row's note says adult-onset tic disorder goes to Row B. The table says ISSUE if the examiner can determine the condition is under control, no medications or treatment are required, and the individual has NO symptoms that would interfere with flight duties or communication. The examiner annotates this information in Block 60.
A. Tic disorder (Chronic motor or vocal tic) present 5 or more years Not worsening … If the AME can determine: • The condition is under control, • No medications or treatment required, and • The individual has NO symptoms that would interfere with flight duties or communication: Note: Adult-onset tic disorder, go to Row B … ISSUE Annotate this information in Block 60.
- Row B · Special Issuance
A tic disorder (chronic motor or vocal tic) present less than 5 years, unknown cause, OR worsening, OR adult-onset tic, as the row prints them. The table lists what to submit for FAA review. The examiner defers, submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance, and annotates elements or findings in Block 60.
B. Tic disorder (Chronic motor or vocal Tic) Present less than 5 years Unknown cause OR Worsening OR Adult-onset tic … Submit the following for FAA review: … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance Annotate (elements or findings) in Block 60.
- Row C · Special Issuance
Tourette syndrome. The table lists what to submit for FAA review. The examiner defers, submits the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance, and annotates elements or findings in Block 60.
C. Tourette Syndrome Submit the following for FAA review: … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance Annotate (elements or findings) in Block 60.
If the examiner defersSpecial Issuance
The table marks Row B, a tic disorder present less than 5 years, unknown cause, OR worsening, OR adult-onset tic, DEFER.
The table marks Row C, Tourette syndrome, DEFER.
Show the FAA's words: if the examiner defers
When the examiner defers
- Reason 1
The table marks Row B, a tic disorder present less than 5 years, unknown cause, OR worsening, OR adult-onset tic, DEFER.
B. Tic disorder (Chronic motor or vocal Tic) Present less than 5 years Unknown cause OR Worsening OR Adult-onset tic … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance
- Reason 2
The table marks Row C, Tourette syndrome, DEFER.
C. Tourette Syndrome … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance
What a Special Issuance is
The Guide says an Authorization for Special Issuance, valid for a specified period, may be granted at the Federal Air Surgeon's discretion to a person who does not meet the established medical standards, if the person shows to the satisfaction of the Federal Air Surgeon that the duties authorized by the class of certificate applied for can be performed without endangering public safety during the period the Authorization would be in force.
How the FAA pathways workGood to know
Points from the FAA's own documents that are easy to miss.
Row B's list, as printed
Row B's first column reads "Present less than 5 years", then "Unknown cause", with no word between them, then "OR Worsening" and "OR Adult-onset tic". The table does not say whether the first two go together or each stands alone, and this page shows the list as printed.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 1
B. Tic disorder (Chronic motor or vocal Tic) Present less than 5 years Unknown cause OR Worsening OR Adult-onset tic
Adult-onset tic disorder is Row B
Row A's note says adult-onset tic disorder goes to Row B, and Row B lists adult-onset tic. The table marks Row B DEFER.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 2
Note: Adult-onset tic disorder, go to Row B … OR Adult-onset tic … DEFER Submit the information to the FAA for a possible Special Issuance
The neuropsychological evaluation, Row B and Row C
For Row B, a tic disorder, the table says a current neuropsychological and cognitive evaluation MAY be required after review of the initial neurological evaluation. For Row C, Tourette syndrome, it asks for a neuropsychological (NP) evaluation, and the note printed in Row C says Tourette's syndrome and tics are commonly associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and that neuropsychological evaluation and testing is required. The note names tics as well as Tourette's syndrome, and the table does not say whether it reaches Row B. This page shows both as printed.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 3
B. Tic disorder … a current neuropsychological and cognitive evaluation (Specifications for Neuropsychological Evaluations for ADHD) MAY be required after review of the initial neurological evaluation. … C. Tourette Syndrome … 2. A Neuropsychological (NP) evaluation that meets FAA Specifications for Neuropsychological Evaluations for ADHD … Note: Tourette's syndrome and tics are commonly associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Neuropsychological evaluation and testing is required.
The evaluations meet the FAA's specifications
The table asks that the neurological evaluation meet FAA Specifications for Neurologic Evaluation, and names the Specifications for Neuropsychological Evaluations for ADHD for the neuropsychological evaluations. The table names those specifications and does not set them out, and this page does not quote them.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 4
A current, detailed neurological evaluation that meets FAA Specifications for Neurologic Evaluation … (Specifications for Neuropsychological Evaluations for ADHD) … A Neuropsychological (NP) evaluation that meets FAA Specifications for Neuropsychological Evaluations for ADHD
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.
- Tourette Syndrome or Tic DisorderOpen to print: Tourette Syndrome or Tic Disorder, a PDF at the FAA, in a new tab
Examiner can issue, Special Issuance
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.