An Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) typically gives you a student pilot certificate to fill out as part of the third class medical exam. Your flight instructor will likely refer you to a local AME, or you can find an examiner online using AOPA’s database of AMEs searchable by city and state. A student pilot certificate is valid for 24 calendar months and a third-class medical could be valid for up to 36 months, depending on your age at the time of your AME visit. If your student pilot certificate expires first, you can get a new one from a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) or your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).