Medical diagnosis or not?

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TekMek201

Filing Flight Plan
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Jan 13, 2026
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Ben
I am in my early 20's and am training for my CPL now. I have a current first class medical and it's like the 3rd one I have had. About 5 years in the end of 2020 my family moved states and I had a tough time with it. I was starting high school in a new area and was super nervous. My parents took me to go see a counselor that I was told was religious so i didn't think they were a "Medical Professional" which is why I never reported it. Come to find out that my parents gave the counselor an insurance card, which means that she had to diagnose me to get it covered. The counselor told insurance I had "Mixed obsessional thoughts and acts". I had no idea about this until recently when I remembered that time since I had only been there less than 5 times. The counselor also never told me about this "diagnosis" and she never told my parents, since I was a minor at the time. The counselor is licensed as an LPC, not a CLPC and I live in a state where LPC's supposedly aren't allowed to diagnose patients.

Do I mention this on my next medical and stir the pot? I've heard of someone in a similar situation to me going to see a psychiatrist out of pocket and getting cleared, that way if anything ever came up they could show the FAA that report from the Psychiatrist. Any advice?
 
Get the diagnosis code that he/she used. THAT is findable by the administration. (NOT the CPT code).
 
TekMek201 said:
I am in my early 20's and am training for my CPL now. I have a current first class medical and it's like the 3rd one I have had. About 5 years in the end of 2020 my family moved states and I had a tough time with it. I was starting high school in a new area and was super nervous. My parents took me to go see a counselor that I was told was religious so i didn't think they were a "Medical Professional" which is why I never reported it. Come to find out that my parents gave the counselor an insurance card, which means that she had to diagnose me to get it covered. The counselor told insurance I had "Mixed obsessional thoughts and acts". I had no idea about this until recently when I remembered that time since I had only been there less than 5 times. The counselor also never told me about this "diagnosis" and she never told my parents, since I was a minor at the time. The counselor is licensed as an LPC, not a CLPC and I live in a state where LPC's supposedly aren't allowed to diagnose patients.

Do I mention this on my next medical and stir the pot? I've heard of someone in a similar situation to me going to see a psychiatrist out of pocket and getting cleared, that way if anything ever came up they could show the FAA that report from the Psychiatrist. Any advice?
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If you were never prescribed meds and just had OCD behaviors (or even the diagnosis), you are likely fast trackable via the guidance Anxiety, Depression, Related Conditions Protocol. Just find an AME (ideally a HIMS AME) comfortable with this protocol and you can likely get certified day of exam while also disclosing this information so you won't have to worry about any skeletons in your closet and will likely get an eligibility letter from the FAA.
 
Yes, but also make sure you don't have an OCD diagnosis code. OCD behavours on Axis 2 don't qualify as a diagnosis.
And Go FlightMed is correct. The Anxiety depression protocol does work- but the AME has to document EVERYTHING.

I also second the use of a HIMS AME - many of my local nonHIMS peers just send me the airman, they don't want to do the documentary deal. See attached. We have to send in all the documentation and that means DOCUMENT EVERYTHING we check on the list.If the AME doesn't do it adequately , Home office sends a demand list so you have to do it all anyway.
 

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Hey Bruce,

Just clarifying on your comment above. My understanding is that OCD as a diagnosis (even when the diagnosis code is used) is fast trackable per the Disposition Table and the Fast Track Decision Tool Worksheet (see it listed here). My understanding is you can have up to 3 of the listed diagnoses and still get a fast track certificate (assuming no antidepressants x 2 years). OCD Is clearly listed in both documents.

Are you differentiating OCD as a diagnosis vs OCPD as a personality disorder when referencing Axis 2 disorders?

Thanks for your insights here.
 
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