For pilots navigating the Federal Aviation Administration’s Human Intervention Motivation Study (HIMS) program, psychiatric evaluations are a crucial component of the path to medical re-certification. Designed to support pilots recovering from substance use disorders or certain mental health conditions, the HIMS program ensures both flight safety and the well-being of aviation professionals.

If you’re about to undergo this process, understanding what to expect from the psychiatric evaluation—and the role of the evaluating psychiatrist—can help ease anxiety and prepare you for a successful outcome.

What Is the HIMS Program?
The FAA’s HIMS program is a specialized, structured recovery and monitoring program for pilots dealing with issues such as alcohol dependence, substance abuse, or mental health diagnoses like depression or anxiety. The program aims to return qualified pilots to duty safely and responsibly, under close medical supervision and FAA oversight.

Participation in HIMS typically involves:

Treatment for the identified condition

Ongoing monitoring and reporting

Regular medical and psychological evaluations

Support from an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) and peer sponsors

A key part of this process is the psychiatric evaluation, which helps determine a pilot’s psychological fitness to safely return to flying duties.

Why Psychiatric Evaluation Is Required
A psychiatric evaluation helps assess a pilot’s mental health status, stability, and potential risks. The FAA requires this assessment to confirm that the individual:

Is no longer impaired by a psychiatric condition

Has insight into their condition and recovery

Poses no risk to aviation safety

Can maintain long-term emotional and behavioral stability under occupational stress

These evaluations are especially important when substance use has been severe, long-standing, or linked to co-occurring mental health conditions.

What to Expect During the Evaluation

1. A Comprehensive Interview
   The psychiatrist will conduct an in-depth clinical interview covering your personal history, mental health background, substance use history (if applicable), and current emotional and cognitive functioning. Expect to discuss:

Past and present mental health diagnoses

Details about treatment and recovery progress

Stress management and coping strategies

Lifestyle habits and support systems

The goal is to build a complete picture of your psychological profile and readiness to return to safety-sensitive duties.

2. Standardized Psychological Testing
   You may be asked to complete psychological assessments or questionnaires designed to measure emotional stability, personality traits, or cognitive function. These tools help provide objective data to support the psychiatrist’s clinical impressions.

Examples of commonly used tests include:

MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory)

Beck Depression or Anxiety Inventories

Substance use screening instruments

3. Review of Medical and Treatment Records
   The psychiatrist will likely review your full medical records, including treatment notes from rehab centers, therapy progress reports, and any prior psychiatric evaluations. Transparency is key—discrepancies between records and personal accounts can raise concerns about credibility.

After the Evaluation
Following the assessment, the psychiatrist will prepare a detailed report summarizing findings, diagnostic impressions, and a recommendation regarding your fitness for duty. This report is submitted to the FAA and your Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) as part of your re-certification process.

A favorable recommendation does not automatically result in medical clearance, but it is a critical step toward reinstatement.

Tips for a Positive Evaluation Experience
Be honest and forthcoming: Trying to “game” the evaluation or withholding information is likely to backfire.

Show insight and accountability: Demonstrating understanding of your condition and commitment to recovery is vital.

Follow your treatment plan: Consistent therapy, support group attendance, and compliance with medical advice will strengthen your case.

Be prepared for follow-up: The FAA may request periodic re-evaluations or updated reports as part of ongoing monitoring.

The HIMS Psychiatrist evaluation is a central element of the FAA HIMS program, serving as both a checkpoint and a bridge back to a pilot’s career. Working closely with a qualified psychiatrist, staying committed to recovery, and maintaining transparency throughout the process are essential to a successful outcome.

Though rigorous, the HIMS program is ultimately about restoration—helping pilots regain both their wings and their wellness, with safety as the guiding principle.