Colour Vision Requirements for Jobs
Pilots, seafarers, police officers, electricians and many military roles must pass a colour vision check. Most start with the Ishihara plates and use other tests if you fail.
Jobs that usually test colour vision
| Field | Why colour matters | Usual tests |
|---|---|---|
| Aviation (pilots, air traffic control) | Signal lights, cockpit displays, charts | Ishihara, then CAD test or lantern test |
| Maritime (deck officers, lookouts) | Navigation lights and signals at sea | Ishihara, lantern test |
| Police and armed forces | Identifying vehicles, clothing, signals | Ishihara; standards vary by country and role |
| Railways | Signal lights | Ishihara, lantern or D-15 |
| Electricians | Colour-coded wiring | Ishihara or D-15 at apprenticeship entry in some countries |
| Driving | Traffic lights | Ordinary licences rarely bar colour-blind drivers; some countries check colour vision at the licence medical |
What happens if you fail the Ishihara screening
Failing the Ishihara plates usually isn't the end. Many employers then use a practical or more precise test: a lantern test for signal lights, the Colour Assessment and Diagnosis (CAD) test in aviation, or the Farnsworth D-15. Some allow mild deficiencies, sometimes with restrictions such as daytime-only flying.
Philippines: PHILSCA, PNP, seafarers and LTO
Ishihara tests are a routine part of several Philippine medical exams. PHILSCA admission medicals for aviation programmes, PNP recruitment medicals, and the pre-employment medical examination (PEME) for seafarers at accredited clinics all commonly include colour vision plates. The LTO medical for a driver's licence includes a colour vision check.
Requirements and fees change, and they differ by programme and clinic. Confirm the current rules with the school, agency or clinic before your exam. Optical chains and diagnostic centres offer the Ishihara test; call ahead for the price.
How to prepare
- Get your colour vision checked early, before you choose a training programme that requires it.
- Ask which test the employer uses and which follow-up tests it accepts.
- Bring your normal glasses or contact lenses; tinted or colour-correcting lenses are not allowed.
- Don't rely on memorised plates: examiners change the order and use other tests.
Requirement questions
Can you be a pilot if you are colour blind?
Sometimes. Aviation authorities require safe colour perception, not perfect Ishihara scores. Many pilots with mild deficiencies pass a follow-up test such as the CAD test or a lantern test; others get restrictions.
Can colour-blind people drive?
In most countries, yes, with an ordinary licence. Traffic lights are read by position as well as colour. Rules for professional drivers can be stricter.
Do colour-correcting glasses help pass a colour vision test?
No. They change contrast but don't restore normal colour vision, and they are not allowed in official tests.
Check your colour vision before your medical.
Take the colour blind test