Originally Posted by spinnygirl
Actually when you take your IR flight test in the US you do log it as PIC (obviously providing you pass) so you have to have a valid medical certificate.
Even when you would fail, you can still log PIC as student. The examiners are not PIC, unless agreed before the flight. (personally i have never seen this happen, but it is possible) Even student pilots trying to gain a PPL or RPL can log PIC, since they are exempt from the limitation of not being able to carry passengers on an exam flight.
14CFR61.47