Yes, each eye must be correctable to 20/20 (distant vision) or better. That's why the AME gives you the full vision test on each eye individually.

If the student is not using glasses or contacts, that is probably all he needs. If he is using correction, he should try updating his prescription...it could easily change that much in a year or two. If he got his prescription at lenscrafters, maybe he should try a real ophthamologist.

If he really is not correctable to 20/20, he should find out why to make sure he doesn't have some disease.

If that's just what he was born with, I understand that you can get a waiver pretty easily if you can see 20/20 with both eyes.