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Georgia CDL Requirements
All CDL holders have to certify driving type and, if required, keep a valid medical card on file with Georgia Department of Driver Services. Your certification of driving type tells DDS which qualifications you must meet to hold a CDL.
- Non-Excepted Interstate (NI)
You must meet FMCSA driver qualification requirements. - Non-Excepted Intrastate (NA)
You must meet the medical requirements for Georgia.
If your medical examiner’s certificate is only valid with a vision, diabetes or a skills performance evaluation variance granted by FMCSA, you will also be asked by the DDS to provide a copy of that variance document. If you have a vision waiver granted by the DDS you will be required to provide a copy of that variance document.
CDL holders can no longer claim exemption from medical certification requirements because they are not currently operating in non-excepted interstate or intrastate commerce. If not specifically included above, they must maintain their medical certification or certify into an Excepted category.
If CDL holders are required to provide a medical certification then they must continue to carry all medical certification documents with them at all times even after completing the self-certification process with DDS.
CDL Self-Certification
Submit the following two documents:
- Commercial Driver Self Certification Form (DDS Form 1207) – download the form here from Georgia Department of Driver Services.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card (Medical card only, not the long form.) Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
Online:
Visit the DDS website at https://online.dds.ga.gov/onlineservices/account/login.aspx
By Mail:
Department of Driver Services
Attn: RM-CDL
P. O. Box 80447
Conyers, GA 30013
By Fax:
(770)918-6271
Important: Submissions via fax must be for individual customers. Submission of documentation for multiple customers may be sent by mail.
In Person:
You can submit your self-certification to any DDS Customer Service Center.
Medical Certification Update
Your license will be downgraded if you fail to keep your medical certification current. You may be required to re-test if you remain in a downgraded class for a long period of time.
You must provide a copy of each new DOT medical card to the Department prior to the expiration of the current DOT medical card.
You are also responsible for applying to FMCSA for a renewal of your variance. If you have a variance issued by the DDS you must apply for renewal of that variance prior to its expiration.
You may submit your new medical certificate online, by mail, fax, or in person, as described above.
Other Contact Information:
If you have any questions you can call 678-413-8400 or 1-866-754-3687 and ask for a medical certification customer service representative.
Special Information Updates Pertaining To ALL STATES
MEDICAL EXAMINERS MUST CONTINUE TO ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES TO ALL DRIVERS
The FMCSA has requested that all medical examiners continue providing drivers with a paper copy of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate – Form MCSA-5876, so that Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders can provide a copy to the State licensing agency, and the non-CDL drivers can provide the documentation to their employers and Federal and State enforcement officials.
The Agency is currently completing efforts to put into place an electronic system to enable medical examiners to transmit the medical certificate information from the National Registry system to the State licensing agencies.
Until that system is completed, which compliance date according FMCSA is June 23, 2025, medical examiners must continue to issue paper copies of the medical certificates to drivers who pass the medical exam.
ALL DRIVERS MUST CONTINUE TO CARRY A PAPER COPY OF THEIR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
Commercial Drivers – You still need to carry a paper copy of your medical card, until FMCSA announces that this is no longer necessary.
Your Feedback Is Welcome
Dealing with Federal DOT Regulations across the board is tough enough!
But when it comes to State Regulations — There are 50 different sets of rules. Someone could move the goal posts at any time…
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My DOT Medical card expired may ’23, from receiving it 2 years prior to the expiration. How do I get it renewed?
@ Thomas
Make an appointment for a new medical certification examination and get a copy to your local DLD ASAP. Your cdl may be in suspension at the moment and you will want to have it re-instated.
If your license is down graded because I don’t have an updated medical card because of medical condition.how long before I have to re-test to get my CDL back?
@ Ken
That will be best answered by your local drivers license department.
What if you only drive in the state you live in Do you still need a dot card and can you still work for the county you live in
@ Reg
Most states require a valid medical card to operate ANY vehicle that is used for commerce (make $ for someone).
Confirm with your local DLD.
Yeah this article is way off. Legally, your med card as a paper proof is only good for 15 days. You have to have it turned into the state.
January 30, 2015
States must begin enforcing the regulation that paper copies of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate are only valid for the first 15 days after their issuance
§ 391.51 General requirements for driver qualification files.
(ii) For CDL holders, beginning January 30, 2012, if the CDLIS motor vehicle record contains medical certification status information, the motor carrier employer must meet this requirement by obtaining the CDLIS motor vehicle record defined at § 384.105 of this chapter. That record must be obtained from the current licensing State and placed in the driver qualification file. After January 30, 2015, a non-excepted, interstate CDL holder without medical certification status information on the CDLIS motor vehicle record is designated “not-certified” to operate a CMV in interstate commerce.
After January 30, 2015, and through June 22, 2025, a motor carrier may use a copy of the driver’s current medical examiner’s certificate that was submitted to the State for up to 15 days from the date it was issued as proof of medical certification.
January 30, 2015, States must begin enforcing the regulation that paper copies of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate are only valid for the first 15 days after their issuance.
This is from FMCSA. Drivers have not had to carry med cards anymore since 2015. I’m a compliance officer. This info above is wrong.
@ JS
That was the dream, but after hundreds of millions of $ spent on a software system to make the dream come true and the input from the federal government, all you get is a WTF.
How long after your dot physical expired you have to retest for your cdl again or you just have to submit dot card
@ Frederick
Since your cdl is a state issued document, you will get your best answer from your local drivers license department.
What is the process of getting a medical certification if you do not have a CDL yet will drive a box truck with GW under 26,000 pounds? When I sent my box truck drivers while working in Texas, the company paid for the test. We had an account at a certified TDOT doc-in-a-box facility. Is it the same in Georgia and do you think I can set up the same type of situation in Georgia?
@ rwag
You should be able to setup the same thing in Georgia.
What is the lifespan of a CDL medical in Georgia? 1 year or 2 years? I just had the physical on May 5, 2022 and got a notice today, January 11, 2023, that I had to get another one within 90 days. Today plus 90 days isn’t even 12 months since my last one. I was looking at copies of my previous medicals and they were good for 2 years. Has the requirement changed or did the physician screw up on my last exam and put the wrong expiration date? Come on man, my mandated FAA medical to fly an airplane is good for 4 years. The CDL medical should be good for more than 10 months.
Can you please clarify this ?
@ Dave K
Look on your present medical card for its expiration date. That is how long it is good for. Then make sure the state has a copy of your present medical on file. This could just be a beuracratic screw-up.