FMCSA Paper Medical Certificates Phased Out
Starting June 23, 2025 the MEC Form MCSA-5876 update process is slated to be fully electronic and automated.
The process starts at the medical examiner’s office where you complete your DOT physical exam, and ends up at your SDLA where your CDL motor vehicle record is updated.
For more information on this process see FMCSA Medical Certificate Reporting Requirements.
The Good News:
The days of hassling with a paper copy of your MEC Form MCSA-5876 are over!
• You no longer need to submit your new medical card information to your State DLD to update your CDL record.
• You no longer need to submit a copy of your MEC to your employer.
• You no longer need to carry a paper MEC with you whilst driving.
What could possibly go wrong? !!
Worst case scenario: Your CDL could be downgraded!
If your State Motor Vehicle Record shows an expired medical card or no update has been made, your CDL will be downgraded within 60 days.
• If the identification data submitted on your MEC does not accurately match the CDL identification data on your MVR, then the electronic data update cannot be completed.
• If your MVR is not updated with your new MEC qualification and a new expiration date, then the SDLA will downgrade your CDL within 60 days of the expiration of your previous medical card on file.
“CYA” is always a good Strategy
• Consider renewing your medical card 30 days before it expires. This will give you time to deal with any issues before your CDL is jeopardized.
• Make sure the examiner you go to for your DOT physical exam is currently certified with NRCME.
• Make sure the examining office you go to is professional: That you can rely on them to submit your medical exam results in a timely fashion, and that they will help you at a later date if there is an issue.
• When you complete the medical examination form MCSA-5875, make sure that the identification data — Last name, DOB, Licensing State, License # — accurately matches the identification data on your driver’s license.
• Make sure the examiner’s office makes a copy of your driver’s license to double check in case there is an error in the data transmission.
• Ask the examiner’s office how best to communicate with them should you find that the new MEC hasn’t been updated to your motor vehicle record at the State CDLIS.
• Ask the examiner’s office, as a courtesy, to give you a paper MEC Form MCSA-5876. The examiner’s office is no longer required to issue this form to you.
• Continue to keep your paper MEC available, in case something goes wrong in the electronic system. Note that the paper MEC can no longer be used as proof of medical certification.; but it would be a good starting point if there is an issue.
Verify your Status online with your State Drivers License Agency
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A week after your DOT physical exam:
Check online with your SLDA to ensure that your CDL record has been updated with your new medical certification information.
What to do if you receive a CDL Downgrade letter
- Contact the medical examiner’s office where your DOT physical exam was completed. Explain the issue, and request that they log into their National Registry account and verify if they received an ‘error message task’ for your examination. If there was an error, request they resubmit using the identification data they have on the copy of your driver’s license.
- Then contact the SDLA to inform them that the medical examiner submitted the validation/correction and to verify that the medical certification information posted.
- If you received a paper Medical Examiner’s Certificate, Form MCSA-5876 when your DOT physical was completed, you may be able to use it to work with your SDLA to correct the issue.
- As a last resort, if you cannot get the issue resolved, you can contact FMCSA’s National Registry Technical Support Helpdesk at fmctechsup@dot.gov or call (617) 494-3003.
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Choose your DOT Physical Doctor wisely!
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