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Illinois CDL Requirements
Illinois law requires all CDL drivers to have a valid DOT medical card, unless the type of commerce you drive qualifies as ‘Excepted’ (EI) or (EA).
- Non-Excepted Interstate (NI)
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. - Non-Excepted Intrastate (NA)
You must meet your State of licensure’s medical certification requirements.
CDL Self-Certification
Initial self-certification and submission of a Medical Examiner’s Certificate, can only be done…
In Person:
At one of 47 Illinois CDL facilities.
Medical Certificate Update
If you are a non-excepted interstate (NI) driver, you must provide the Secretary of State’s office with all updates of your Medical Certificate and/or Medical Variances prior to the corresponding expiration date(s).
After the initial self-certification, Medical Certificates (medical card only, not the long form) can later be renewed…
By Mail:
Secretary of State’s Office
Attn: CDL/Medical Area
2701 South Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, Il 62723
By Fax:
(217) 558-5156
By Email:
cdlmedicalcard@ilsos.net
Attach a scanned PDF file
Questions:
If you have any questions regarding your Medical Examiner’s Certificate
you may telephone (217) 785-3002
Other CDL Information:
Website: http://ilsos.net/departments/drivers/drivers_license/CDL/cdl.html
TIP: Not Driving, But Want to Keep Your CDL
Illinois SOS states:
“These CDL holders must continue to keep the medical certificate valid or change their medical category to one other than NI.”
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…
To help us all avoid the black eye experience — AARGH! —
Please leave your feedback about your experience in this State.
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My medical expired a year ago and I did not renew as I was not driving trucks any more. Will I need to retake my CDL driver exam and the written part?
@ Nigel M
This question will need to be answered by your local drivers license department (DLD).
Can you go to any DMV to update DOT medical card or do you have to go to CDL facility?
@ Sandy
We believe any DLD will do, but each state is different, so confirm with your states DLD.
I emailed a copy of my Medical. Card & mailed a copy & my company tried to contact the Secretary of state office. A week.has gone by & card still hasn’t been updated by the state.
Now I guess I have to make time to go to a facility in person.
Never had issues before, what’s the problem???
I have a class A license but I drive a bus which is b for cta. I can’t drive out of state of Illinois. Do I have to get dot if I don’t drive a truck? And can I loose my license if I don’t have a dot?
@ Rosendo G
Most states require a valid medical card to maintain a class A cdl. Confirm with your local DLD.
To keep your CDL in Illinois if you not driving out of state. You need to go switch at dMV from interstate to intrastate. And you good unless CTA requires something different but you good because that requires a B for bus
I had a med card when i drove over the road. I worked ,for the city i live in for 10yrs as a cdl driver . Didnt hav to have med card. Last 3 times ive renewed cdl a. Noone has said anything to me about needing a med card for my license to b valid
Can a employer allow you as a independent contractor applicant, upon hired with out the required CDL DOT physical exam requirement
in obtaining
a Medical Card? Assigned schedule for work immediately after being hired then later being told it was required to have one after more than 2 years of emploCaryment. Please reply
@ Carl R
If it is in the company’s written policy, ask to see it. Otherwise you may want to speak with someone with a legal background.
Can I get a medical cannabis card with a class C license in Illinois?
@ Carmelo
You need to check with your local drivers license department for confirmation.
I’m a non active CDL Class A holder. If I put a NA on my license am I still subject to do DOT physicals?
@ Saudia
This question will be best answered by your local drivers license department.
I received a letter saying my license/cdl is being cancelled and I am to send it in immediately for failure to update my medical examiner certificate. The issue is I did have an updated dot physical well before the date and I went to the dmv and submitted it them well before the date and they sent it to the state. What do I do or who can I contact?
@ Josh
Head back down to your local DLD and have them straighten the issue out.
MED card needs renewed. I’ve been reading that you can email or send a copy to the state so that they can update their records, instead of having to drive to a CDL DMV. Is this true?
I live in IL
@ Richard L
This may be true, best to confirm with your local drivers license department (DLD).
Yes you can just call and they will give you a email ive done it works great
My Illinois CDL has a K restriction meaning I can only use my CDL in the state of Illinois….do I need to keep a valid DOT medical card ?
@ Terence
Most states require a valid medical card to maintain an active cdl, interstate and intra-state (K). Best to confirm with your local DLD.
When I got my CDL A 18 years ago I was sent an exemption form from the state of IL stating my license was to work for a local town only and by submitting this form IT GAVE ME A MEDICAL CARD EXEMPTION FROM NEEDING A MEDICAL CARD AS MY CDL was only used for 7hrs a day for my job requirement. So if you have a K restriction you do not need a medical card in IL you are exempt.
@ John
That may still be true, 18 years later, but we would recommend a confirmation from ILL. DLD for anyone doing so today.
What type of form to be fillout and submit., for med card exemption.,
I have new med card but it was never updated with the dmv what happens?
@ Delvon
You need to get a copy of your medical card to your local DLD ASAP. If left undone, most likely, you will be downgraded to a normal drivers license.
No, you do not get downgraded to a normal driver’s license. You keep your CDL – but you just cannot drive with the CDL portion of your license until you get the medical certification and continuing education for the interstate designation. If you pay for the CDL and get your medical certification and continuing education, you can still drive CDL. You will not get downgraded.
@ Sara
That may not be true in all 50 states.
We had a driver renew his med card. The doctor gave him an automatic truck restriction. The doctor said its because when the driver tried to turn his neck he couldn’t. Is he able to drive with a restriction?
@ Steve
Depends on the class cdl your driver carries. Less than a class A, he falls under the states guidelines and variances.
I’m trying to get my CLP to start training. Do I need to pass the written test before the DOT physical, or DOT physical before taking written test? Also, do I go to one of the 47 CDL facilities listed above to get my DOT physical, or do I go somewhere else for the physical and then bring the results of the physical to the CDL facility to self certify?
@ Mike
Since your cdl is a state issued document, it will be best if you confirm with the local divers license department (DLD) for guidance in their process and sequence of events.
I got a letter saying my cdl is suspended and i just turn in my license because my medial card was not updated in Illinois. I had my medical card this whole time and the medical medical center said they will notice the dmv and they didn’t. The paper said in 5 days is the date of cancellation can i still go to dmv to update my medical card with them
@ Andre a
More than likely, but confirm with your local DLD.
Yes, you just go the DMV and give them the medical card. Your CDL status is fine.