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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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I’m intrastate non excepted with the state of il, just renewed my dot card, do I have to take my dot card into the secretary of state to show I had my physical done?
@Biii
Yes. The information at the top of this page explains your options for submitting a copy of your new medical card.
I received a letter saying my CDL license has been canceled due to not getting renewed medical card. I forgot to send this in. If I send it in will they uncancel my license?
I was told I needed a medical report in order to renew my license. What???!! I have never needed this at any time. What driver conditions warrant a medical report?
@Anita
See this article on New FMCSA Medical Certification Requirements to get your questions answered.
I will be traveling with a three horse trailer pulled by a chevy 2500 silverado truck through the state of Illinois on my way to Oklahoma for a horse show. Is a DOT and CDL license required? We are only transporting our own horse and equipment and there is no prize money to be won.
Thanks!
@Jane
In most states if you operate a vehicle in excess of 10001 pounds you may need a medical card.
It is very unlikely you would need to have a CDL to haul your own horses.
And you may not even need a medical card if all you are hauling is your own horses.
Check with the state Drivers License Department to confirm.
Do you have to have a medical card if you have a class C with no air brakes ??
@Joe
If your vehicle is used for commerce and weighs more than 10001 pounds, then the answer is yes.
Check with your local DLD and confirm what you need based on what you drive.
Why is it that I can mail, fax or email my husbands medical certification renew paperwork in for him but the closest DMV for CDL to us would not accept the paper work unless he was there in person. Just STUPID!
I had a three month extension on my dot for high bp, and missed the cut off date for the expiration date
After driving over the road for 8 months, I just learned that the computer system has me listed as a intrastate driver and my company shut me down. I must have made a mistake when self-certifying. Can i just go to the Illinois SOS and re-certify as an interstate driver. I have a current medical card that is less than 1 year old
@Greg
Just check with your state licensing department, you should be able to do what you’re asking.
How do I get another copy of my medical card if I lost it?
@Marcia
See FAQ – FMCSA card lost
Hi I have a driver IL that i just hired his medical card expires in three days, I just faxed his medical card to you, how long does it take for you too process it?
-thanks AJ,
@AJ
We ARE NOT A STATE AGENCY. Sorry, cannot help you with this.
This is a private website – DOT certified doctors helping the motor carrier industry with medical related questions.
Please call your local drivers license agency to confirm.
Can I still get a waiver from my eye doctor because I have one lazy eye
@Benny
Just get the eye portion of the DOT examination done by your eye doctor and that takes care of everything.
I just recently changed my cdl back to interstate because I’m going back over the road. When the company I applied to ran my background check it said disqualified under the medical card section. I can’t find my doctor on the registry list.the DMV didn’t see a problem when I called them. If its my doctor will I just need a new physical from a doc on the registry?
@Elmer
It would be helpful to find out why your card is disqualified.
When was your last physical done?
If it was done after May 21, 2014 and your doctor was not a CME, then all you need to do is get a new medical examination done by a doctor who is certified on the National Registry.
I faxed my new medical card. How can I verify that it was received and applied to my CDL?
How do I change address on my dot medical card?
@Donnell
You’ll need to get the medical card reprinted/re-issued. You might be able to have the medical examiner who did the examination change it for you, and then re-issue the card. There may be a charge for this.
My medical card expired, and I submitted an updated card to the state of Illinois 1 day in pdf format as requested. Does illinois accept this, and will they update my file? Or will I have to re-apply?
Thanks
Thanks for the help. I was glad to see that Illinois now allows CDL DOT physical renewal submission by fax, as well as email. This has helped my drivers, as the closest acceptable location is over 60 miles away from our home location.
@Cheryl
You are very welcome, and thank you for your feedback.
Hi. Can you give me please the fax nr or email where I can submit my medical card in Illinois. Thx
@Igor
It’s listed above.
I have a CDL but we only drive vehicles on the grounds. We do not go outside of the facility gates for any driving. Am I required to obtain the medical certification or DOT card?
@RB
Each state is a little different. In most states, right now, if you want to maintain your CDL, you must have a current medical certificate/ medical card. If you don’t want to do the medical examination, then you have the choice to have your CDL downgraded to a class D and you do not have to maintain a current medical card.
I think its ridiculous that initial self certification must be done in person, IL should be following IA’s policy/allowance of internet submission.
I drive for a company that manufactures concrete products and we deliversome times we go to orther states and deliver from what i hear and when i bring my medical card in i have 4 chocies to select from which one do I select. thanks Richard
@Richard
From your description you would fall into the Interstate Non-Excepted category.
Check our blog post on FMCSA Medical Certification.
What does inter/intra state “excepted” and not “excepted” mean?
@Patricia
see article on our blog New FMCSA Medical Certification Requirements