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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 Dot card expired been unemployed not able pay for physical an license have been supened what do I need do get them renistated?
@Jeramie
You’ll need to contact your local drivers license department directly. Only they can help you with this.
I’m currently hold a class a cdl and this my first year having it and I am currently Unemployed waiting to get off contract and about to get off in about a week or so and my dot medical card is about to expire and I am really in need of some help on how to go about getting a new one so so I can keep it and get no points taking off I have no idea where to go to get it and the instructions on here are a little confusing
@Michael
Just find a certified medical examiner and go get a DOT medical exam and certification. Read the Driver Q&A on this website and you’ll have all the info you need.
Hello. Is the email address provided accurate? I emailed my medical card in pdf and i didn’t get a reply, instead i got a message from my email provider that the server does not exist. Thank you.
@Al
That email address is the one still stated on the official IL SOS website http://ilsos.net/departments/drivers/drivers_license/CDL/cdl.html#medical
I have a medical condition that requires a medical report filled out by my dr. Is a photocopy acceptable to present to drivers faculty
@David
What condition, what type of report is needed and what drivers faculty? More questions that answers, but we have nothing to go on here. And you should have the original form to present to the medical examiner.
Hello, Just want to get clarity on this. I currently hold a valid CDL ” Intrastate only” designation. I do not drive as my full time job, but would like to keep my CDL. Is it a requirement that I obtain a medical card? Will my DL be suspended or revoked because I do not have one based on “Intrastate only”? Thank you.
@Kevin
The published information from Illinois SOS states “CDL holders must continue to keep the medical certificate valid or change their medical category to one other than NI.”
If your self-certification is “NA”, check with you local drivers license department in person how you can keep your CDL valid. You want to get the details “from the horses mouth” to be safe on this.
Lots of luck with that.I recently lost my medical card due to a physical. I went to DMV and they re-issued my cdl license with a K restriction for INTRASTATE only and told me I could drive cdl but not to cross state lines.
Having doubts about this,today I called the same DMV and asked if I still needed a medical card when I have a cdl with a K restriction,I was informed that they only process the information and were not sure and suggested that I call IDOT to be sure.
@ Roger
Most, not all, want a failed DOT medical with restrictions and then the states issues a K restricted license. Your DMV should give you the best answer.
my cdl class B medical certification expired last month. but i renewed my cdl and took written test and everything at dmv last week. how do i get this medical card current? i was reading about self certification, but it doesnt make sense
I am a farmer and was stopped driving a truck and livestock trailer which was empty at the time. The GVW of the truck is 16,000 and the livestock trailer is 16,000 as well. I was hauling for myself and am not for hire and was about 40 minutes from home.
The extremely rude officer said I have to have a Class A license and a medical card along with other license plate and testing issues.
Do I have to have a medical card for private farm use?
@Sara
You want to get clarity from your local drivers license department. In most states once you exceed 26,001 pounds you need a commercial drivers license, person, private or farm. But you really need to get that information from your local state DLD.
Do I need to show proof of citizenship to renew my medical exam?
@Magy
A valid drivers license should be all you need, or a passport.