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Massachusetts CDL Requirements
Everyone in the State of Massachusetts who wishes to obtain or who currently holds a commercial driver license is federally required to inform the RMV of the type of commerce they plan to operate.
- Non-Excepted Interstate (NI)
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. - Non-Excepted Intrastate (NA)
You must meet the Massachusetts State driver qualification requirements.
You should certify at the highest standard for which you qualify so as to not limit work opportunities. Non-Excepted Interstate (NI) is the broadest category and the one you should select if you meet the criteria, even if you currently do not consider yourself an interstate driver.
What if I can’t meet the medical qualifications for interstate commercial operation?
If you do not meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements, you may qualify for an intrastate medical waiver through the Registry of Motor Vehicles. This waiver permits operation of a CMV used in Massachusetts intrastate commerce only. Individuals who have been issued a intrastate medical waiver will have a W (waiver) restriction placed on their license.
CDL Self-Certification
Submit the following two documents:
- Massachusetts Department of Transportation CDL Self-Certification Form, LIC103_0118, download the form here from MassDOT.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card (Medical Examiner’s Certificate only, not the long form). Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
Online:
Go to myRMV Online Service Center
By Mail:
MassDOT, RMV Division
Driver Licensing
PO Box 55889
Boston, MA 02205
In Person:
At any RMV branch office.
Medical Certificate Renewal
For NI and NA categorized drivers, self-certification is tied to the expiration date of the medical certificate, variance, SPE or waiver. Therefore, drivers will need to re-certify using the same form when they renew these documents. Depending on the validity period of your medical card, you will most likely have to re-certify every 1 to 2 years.
To avoid a downgrade of your CDL, make sure you renew your medical certificate and re-certify with MassDOT before your medical card’s expiration date. Use the CDL Self-Certification process, described above, to keep your Medical Certificate updated with Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Special Information Updates Pertaining To ALL STATES
June 23, 2025: FMCSA electronic reporting requirements for DOT Medical Certificates will be fully enforced.
See detailed information at FMCSA Medical Examiner Certificate Reporting Requirements for CDL Drivers
CDL Drivers
The good news:
• You no longer have to go through the hassles of updating your medical card with your SDLA.
• You no longer have to carry your medical card with you.
Is there ‘not so good’ news?
Safeguard your CDL! How does the new DOT Medical Certificate reporting process affect your CDL?
Non-CDL Drivers
The electronic reporting requirements do not affect non-CDL drivers.
• The medical examiner must give you a physical MEC Form MCSA-5876.
• You should keep your medical certificate available at all times whilst driving a CMV.
• You will still need to provide a copy of the MEC to the companies you work for.
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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I just was downgraded to a regular drivers license because my dot medical cad expired in March 2015.im getting a dot physical this week.can i be upgraded back to my cdl after I get a new medical card
@Joe
This is a CDL question rather than a medical card question.
You’ll need to check with your local state drivers license department to be sure.
Every state treats their CDL process differently.
Will you be disqualified if you are treated for epilepsy but haven’t had a seizure for 3 years?
@Sarah
That will have to be determined by the examining doctor. It will be the medication in question now, not so much the non-seizures. FMCSA is pretty set on this one. You could check with the FMCSA and ask about the possibility of getting a seizure waiver.
I obtained my CDL and when I applied for the license I also filled out the self-certification. I have a medical cqrd which was submitted to the RMV. Is there another DOT card I need? I recently applied for a new job and after presenting mu med-card I was told I needed to produ e my DOT card. Can someone tell. E what that card is and where I would obtain it?
@Lucia
A certified medical examiner does a DOT medical examination. He then gives you copies of the long form (the medical examination) and a medical certificate to put in your wallet. The medical certificate is your medical card. To the best of my knowledge there is no other form needed.
will prescibed methadone prevent someone from obtaining a dot card?
@Jay
Yes. Methadone is pretty much an instant disqualifier.
You might try getting your prescribing doctor to either change meds or fill out your medical release form stating the needs and usage of this medication.
you are wrong a dot physical has no drug test,if you pay for it yourself,if a company sends you our are random selected thats it.walk in pay for it yourself no drug test, but when, not if you have a drug test ,your company will prob terminate you,there suppose to no meds your on, thats why companys pay for test and do a drug screen.its late and this post is old,sorry for misspellings . i do medical cards at my office,fyi.youll pass if in good health, vision blood psi,we take uern for sugar only and a few bending exercises,oh and hearing is a BASIC test…But the road is a dangerous place so i would talk to your Dr and ween off fast if you like working.killing yourself is one thing but killing a family in a car in front of you because of a drug you shouldn’t drive on(could you live with yourself,hard enough if you weren’t on the drugs,) and a new hire will have a drug screen…hope this helps not trying to step on anyone’s toes,facts are facts . you will get it but at what cost??????????????
When you are getting examined for your medical certification card you are asked about medications you are on. At this point you would have to disclose that you are on methadone. Nothing you mentioned about drug testing is relevant unless you are telling him to lie to the attending physician.
If everyone is federally required to have a medical card to safely operate CDL vehicels, why do Town of Yarmouth Highway Dept CDL drivers all have waivers and do not have to obtain medical cards. I cannot think of anything more hypocritical, unfair, and should be dealt with with a class action lawsuit. It really shoots holes in the stated safety concerns of the state, towns, and federal govt.
They are not exempt. That’s somebody in that dept saying that. Ask a state trooper
Bernie The Town of Yarmouth as the Town of Barnstable as most Municipalities were given the option of staying with the Medical certificate or using the Foley Drug and Alcohol testing. Yarmouth and Barnstable elected to go with the Foley testing program, Harwich I believe stayed with the Medical Card. The problem they are running into now is the Dept of Public Safety requires you to have the Medical Card to have a hoisting license to operate equipment.
Municipal drivers in the state of MA who drive for DPWs that have elected to use the Foley testing system are exempt from carrying a DOT medical card. AS LONG AS THEY DRIVE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES of their municipalities and they obtain an EA self verification. If they work for a Solid Waste division and haul the waste to an off site location outside the boundaries of the municipalities they will need to have a intrastate selfcertifucation and have the Medical Card
If a person is on Suboxone or Vivitrol does this disqualify them for passing the DOT exam?
@Susan
Until this person is off the medications, they would have difficulty getting through the DOT examination.
Both of these meds are going to throw up major red flags. So once off the meds they may be OK.
See FAQ – Medications.
I have a cdl license in ma my medical card is going to expire currently got one for 3 months have be told have sleep disorder go tested and just got machine which having trouble with I have trouble breathing through nose going to see dr if my med card expires is there a grace period before I would have to take the cdl exam again Thanks
@Joe
Once the test is done you would need to be on the unit for a period of 90 days before you can get another medical card.
You could talk with the examiner and explain your situation and they may be able to give you an extension based on the fact that you are using the unit and need time to adjust.
What is the weight of a truck that determines if u need a dot card. Thanks for your help.