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North Carolina CDL Requirements
No later than January 30, 2014, all CDL holders must provide information to the North Carolina DMV regarding the type of commercial motor vehicle operation they drive or expect to drive.
Drivers operating in non-excepted types of commerce will be required to submit a current DOT medical examiner’s certificate to the NC DMV to obtain a “certified” medical status as part of their driving record.
If you do not provide NC DMV with your self-certification and if required, your medical examiner’s certificate and any required variance document by January 30, 2014 – NC DMV will notify you that you are no longer medically certified to operate a CMV in non- excepted interstate/non-excepted intrastate commerce. You will have 30 days to respond or your entire NC driving privileges will be cancelled.
Interstate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
Intrastate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
Submit your Self-Certification and Medical Certificate to North Carolina DMV
You are required to self-certify to a single type of commercial operation on your driver license. If you self-certify to non-excepted interstate or non-excepted intrastate, you must provide NC DMV with a copy of your current DOT medical examiner’s certificate and any applicable variance document.
Submit the following two documents:
- North Carolina Certification for CDL – download the form CDL-5 here from NC DMV.
- A copy of your valid DOT medical certificate. Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
By Mail:
NC Division of Motor Vehicles
CDL Medical Certification Unit
3126 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-3126
By Fax:
919-861-3915
By Email:
You may scan the documents (PDF) and email the attachments to cdlmedical@ncdot.gov. You should receive a confirmation email.
Keep Your Medical Card Current With North Carolina DMV
CDL holders required to have a ”certified” medical status who fail to provide and keep up-to-date their DOT medical examiner’s certificate with the NC DMV will become ”not-certified” and may lose their CDL.
If your medical card or variance expires and you do not provide NC DMV with a new one, the DMV will notify you that you are no longer medically certified to operate a CMV in non- excepted interstate/non-excepted intrastate commerce. You will have 30 days to respond or your entire NC driving privileges will be cancelled.
Before your medical card expires, you must have a new medical examination and obtain a new DOT medical examiner’s certificate.
Submit your renewed valid medical certificate to North Carolina DMV:
By Mail:
NC Division of Motor Vehicles
CDL Medical Certification Unit
3126 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-3126
By Fax:
919-861-3915
Other Information:
NCDOT new medical certification requirements guide
Phone: 919-861-3525
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…
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I drive in state and sometimes out of state got a medical card just need to know what box to check on self certification form
@Allan
If you sometimes drive out of state, you will have to certify Interstate Non-Excepted.
For more information, see our blog post on New FMCSA medical cert requirements.
I work for a school bus dealership. May test drive a bus around the city im working in. What category would that put me in as far as the Self Certification goes?
@Hambone
Sounds like you would certify as “Non-excepted Intrastate”.
But, if you qualify, you may choose a broader category (Interstate) to keep your options open. See our blog post on New FMCSA medical certification requirements.
I have my CDL Class B and dot physical have been trying to fax and contact someone concerning the form that was sent out what box do I check? Are do I just send copy of license and DOT physical
@Phyllis
Please check our blog for much more information on the new FMCSA medical requirements. This will help you decide which driving category to choose on the self-certification form.
I live in NC. Age 59. I have a CDL/A and have been notified to present DMV with a medical certificate. I am not driving currently and may never again. But I hate to lose my CDL privileges as I have driven for more than 30 years. Do I need to get a DOT pysical just to maintain my license? I also could not get through to phone number listed? Help?
@ Jeff
In order to keep your CDL, some states will allow a CDL holder to certify in a category that does not require a medical certificate e.g. Intrastate Excepted, if they are not currently driving.
You will have to check with NC DMV to see if they permit this option.
This will give you a way to maintain your CDL without a current medical card. If you want to start driving again, you will first have to get a new medical card, and then visit your DMV to self-certify in the category that is appropriate for the type of driving you will be doing.
I’m in a the same situation, and followed this advice. I’m in NC, and this is exactly what they told me at the DMV. I got my license and see I still have Class A CDL with restriction K. On the back it states “NC Intrastate Only”. Does this mean I can still drive a truck within NC? Also, I researched online and there is “excepted” and “non excepted”. My for was checked as “excepted”, but I’m curious to know when would you ever be “non excepted”? Nothing I can find online states what determines this.
@ Greg
You can drive a commercial truck inside of the state of NC.
I am also having issues with the fax as well as the number. I called the fax line and it is either constantly busy or rings like a regular phone line. It never picks up as a fax machine would. I also called the phone number 919-861-3525 and after 3 rings you don’t hear anything. This is really not appropriate for a government site. I hope the information either gets updated soon or the lines get fixed.
I work for ncdps I drive in state only do I need a medical certification ?
I work for Carteret County local government in North Carolina and hold a class A CDL. I have several employees that hold the same license. Are we as local government drivers required to have the Medical Examiners Certificate. We do not drive CDL required equipment out of state. If we are, can this form be filled out with a family physician.
Thanks.
@Tony
According to the Guidelines from NC DMV, when you drive a CMV for activities “As Federal, State or local government employees” you operate in excepted commerce and do not need a DOT medical examiner’s certificate.
As far as completing the DOT physical exam, your family physician may do the physical currently, but after May 2014, you may get a DOT medical certificate only through a certified medical examiner.
I have attempted multiple times to fax in the New Medical Certification forms for our company drivers without any success. I get the response “NO ANSWER”.
I have attempted the phone number listed on this website 919-861-3525 and there is no answer after 3 rings.
@Christie
Thank you for letting us know about this contact problem. Wow, how frustrating!
We’ve checked the contact numbers on the NC CDL documentation and the fax and phone number are still as we have them listed.
Here is the general drivers license phone number from the official NC DMV website http://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/contact/
919-715-7000
Maybe someone there can confirm the best numbers for you to call and fax.
Please update us here if you have any new information.
I called that number several times today. Try calling it yourself and see what kind of response you get. I called several numbers and even after being on the phone for hours I was never able to get through to a human being. One number told me to dial 0 for assistance and upon dialing 0 for assistance a computer said ” Sorry there is no one available to help you. I stayed on the phone for hours today with no help from any number that I dialed. Is this the best that we can expect from our state DMV? I know that North Carolina is better than this. Who is to blame for this boondoggle?