Click to find DOT physical locations in NORTH CAROLINA
Click to find DOT physical locations in OTHER STATES
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
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…
To help us all avoid the black eye experience — AARGH! —
Please leave your feedback about your experience in this State.
Go to the Questions and Comments box below and post your feedback.
! To save us all from zombie spammers, your feedback will not appear on this page until it has been approved. Visit this page again soon to see your comment, and others too.
P.S. Your email address will not be published.
NOTE: This website is not affiliated with, or endorsed by FMCSA or any government or state agency.
I have faxed and sented a copy of my medcal certification to raleigh. I have called so many times and I never get no one to answer. What I am supposed to do?
my son has a CDL set to expire on May 9 2014. he is overseas now but will be home in June 2014. can he get an extension until then. he does not drive a truck over there.he wants to keep his CDL. please send me a reply to this email. Thank You Major Jarman
@ Jarman
If his CDL expires he should get a letter from NC DOT giving him 30 days to respond or his entire NC driving privileges will be cancelled.
See NC DMV website FAQs for more information.
Q: How can I get back my CDL privileges?
A: If the DOT medical examiner’s certificate has expired, you must obtain a new one and provide it to NC DMV. If the variance has expired, you must renew it with FMCSA. NC DMV may require retesting and additional fees to restore your CDL privileges.
my health card expires in march.i wont to keep my cdl but I have not drove a truck in fore years do I need to get a new health card
@Martie
Whether you need a new medical card depends which driving category you selected for self-certification.
If you haven’t completed the self-certification (deadline January 2014) then the DMV is going to downgrade your CDL anyway.
See our blog post on Medical Certification Requirements to better understand your options.
@ Martie
Right now, in most states, you will need to get a new medical card if you want to maintain your cdl. I would check with your state DMV to confirm though.
I have tried to contact your office multiple times, the line remains busy. I obtained my medical DOT physical in Dec 2013, I mailed the certification on Dec 14. I received a letter stating that the certification form was marked incorrectly. I received a corrected cert. form and faxed it to your office. I recently received a new letter stating that my self-cert. & medical cert. documents have not been received. I have tried to provide you with the necessary documents to be in compliance with the new DOT protocol. At this point, I am not sure what I should do. Can you help?
I am very confused by the 4 different classes: Interstate, Intrastate, Excepted, Non-Excepted. I only drive locally for Durham Co. Government. Do I even need a medical card?
I have mailed the letter and medical card the first of January and received a letter stating that it had not been received. Called several times and could never get through. I have emailed the letter and medical card twice, still no response. I tried to fax and could never get through. My driver is suppose to drive and he still hasn’t gotten anything back yet, I am in need of some kind of response due to him driving our players to and from games. I can not afford him to loose his CDL or driving privileges cause our players depend on him to drive them to their games. Would appreciate a response.
Is there something wrong with the phone? I have called this number several time (919-861-3599) the line seems to be business all the time.
I send it by fax and by mail and still getting letters what is going on
My husband received several letters also. Finally today he received a letter from DMV stating they received it.
@Daniell
Yeah! Thank you for your feedback. This news will be a relief for many drivers who have submitted their information, but have also received letters.
@ Randy
They were short staffed in Raleigh at the DOT, but now they seem to have more staff and can handle things you need much better.
Dr. Richard Prosser