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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.
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I have a class A CDL. My DOT certification expired 2/22/2021. I haven’t worked driving since before that. Is my CDL still valid if I go get my DOT certification. I’m in NC.
@ Russel R
You will need to confirm this with your local drivers license department.
I am a previous CDL-A holder with doubles and hazmat. I now have a pacemaker with defibrilator. Blood pressure, heart rate and all other blood is near perfect. Will I be eligible for CDL again?
@ Larry W
The defibrillator is going to be the hold on your cdl, class A. DOT/FMCSA guidelines do not allow a defibrillator for OTR drivers. You might check into intra-state only. That way you fall under the states guidelines and variances.
My medical card expired in June. I did not catch it until December. I did not receive the normal notice in the mail to remind me. Am I still able to get my medical card renewed without any issues?
@ Scott
Most likely, but confirm with your states drivers license department since cdl’s are state issued.
I have narcolepsy (without cataplexy). I do not lose function of my limbs or anything at all, I just have a sleepy feeling when I’m not on my medication.
Despite this, I passed my DOT physical with Concentra in January 2021 with a doctor’s note approving me. However, I was forced via my job to take another physical with Novant in June 2021, and the doctor failed me before it even started, because “narcolepsy” is in my file. Despite notes from both my sleep doctor and regular physician, she failed me, and deemed me “permanently disqualified.”
Is a doctor allowed to “permanently disqualify” me from DOT when I just got my medical card approved 5 months prior to it? I just realized that I never heard anything from DOT confirming this, or revoking my medical card.
@ Christopher B D
As a class A driver, DOT/FMCSA is very strict on sleep disorders. With proper documentation from your doctors and any additional supporting documentation, you may be able to drive interstate. But the CME has to look at all the possible risk factors, but cannot deem you ” permanently disqualified”
I just passed the physical with the exception of my lazy eye. I don’t have a CDL license, but I drive a truck under 26,000 lbs occasionally for a non profit organization. In the past I was able to take the eye exam with both eyes, but it now states I must pass with 20/40 for each eye individually. What documentation do I need to exempt me from that requirement? I can pass with 20/20 using both eyes.
@ Ruth
Only if you carry a class A cdl would this situation apply. Since you are not a class A driver then your examiner needs know that you fall under the states guidelines and variances, not DOT/FMCSA. Make sure your examiner know the difference between the two.
I have to have Shoulder Replacement and can’t get a DOT physical because of that. If the N.C DOT downgrades my CDL When I can get re Certified will my CDL A be Reinstated
@ Richard G S
Since cdl are state issued, this would be a question for your local drivers license department.
I am stuck outside of the US . I am in Africa right now and Cannot fly back because of Covid19. My med card is going to expire in 01/15/2021. I am a NC CDL holder. I will loose my driving privileges if I don’t renew it in time.
What can I do? Is there a grace period?. Please help.
@ Hafid L
Some states will allow you to keep your cdl without a valid medical card in situations like yours. Some states will downgrade you or suspend your cdl until you present a valid medical certification. Each state is different. FMCSA has granted a short grace period, again, due to the difficulties created by the virus pandemic. Which means you have until the end of February. Check with your NC drivers license department and explain your situation. They should be able to guide you through their process.
I had an MI in 2016, insurance will not cover the stress echo required by DOT every two years, saying it isn’t medically necessary since it has been over two years and there are no related issues or diagnosis currently reported. Is there a waiver in NC for the stress echo?
@ Ricky C
If you are a class A driver, then the request for the stress test is federal. Not sure if your state has a waiver for the test, if you are not a class A driver. You may fall under the states variances if you are a lesser class cdl holder.
I have a DOT that states I need glasses. My state license does not. Do I need to update my state license? I know if its on my state license I need it on my DOT. But what if reversed?
@ Thomas P
It always works best if the license and the medical card match. We suggest you update the drivers license.
I am currently wearing a monitor for Afib, they are looking to see if I will need a pacemaker or not . Will either of these conditions disqualify me from a cdl a certificate or no ?
@ Reggie
The condition will require proper medical documentation for the CME in his decision making process. Once everything is stable you should be fine, as long as all else is within normal limits.
I got injured at work and had to have ACL surgery. I just got back to work on light duty with no driving restrictions but I do have restrictions on bending and squatting. I went to renew my DOT physical and the Dr said that i passed the physical but he could not issue me the card until my Orthopedic Dr released me of my work restrictions. How can he not issue my card when clearly my Dr said that i have no driving restrictions and I passed the physical exam? What do I do?
@ Will
FMCSA guidelines indicates no restrictions or limitations, like light duty, before granting a DOT medical card for a class A driver. The examiner is following the guidelines to the letter. If you are not a class A driver, then explain the difference to the examiner and ask for a card.
Do I need to have a copy of med card on me now just got new physical doc gave me paperwork but no paper card said it’s now tied To license electronically
@ Alan
That may be true in your state, but confirm it with the state and federal departments.
I have sent my medical card in by mail, fax, and email… And they’re still saying they don’t have it I have tried to call their phone number but of course it is been disconnected.. if anyone could help me it would be greatly appreciated..
@ Bradley
The states drivers license department had their phones disconnected? Take a copy in in person.
NC DMV if you have a medical condition and cannot pass physical will you lose cdl license ?
@ Sharon T
Check with NC DMV for the best answer, in most cases no.
What about sleep apnea? Moderate ( the number of events was 24). In most states, they’ll let someone continue to have their CDL as long as they are using the c-pap. I can not find any literature on this issue for NC.
@ Mo
You may need to talk to a real person at the drivers license department. Start with a supervisor and go up from there.
Can l keep my CDL, retired from driving, but Dr.says I have sleep apnea,and need to get a cpap.cant afford it.
@ Charles
Most states require a valid medical card to maintain a cdl. Check with your local drivers license department to see if they mandate a sleep study for your present drivers license class.
I had to go on dialysis does that stop me from being able to drive I’m in North Carolina.
@ Jasmine T
Class A cdl, yes.
Rozell b
i have my cdl, my medical card has expired and i want to go back to driving. it expired a few months ago, what do i need to do to get legally able to work again,
Thank You.
@ rozell
Check with your local drivers license department for the final answer. Most cases all you need is a valid medical card on file with the state.
I am about to schedule an appointment to get my card. My doctor has precribed a narcotic pain medication to me and I am worried about getting shut down when I go get my card. Should I be concerned or will I be allowed to take my medicine and drive?
@ Robbie O
If you are having to take a narcotic pain medication for any recent injuries, then you will not pass the DOT medical exam. And depending on the medication plus how long the prescribing doctor feels you may be on these meds will need a medical release form from you primary physician, also.
I just got a DOT physical when I got my CDL: in April of 2018. I got a new DOT physical in June with an employer and received a new card. How long do I have in NC to attach my new card and is my old one still good until I do?
@ Sammy
The FMCSA has already been up dated, but you need to check with your local drivers license department for their guidelines and time frames.
Is a DOT physical required to drive commercial straight trucks 26,000 lbs. or under in intrastate freight in NC ?
@ Norman
Most states are following the FMCSA’s model and are requiring a valid medical card to operate any vehicle that is used for commerce. Check with your local drivers license department for your best answer.
10001# or more is when a physical card is required unless you are considered in the “excepted” bracket. If you are for hire or profit, just hauling goods from point A to point B you are a “non excepted” and you will be required to have a medical certificate. Interstate or Intrastate really doesn’t make a difference. CDL License Manual 1.2.2 (page 1-8) is where you find your answers.
I have the same problem. I was wondering what you done with this matter?
I have a clinical diagnosis of alcoholism, it is over the 10 years old, can I get a new evaluation that will nullify the previous one
@ Darrell
Yes, and make sure you have a copy in and for your own records. The CME will need to see a copy also.
I had to go on dialysis does that stop me from being able to drive I’m in North Carolina