How to obtain a DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate
Click to find DOT physical locations in NEW YORK
Click to find DOT physical locations in OTHER STATES
Once you have a current Medical Examiner’s Certificate you must ensure that DMV receives the updated information to record on your file, or you will lose your commercial driving privileges.
Keep your Medical Certificate (MCSA-5876) current with NYS DMV
You must renew your medical card before the expiration date.
If your DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate indicates “must be accompanied by a Diabetic, Hearing, Seizure or Vision waiver exemption or an SPE Certificate,” you must have a Medical Variance issued by FMCSA.
Your renewed Medical Examiner’s Certificate, and Variance if applicable, must be received and processed by DMV prior to the expiration of the Medical Examiner’s Certificate on file to avoid loss of your commercial driving privilege. You should allow at least two weeks for processing your updated certificate.
Send a copy of your new, valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MCSA-5876), and Variance if applicable, to NYS DMV.
By Mail:
NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
Medical Certification Unit
PO Box 2601
Albany, NY 12228-0601
By Fax:
Fax number 518-486-4421 or 518-486-3260
By Email:
dmv.sm.cdlmedcertunit@dmv.ny.gov
The DMV will not remind you when your DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate or Medical Variance is about to expire unless you are enrolled in the Electronic Reminders program. Sign up with NYS DMV to get email and/or text reminders.
What happens if your Medical Examiner’s Certificate expires?
DMV will change your CDL medical certification status to “Not Certified”.
DMV will send you a “Notice of Non-Compliance and License Downgrade”.
DMV will cancel your CDL if you do not submit an updated Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MCSA-5876) within 55 days.
New York CDL Medical Certification Requirements
NYS DMV .gov website
NYS DMV Medical Certification Requirements
1. Medical Certification
All New York CDL holders are required to be medically qualified to drive a CMV by the means of a valid USDOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MCSA-5876), unless the type of commerce you drive qualifies as ‘Excepted’.
2. Driving Types
In addition, if you have a CDL, Class A, B or C, you must certify the type of driving you do.
The 4 Federal Driving Types are described on the NYS DMV official website.
You must keep a current Medical Examiner’s Certificate on file with DMV if you self-certify to a Non-Excepted Driving type (NI or NA).
Interstate Non-Excepted (NI)
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
Intrastate Non-Excepted (NA)
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
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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after 39years no tickets no acciedents the dmv has proved to me that they should fire everyone and start over…..getting a physical at the va was bad enough cause those morons sent me into the hospital because my bp was 142 on the high end whoopee.dooits 150 now according to new rules on blood preasure..beside .thats just my operating preasure….to make matters worse in order to spend around $40000 tax dollars to find something wrong with my ticker that does not exist …they chemically induced a real life heartattack….right there on the table…..not doing that again….dmv must not read their own files….they have now suspended my cdl until i get a new medical card ..the one i have has not even been on file a year…..i can hardly wait to see what reason they have for their action…..my med card is current until october this year…..i hope that they ….the powers that be……realize how hopelessly encompident they appear to be..,respectfully submitted…..
I sent you a copy of my medical re-certification and a copy of my driver’s license more than 2 weeks ago and you have yet updated my driving record. Please I can fax you another copy for update. Thank you
Talikai Ayuba. (phone number deleted by admin for privacy)
Retired and just trying to keep my CDL but now trying to get results for sleep apnea and paying for my own physical and having to mail in copies of extended physical card and only getting things from the DMV on non-compliance and downgrade is redictulus.When your RETIRED I would think you could keep your license.You should be able to keep it and only need a physical when your working you think?
@Charlie
If you are not currently driving a CMV, and you want to maintain your CDL but are not in a position to certify for a medical certificate, or do not want to keep your medical certificate current, check with your SDLA.
Your SDLA may allow you to self-certify in a category that does not require a medical certificate, if you state allows it.
In NYS you can ask for an A3 restriction. Makes you exempt from a medical exam.
The first medical card copy I sent was rejected for not having an expiration date. With a new physical and medical card I visited the local DMV office. The new card has an expiration date. I completed the paperwork again and we faxed a copy of my new card along with the completed paperwork three weeks ago. Today I stopped in DMV to check on the status of the certification and it still says not current. Like every other business I have ever dealt with the lack of communication from department to department will cost people time, money and possibly jobs. I pull Tandems for a living that requires 5 years of continuous CMV License. If I am downgraded I will lose my job. The amount of time and money spent to obtain a CMV is ridiculous enough without having to worry about a lack of communication on DMV`s part. The Medical Certification Department needs to reside at DMV offices for people to communicate directly with. My license has not been downgraded yet. I have done everything I can.
What appears on my license is E -( P ) & R ( None ).
Does this mean I need a restriction change? Do I have to go to my local DMV & apply for a license amendment?
@Lucille
Can’t answer this question for you. Best is to check with your DMV for clarification.
Well, as soon as the new request came, I mailed out my husband’s paperwork, made copies and sent it return receipt requested. He had his paperwork and the physical was for 2 years. This was August of 2013 he was one of the first mailings, he just received a letter from the DMV that he was downgraded for failure to submit his medical card and paperwork. I have called, their hours are 9-1 mon – fri and the phone lines are always busy unless they are closed and then you can get through to get the message. So then I emailed copies of all the paperwork that had been sent as well as the receipts from the initial mailing. However, DMV does not respond to email, most professional places have customer service with 24 hour turnarounds on email, and this isn’t something that can be handled at the local DMV so how do you resolve this error in data entry? In the meantime my husband can no longer drive for his company because his license in no longer valid until this is cleared up. Who is going to pay our bills? What a horrendous mess this is.
fax information (fax number 518-486-4421) before 9 am you will get a accepted answer after 9 am they must take the phone off the hook tried to get thru for days
@Mike
Thank you for helping with this information. We’ve added it to the information above.
i just received a letter of non compliance and licence down grade saying i do not have a medical cert card. i received this same letter in september of 2013 at that time i got a physical and certification card and mailed it to the dmv med cert. unit they acknowledged receipt. my certification doesn’t expire until 10/2014 my client id # is 328652065. where do i go from here
I am a recently retired MTA bus operator for NYC. I have a class B with E: P, R: A3. My CDL license has been downgraded because of this new law. I’ve never had a Med. Cert. Card. I sent in my form, already. It appeared that I was exempt from Med. Cert. Card. Do I need a Med.Cert. card? How will I know when I’ll be upgraded?
@Kevin
I believe that most of the new changes coming about have more to do with class A drivers (over the road 18-wheelers) than to do with class B.
You’ll need to check with your state DMV for further explanation of the changes and how those changes effect your class B.
I am out on medical and having surgery, Not able to take a physical at this time. what do I do when I return back to work???
@Constance
Following any major illness or surgery, you need to redo your DOT medical examination.
So don’t worry about it until you are ready to go back to work. Then get a new medical certificate.
If the state you live in is asking for your new medical card and self certification, then just let them know you are out on sick leave and will get it to them as soon as you have it.
My name is Herman of New York State.
I am out on medical and having surgery, Not able to take a physical at this time. my Medical card is up for renewal end of Oct 1,2014, I need more time to recover what do I do when I return back to work??? I had my CDL since 1992 will be retiring in 2018. I did want to keep my CDL for the future and continue to support my family. Is there a way to keep my CDL untill I am able to recover from surgery and be able go for my new medical card by self certification,
@Herman
Best to contact NY DMV and ask them the best way to go about this.
They may allow you to self-certify in an excepted category as long as you don’t drive, then change to a non-excepted category when you’re ready to drive again. Or they may have a way to put a hold in your file, until you are medically fit to get a new card.
totally inadequate and ridiculous! phone is always busy!! ive personally been trying to get through for over a week…..also i have sent my filled out and doctor documented forms to this address in november of 2013 and i am getting notices that i am not in compliance? what should a person do? ive emailed,ive called ive written on here? we are hard working individuals who dont have much free time to waste ..someone help!!!!!!
NO ANSWER PHONE BUSY ALL TIME
I MAIL IT IN REG MAIL ARTICLE NUMBER 70103090 0000 6389 8170 AND FAX IT. NO ANSWER ,PHONE ALWAYS BUSY.
This process does not make good business sense. CDL operators send there information in to one place and only a handful of personnel are there to process the information. I submitted my DOT medical over a month ago and it still hasn’t been processed. CDL carriers should be able to log into a website and upload there medical into a database and receive a confirmation that it has been received. Or go to there local DMV to have it processed. I know you are outsourcing this process as well. So help create jobs. have each local DMV outsource it to a local business. so instead of one vendor processing 100’s of thousands of medicals, you have hundreds of vendors processing the medicals from local DMV’s. would be a smoother process and at the same time NY would be helping the economy with jobs.
I am tired of dot I am turning my license in I have had enough with all the laws
@ Mark
I guess if you don’t like the rules of the game, then it’s time to leave. Good Luck in any new endeavors.
My dot medical expired jan 15 2014. As of now im downgraded. Can I still take the exam without paying a fine
These are two different things. Yes you can take a DOT physical examination, no fines. But you may have to pay to have your cdl reinstated.
Who, as in what class vehicles are required to have a medical card. For example a company service truck licensed for 16,000lbs.
Thanks Mike
I went for a dot phisical and at the DR. Said looks good then said I failed because my neck is larger then 17 inches and said I have to take a sleep apnea test to see if I have this disorder witch cost a lot of money is this a new Law??
@Clayton
No. There are examining doctors that have not watched the rules closely.
If you have high blood pressure, and are on medications and are a diabetic and you’re fat and out of shape, then maybe. But if everything else is normal, then your examiner is behind the times on a ruling that has been overturned.
Where can I get a full list of the requirements for dot physical I failed because of my neck size being a 20.5 and a bmi over 35 I am in good health and go to the gym regularly jus a big boy weighing in at 315 , 6 ft 2
@Tim
There is no DOT BMI or Neck Measurement chart/requirement issued by the FMCSA or DOT.
Download our DOT Physical Exam Guidebook for an overview of the requirements.
See FAQ on sleep disorders – to get more answers about BMI, neck size, etc.
Take your business to another doctor.
I miss placed my letter is there a way to get another copy?
How do I know the DMV received my returned signed letter and mailed medical examiners certificate? Is there a way to check to see if it in fact has been received and processed?
I also have the same question as Ron. The self certification letter indicated that an enclosed envelope was sent along with it, but I didn’t get that envelope for some reason. Any of you happen to know to which exact address it’s supposed to be mailed to? Thanks for the help.
is a copy good to keep with me how do iknow iam all good and everything is correct with my licence and i need to get a copy of a blank certificate to give my doctor for new a cert