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Pennsylvania CDL DOT Medical Card Requirements
The new Federal regulations also require commercial drivers to self-certify the type of driving in which they operate or expect to operate. Nearly every commercial driver, unless the type of commerce you drive qualifies as ‘Excepted’, is required to submit their valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate to PennDOT.
- Non-Excepted Interstate (NI)
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. - Non-Excepted Intrastate (NA)
You must meet Pennsylvania requirements under Title 67, Chapter 231.
If you are not currently working as a professional driver, and to avoid the loss of the commercial driving designation and the requirement to apply for a learner’s permit, you may self-certify as either “Excepted Interstate” or “Excepted Intrastate” transportation. Making this change to the driving record will automatically disqualify you from operating in any form of non-excepted transportation. If and when your driving type changes, you will be required to resubmit the Self-Certification Form and submit a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate.
CDL Self-Certification
Submit the following two documents:
- Self-Certification Form (DL-11CD) – download the form here from PennDOT.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card. (Medical card only, not the long form.) Enlarge the copy to 5 inches by 7 inches, to ensure that all information is legible.
By Mail:
PennDOT
Bureau of Driver Licensing
P.O. Box 69008
Harrisburg, PA 17106-9008
By Fax:
717-783-5429
In Person:
At your local PennDOT Driver License Center.
PennDOT will mail you a receipt indicating that the Medical Examiner’s Certification and/or Self-Certification Form has been processed. You should keep this receipt.
Keep your Medical Card Current with PennDOT
If you self-certify “Non-Excepted” (NI or NA) you are required to keep a valid medical card on file with PennDOT. Check your medical card expiration date! If it expires within the next 60 days you should renew it, and get it updated with PennDOT before it expires.
Approximately 90 days prior to the expiration date of your medical certificate, PennDOT will mail you a reminder letter. Approximately 30 days prior to the expiration date of your medical certificate, PennDOT will mail you an official downgrade notice, which emphasizes the date the commercial designation will be removed from your driver license.
A new medical card can be processed at a PennDOT Driver’s License Center as late as the day the current certificate expires to avoid the downgrade process.
Submit a legible copy (enlarge the copy to 5 inches by 7 inches) of your Medical Certificate (medical card only, not the long form) to PennDOT:
By Mail: Only if you are submitting at least 30 days before the due date.
PennDOT
Bureau of Driver Licensing
P.O. Box 69008
Harrisburg, PA 17106-9008
By Fax: If you are submitting less than 30 days before the due date.
717-783-5429
In Person: For immediate processing.
At your local PennDOT Driver License Center.
Other Contact Information:
Website: www.dmv.state.pa.us
Commercial Driver’s Information Center
Commercial Driver Information Phone: 717-412-5300 or 800-932-4600
Notice To Medical Examiners
PennDOT notice to medical examiners regarding Medical Examiner’s Certificate
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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Does an Initial DOT need a urine drug screen?
@ BrigG
No, only a urine screen for blood, sugar and protein.
Can the Dot medical card renewal urine analysis in pa give false positives in the drug screening , I take ibuprofen n small dose of sertraline for depression it’s concerns me my card needs renewed soon
@ Mickey
DOT physical does not test for drugs. Only sugar, protein, and blood are recorded.
You shouldn’t be driving if you have to ask that question .
@ Steve
We agree.
Two years ago my company failed to send in my DOT physical card so I was driving without my CDL and I did not know that until I got pulled into a weigh station. I presented my card to the officer who did not fine me but put me out of service. Now I’m trying to get new employment and this is causing me to find it very hard to get a new job because of this on my PSP. Is there a way to get this removed?
@ Charles H
Not sure which direction to point you in. Start with your state and explain your situation, they may be of help.
I had a DOT CDL physical today and need a fax number in Pennsylvania to fax it to so I can renew my CDL so it doesn’t expire
@ BARB
You’ll need to contact Penn DLD for the fax #.
I see a lot of questions in reference to an expired medical card and whether or not the testing will need to be retaken but no clear answers. Just wondering, if my medical card expired 2 weeks ago in PA, will I need to retest for the CDL or can I just go get my Physical and submit my medical certificate to PennDOT and be done with it?
I’m in the same boat and cant find an answer. I believe we have to start over tho
@ Rob
Guys, you need to check with your local drivers license department for the best answer. Requirements vary from state to state. Some state only need a new medical card, other require, after a certain time period, you retake the cdl examination again. Your state drivers license department can answer your questions.
@ Matt
Check with your local drivers license department for the answer to your question. It’s a state driven question, not federal FMCSA.
I currently have a F-350 with a 13,100 GVW and tow a 7,000 GVW trailer so as of now I need my PA DOT Medical card (Which I do have for 14 more months)
If my future new F-350 is only rated at 10,000 GVW I will be exempt from needing to renew my PA medical card correct? (10k truck and 7k trailer = 17k,……under the 17,001 threshold)
Or will I still need one because my truck is still 10k alone? I believe the truck alone has to be over 10k (10,001 and above) but want to be sure.
And lastly, I never drive intrastate with my trailer unless going to my supplier/dealer, but I assume I will be in violation since I am over 10k,…either way, alone or with my trailer, correct?
CORRECTION!!!!!
I never drive interstate! Only stay in PA unless I go to my local parts supplier who is in NJ
@ CJ
Everything will depend on the class drivers license you carry. Each states cdl/medical card requirements are different. Start with information from the states drivers license department. They should be able to clarify the situation for you. Class A medical cards are state issued and federally regulated, unless it’s intra-state only.
I have a standard PA class C license, no CDL involved. My question basically is, is do I still need a medical card if my new truck only has a 10,000GVW rating?
I understand that I will be under the 170001k with my 7k trailer (truck 10K + trailer 7K = 17K) so in theory I will no longer be required to get the PA medical card,…
but I am more concerned with the truck alone since it is still 10k .
But if I am correct I still will not need it because my truck is under the 10,001k threshold at 10k even.
Or is it 10k threshold?
Long story short,…at what GVW do you need a PA medical card for truck only,….maybe that explains it better?!! LOL
Thanks!
@ CJ
Your question will be best answered by your states drivers license department. You fall under their variances not FMCSA/DOT.
It is possible to put your CDL on hold when renewing a license. I am retired and do not plan to drive, but don’t want to give it up. How do I do that?
@ Marvin M
Check with your state drivers license department to confirm, but most states require a valid medical card to maintain a valid cdl.
why was I not able to get my medical cert for my DOT while being on methadone?
I was issued my card last year 2018 and now no provider will renew it due to being on the methadone even though I passed the urine test and have document from my clinic stating I am able to preform the duties needed. is there any policies about methadone?
My husband needs to register his medial card with Penn Dot. Can I do for him in person at a dmv or does he have to be there?
@ eliza
Check with your local DLD for the best answer.
My employer provided a packet to be filled out for a non cdl dot certification in PA. Required questions were: How long have I lived at my address (years & months), and to list my employment for the last three years. Is this a requirement for a non cdl dot certification? Not sure what these questions have to do with a DOT Certification to pull a trailer….
@ David
Those are not DOT questions.
On the back of my license it say Class A. I used to have a Class A CDL. Niw I have an operators license. So, my question is what do I have to do to get my CDL back.
@ Jeffrey S G
Check with your states drivers license department for the best answer.