Click to find DOT physical locations in PENNSYLVANIA
Click to find DOT physical locations in OTHER STATES
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…
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.
Hello! We are trying to hire someone with a non-excepted intrastate CDL Medical Self-Certification. His medical certification about 6 years ago. If we have him complete a DOT physical, is that enough to get his medical certification renewed? Then does he send those results to your team to update his Self-Certification? State is PA.
@ Danielle
You will need to check with the state that his license is issued. If it’s been six years since his last medical cert, then his cdl may have been downgraded. Either way the DLD should be able to guide you through their process for this situation.
This is not for me. A dot physical. OK. But dot doctor and this sleep study. Is to much. And can’t afford . The test and machine if so all
a ponzie scheme. driven over 3 million miles. But don’t matter. It’s all about drivers license and check book. 30 plus years. And now this. No thanks.
@ T
If you do not feel that you present with signs and symptoms of OSA, then go get a second opinion.
How do I find out if my card expired, I lost my card and I’m not in PA. And I will be gone for a month
@ Brandon H
You should be able to contact your PA drivers license department and ask about your medical card expiration date.
I have an ICD since 2016. I’m a delivery driver in PA and drive a step Van. The company requires me to have a medical card. I have been getting my medical card renewed every year now for the last 5 years I went today to renew it and the dr said she couldn’t do it, and she is the one that cleared me last year. Is there anything I could do since I am not driving a commercial vehicle?
@ Mike
It seems the examiner is holding you to a class A cdl standard, which you are not. Find an examiner that knows the difference between federal regulations and your states requirements.
I just faxed a replacement medical card to y’all. How long before it is received and updated within the system?
@ Mike
You will need to check with your local drivers license department for the answer.
What happens in PA if you are downgraded because you left you medical card expire. Can you get a new one and get it in and get back to driving, retest? This person had a CDL prior to the new laws stating you have to go to truck driving school.
I’m looking into getting my CDL license myself can anyone please let me know how to get a new medical card. Do I get that before I go to DMV or do I have to go to DMV first.
@ Alec s
Check with your local drivers license department to confirm their process.
I work for the Department of Transportation, PennDOT, are there any regulations permitting me to be exempt from having to get this physical? I’m not engaged in interstate/intrastate commerce and we have individuals who are exempt from requiring the physical only because they were “grandfathered” out of it.
@ Adam L
You will need to check with your local drivers license department for the best answer to this question.
Is there a fee when you take your DOT medical certificate to DMV to be updated on your license?
@ Ben
Confirm this with your local drivers license department.
I just did mine and was NOT charged a fee for updating
Iff the DOT regs. were like they were promised when they first started, the same for every state, there wouldn’t be all these problems When Ted Kennedy proposed the CDL license ,all dot regs, were to be the same.