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.
If the medical dr. Denies your medical card for a year do they notify the state and what if you just go to a different facility and don’t tell them anything and they give you a card what will happen.
@ Tom
Everything depends the class cdl you are carrying.
Where can I find the information for a 2 year medical card with medication for BP and it being under control for multiple years
@ Ray
DOT/FMCSA class A interstate driver, no such thing as a two year with you on blood pressure meds. Lesser class cdl’s fall under the states rules and regs.
I had a hospital stay and my medical card runs out 5/18. I am not sure when I will be released to return to work. I may have to wear a catheter bag for several more weeks. Is there am extension
form to keep me from losing my medical card.
@ Ronald M K
No. Once you are released to return to work, get a medical exam done and take a copy to your state DLD. They will understand your situation, so should not be an issue.
I do not think all of this is possible.
How can 1 person destroy all of that?
There is no way he can know that much about you in a couple minutes of talking to him. (As you clame. ) So I am pretty sure that most of that is your own fault. And not the doctors. Because there is no way he can know all that information about you. If you only talk to him for a couple of minutes, so it is your own fault.
Unless you Whence in talking and telling more information than you even had to.
Can I ask who you were replying to? I’m not quite sure I know
Do church bus drivers in Pennsylvania require a medical exam to get their cdl?
@ marcy
That question will need to be answered by your local drivers license department.
The funny thing is I’ve been given both answers by two different driver’s license departments I’ve been told yes by one and No by the other.
@ marcy
Then ask your local DOT. It is a question of cdl vs church bus driver.
Has anyone ever had a dr, break hippa laws, defame your character, break patient privilege guidelines, give you a psychological evaluation on your mental health. This unqualified doctor is so stuck on himself that he discloses his opinion on a one time meeting for a few minutes, as a diagnosis of my mental state? This one indiscretion has destroyed my life. I lost my job, my CDL license, my regular license. I’ve destroyed my credit, lost standing in the community, on the verge of bankruptcy and losing my home.
@ JC
Sounds like you need a good attorney.
Hello, I am still confused about seizure exemption for intrastate non CDL…does this go just to PA DMV or Federal DOT & who do I specifically contact (at DMV)? Thanks
@ Dee
You are a non cdl holder and in most cases your medical card does not go to anyone. Since you fall under your states guidelines and variances, you will get your best answers from your local DLD/DMV. If your state has issued a standard drivers license, then you should be fine. Do confirm with your local DLD and follow their process.
Has any CDL driver ever been asked for extra verification from PA DOT, regarding their DOT physical?
Good afternoon, I was wondering if a medical card can be submitted via email for certification? If so what is the appropriate email address that we can use?
@ Mary
Check with your local drivers license department (DLD) for guidance.