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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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I’m due for my dot physical and my question is, last year I had to have a nuclear stress test.I had bypass surgery in May 2000. I was told, or understood, I would not have to take another stress test if it was within a year! I’m told now I have to do again! Insurance will not cover this because it is work related, not medically needed. My cardiologist says it is not needed, dot physician says it is. This costs $8,000 for the test, (I did not have ins. last year!) let alone putting that chemical in my system again! Can you please tell me what is necessary?
@Jerry
Stress test (not an $8,000 test) for bypass surgery is to be done every two years, according to the FMCSA. Not sure what else may be going on that a CME is making an additional test request, or they are not reading the FMCSA guides.
I work for a Pipeline company and have to renew my medical examiners card. When I started this job 2 yrs ago I just renewed my cdl examination. Now they are both due for renewal. A cdl is not required for what I do at my new job but I would like to keep my cdl. Can the 2 medical examinations be combined for one card?
@Ty
The medical certificate examination is one thing and the CDL examination is something different. Since they are not the same examination then you may not be able to combine the two for one thing. But check with your local NRCME examiner and ask him. Each state is a little different, so your state may be able to do so.
If my dot card expired last November did they take my cdl
@James
If your CDL was downgraded you should have received a letter from your state drivers license department. You’ll need to contact them to determine your status.
Volunteer firefighters are exempt from a cdl license to operate fire apparatus in Pennsylvania by law. But I am unable to find any information on if you still need a medical card to operate the vehicle? My guess, is because you are operating a vehicle over your class c license, and you still must obey the cdl rules do to the weight over 26,000, that you are liable to get a ticket for not having a valid medical card.
Our company has a F550 truck and trailer the total combined weight is 26,000 lbs. I have a CDL license but I could not pass/get my medical certificate, I have put my CDL on hold (don’t remember what it was called -so I don’t have to retake test to maintain CDL) My question is can I borrow the company vehicle and use it for personal use intrastate only without a medical card? A letter I got says can drive up to 26,000 lb. just not sure if that is combo or only straight weight.
@Micheel
Each state is different, so check with your state drivers license department. Personal use of a vehicle that can pull greater than 26,000 would require a cdl, and most states are requiring a valid medical certificate to operate a commercial size vehicle.
I have a F450 and we use it to haul a 14,000 lb trailer. The total combined weight is 24,000 pounds. Do my employees all need medical cards even though no CDL is needed. Also, the company is located in Pennsylvania and some of my employees live in Maryland. If a medical card is needed, which state is it based on? The company state or employee “live in” state? We travel to all states.
Thank You.
@Thomas
You need the medical card because you are using your truck for commerce, but it does not matter what state you have the card done in. Medical cards are good anywhere, unless you are listed as an intra-state only driver.
I’m a current CDL holder from NJ moving to PA. Do I have to take the CDL test again in order to transfer here?
@Tony
That’s a question for PA drivers license department.
This website is not affiliated with any state agency. We are a network of DOT physical doctors and we help drivers with questions related to qualifying for a DOT medical card.
Best of luck with your move.
I bought a 3-ton dump truck. Loaded with 3 ton it is under 10,000. This is a personal vehicle. People keep telling me I need a medical card to drive my own vehicle. Is this true? To drive my own vehicle? Under 10,000 lbs. In PA.
@Sam
Check with your state, but if it is for personal use only, then you may not need a medical card. But if you use the truck to make money with, then you probably need a medical card.
I am currently on workman’s comp. for a torn ACL and I need to update my medical card. I may not be able to preform all requirements to pass. What can I do?
@Michael
Since you would not pass the FMCSA test you will need to wait until you are completely healed and released from your surgeon’s care with a full return to duty letter.
My examiner gave me a 3 month medical clearence in Pa because my A1C was 8.0 was she right since I dont drive the school bus out of state?
@Jerry
If Pennsylvania is following the FMCSA guidelines, then yes she is correct. But you may check with your state drivers license department and see if there is a difference if you are classed as an intra-state only driver.