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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
June 23, 2025: FMCSA electronic reporting requirements for DOT Medical Certificates will be fully enforced.
See detailed information at FMCSA Medical Examiner Certificate Reporting Requirements for CDL Drivers
CDL Drivers
The good news:
• You no longer have to go through the hassles of updating your medical card with your SDLA.
• You no longer have to carry your medical card with you.
Is there ‘not so good’ news?
Safeguard your CDL! How does the new DOT Medical Certificate reporting process affect your CDL?
Non-CDL Drivers
The electronic reporting requirements do not affect non-CDL drivers.
• The medical examiner must give you a physical MEC Form MCSA-5876.
• You should keep your medical certificate available at all times whilst driving a CMV.
• You will still need to provide a copy of the MEC to the companies you work for.
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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If my CDL got downgraded in PA How can I get it restored?
If I live in NJ can I get a Pa CDL license because I work in pa?
PA Dot never registered my mailed in certification, never notified me, and today sent me a non- cdl license in the mail. No warning notice. I sent it in 45 days prior to expiration.
I will go in person on Tuesday to walk it through, hoping they reinstate my CDL. I will lose a day of work (Monday) due to their inefficiency.
I did everything right and allowed lots of extra time, yet Harrisburg managed to screw it up. Amazing.
My husband is going through the same exact problem today. The letter he got from pendot stated the 25th of march everything had to be in by that date. He got his med card yesterday and dropped everything off at pendot today and they told him he lost his cdl. So now he has to take a day off work tomorrow to fight it since it’s there fault not his.
Just wondering how your husband made out with the DMV. Same thing just happened to my husband. He just received a letter today saying they downgraded and issued him a non commercial drivers license.
Will i have to pass a drug test in order to receive a medical card?
@Ryan
If you are getting ready to get a job, yes there will be a pre-employment drug screen.
The DOT physical exam for a medical card is a separate exam from a drug test.
If you are concerned about drug tests, maybe you should not consider driving for a career.
So if you already passed a pre employment drug screen they won’t test you as you go to take the physical?
@Anonymous
The pre-employment drug screen and the DOT physical are two different tests.
You may be randomly drug tested at any time.
I submitted my new DOT Card via fax by my company on 13 December. What is approx date the system will be updated?
my cdl in pa was downgraded in may of 2014 and i self certified as non-excepted intrastate before it was downgraded. if i wanted to use my cdl again can i just go get a medical card and send in a self certification form.
@Matt
You’ll need to contact your local drivers license department. They are the only ones who can tell you what your status is, and what you need to do next to get your CDL re-instated.
I was injured while operating a propane delivery truck in April 2016. Was undergoing care by the company acquired physician who was subsequently fired after placing me on work restrictions that included no operating company vehicle. Notifying both my employer and the ex-physician of my expiration date, both cited some DOT regs that allowed for a waiver every 30 days after the Medical card expired The ex-physician and the staff of a regulated DOT medical center all cited, that until I was either treated and released, or was presented with a Medical certificate for limited driving of a CMV , then it would be a waste of $80 to simply be failed. Employer was notified and verified everything and the day my medical card did expire, I signed and he was to fax this medical card waiver to the PA DMV , U.S.DOT and the company safety director. I had since signed and filed 2 others. The last was to expire on Oct 1. 2016. On October 3, still not treated and released I was terminated without cause. Today I was informed that although my CDL-A is valid until 9/2019 that since no notice was made to PennDOT /DMV within 30 days , then I’d have to re-apply for the entire CDL-A process all over again..including the classroom , exams and driving test with a rented T/T. This as told to me by PA DMV today, sounds quite odd. Should i simply appear at the local Driver’s License center and present all the documentation –including the award from the Md Workers Comp Board, citing the case and the pending surgical repairs ?
@Daniel
You need to go to the state drivers license department and explain your situation. If you are injured and can not pass the class A drivers examination as ‘Fit for Duty’, then the state should be able to hold your class A license in suspension until further notice. So check with the local DLD office and see what they have to say.
Due to a vehicle accident I am temporarily (hopefully) disabled. It is time for me to renew my medical card. What can I do so that I do not have to lose my cdl?
I am not driving now due to my disability, but hope to in the future.
@Jamie
You’ll need to check with you local drivers license department to see what they can do to put your CDL on hold.