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Tennessee CDL Requirements
Updated: 3/23/22
Starting on January 30, 2012, all CDL Drivers will be required to self certify to a single type of commercial operation. You are responsible to provide TDOSHS with your self-certification of operating status by January 30, 2014.
Based on that self certification, you may need to provide the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) with a current medical examiner’s certificate and show any variance you may have to obtain or keep your CDL.
Interstate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
Intrastate Non-Excepted
You must meet the medical requirements for the State of Tennessee.
If you do not provide TDOSHS with your self-certification and medical certificate by January 30, 2014, TDOSHS will notify you that you are no longer medically certified to operate a CMV in non-excepted Interstate commerce. TDOSHS will then remove all your CDL privileges from your license.
Submit your Affidavit Self-Certification and Medical Certificate Form MCSA 5876 to Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Submit the following two documents:
- SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE – download the form SF-1480 (Rev11/18) here from Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
- Copy of your valid Medical Examiner Certificate – Form MCSA 5876 (the medical card, not the long form). Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
By Mail:
Tennessee Dept. of Safety and Homeland Security
Commercial Driver License Division – Med Cert
1148 Foster Ave
Nasvhille, TN 37243
By Email:
DI.CDL.Medcert@tn.gov
If by email please send the scanned copies in a PDF.
Upload Self-Certification Affidavit and Medical Examiner’s Certificate:
TN Driver Services upload link
For questions please call 615-502-4179. Please have your commercial driver license number readily available.
Keep Your Medical Card Current With Tennessee Department Of Safety
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security will be adding your medical certification status and the information on your medical examiner’s certificate to your Commercial Driver’s License System (CDLIS) record. CDL holders required to have a ”certified” medical status who fail to provide and keep up-to-date their medical examiner’s certificate with TDOSHS will become ”not-certified”.
It is the driver’s responsibility to maintain up to date medical certification notification to the state.
Before your medical card expires you must have a new medical examination and obtain a new medical certificate. You are responsible for providing your valid medical certificate to TDOSHS.
If your medical card expires, TDOSHS will notify you that you are no longer medically certified to operate a CMV in non-excepted Interstate commerce. TDOSHS will then remove all your CDL privileges from your license.
You may submit your new medical certificate by mail, email, or online as described above.
Other Information:
Tennessee official website Driver Services
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.
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I have a current CDL, but had heart surgery last year. I now have a defibrillator, so will have to get an InTRAstate certification just for the state of TN. How would I go about this?
@ MDonahoe
If you are a class A driver, then you get your regular DOT/FMCSA medical cert exam. Then take the results to your state, so they can issue the intra-state only license.
My wife was terminally ill a year and a half ago and has since then passed away my medical certification expired can I get my medical certification renewed and get my CDL privileges reinstated.
@ Donald G
Since your cdl is a state issued document, you will need to check with your local DLD for guidance.
I have employees that need to get there CDL medical cards renewed, but they do not expire until December and January. what is the time frame they can start getting a renewed medical card before it expires?
@ Rachel C
New medical cards can be done at any time. The new medical cards over-ride the old ones and have a new beginning and expiration date, so they lose the last couple months on their existing cards.
If I let my medical card expire and they revoke my cdl. Will the State of Tn send me a updated license or do I have to go to the dmv?
@ Matt
Probably best to go to the DMV and downgrade. May save you from having to retest, if you want your cdl back.
Medical card expired in march so they cancelled my cdl privleges. Got it renewed for a year a couple of days ago. I submitted that and the self affidavit online. Is that all I have to do to get my privileges back?
@ Devin H
Ask your states drivers license department for confirmation. This is a state related question, not federal DOT.
I’m a retired over road driver that while in Tn kept up med. Card, I retired and didn’t think about a med card and moved to Ohio and went to get Ohio cdl and removed hazmat endorsement, no problem but when went to change states to Ohio found out Tn put hold on cdl. Got info that med cal was needed to take hold off, I since did requirements and went on line and felled paperwork out and took picture of med card. I then got a email from Tn saying it was denied. Please I don’t know what they want to solve this. Do you in anyway look at my paperwork and tell me what I did wrong.
@ Douglas n W
Did you have a new DOT/FMCSA medical certification examination done by a CME? If not, there is the problem
Having a knee replacement on May 17. Dot card is up on July 19. Doctor says I should be ok 6-8 weeks after surgery but this is cutting it close. What would it take to get an extension if I’m not at 100% by July 19? Can I go before my knee operation?
@ John K
Best to wait until fully released to return to work before going for a new medical card. Going early would require a new card when released. Waiting until released may cut your time close or a little late but you should be OK.
When it comes to NON-CDL CMV Operators, at 19,500 lbs, some states dont require a medical card to operate, like AZ.
Is Tennessee one of those states?
I’m trying to find this answer as well. The only thing I can find is that a TDOT number is not required for Intrastate commerce by a private carrier until 26,001lbs. I can’t find anything concerning a medical card requirement at a certain weight under 23,001lbs.
@ Mark C
Most states require a medical card for any vehicle, not just weight, being used for commerce (making money for someone). Best to confirm with your local DLD for your best answer.
I’m a school bus driver in Alabama but would like to apply for job in Tennessee? I have my Cdl license and health card what else is required?
@ Nita
You probably have all you need, but confirm with Tennessee DLD.
I’m not understanding the difference between a medical card and a medical certificate. I started off driving for the government so medical cards weren’t required as we were able to present a waiver. After I left that job and renewed my license, I had to get a medical card from a physician to present to the state with my renewal. My medical card expires in October 2022 but DL doesn’t expire until 2028, will I have to get a new medical card and go present it to the DOT? Side note: I’m not currently driving trucks, I would just like to keep my CDLs just in case.
@ Kenny G
Yes, most states require a valid medical card to maintain a cdl. Confirm with your local drivers license department.
Thanks!
I renewed my medical card but forgot to self certify. I received a letter in the mail. If I self certify will they reinstate my license without having to go through great lengths. Med card never expired. I didn’t know I had to send documents in. Only been driving two yearso this is my first experience renewing.
@ Stone
Most likely, but check with your local drivers license department for confirmation.
I tried to self certify but it wants to verify me it ask for last name dl number and ss number then it says a code had been sent to my phone number which is an old number i no longer have it gives no other option so what can i do
@ Bill
You will have to get your answer from the state drivers license department, since it is a state related issue.
I am not driving a cmv now.My medical card expires this year.my license expires in 2024. Do I have to get a medical card,or can I check the Intrastate excepted box on the self certification form .
@ Tim m
You need to confirm this with your local drivers license department.
My CDL license is suspended because my Medical Card expired a year ago. I completed the medical card in Florida but my CDL is from TN. How the medical card doctor could provide the DMV the medical card ? Where the doctor faxes the medical card to the TN DMV.?
@ Evis F
Send the copy to TN. DMV.
Is there a working FAX number? The one on this site is disconnected.
@ Jeff
The fax option is not longer available. There is a new online upload option.
Is there a grace period if you go past the date of your dot before u loose your license
@ Floyd
Right now you have until the end of February to get your medical card registered with the state. Since cdl’s are issued by the state and not the fed. you will need to confirm with your local drivers license department about any grace period for your cdl.
I am a school bus driver for Wilson County TN and I had to have hip replacement and was not able to do my take my medical exam for my CDL license. I received a letter that stated I needed to surender my CDL license. I would like to get my license back as I can now pass my medical test. Will I have to retest in order to get my CDL back?This just took place in May of 2022. Only a couple months ago.
@ Dee
Since your cdl is a state issued document, your best answer will come from your local drivers license department.
If my medical card expires Jan 7th and I renew it Jan 7th and upload everting will I be good to go?
@ Paul
You should be fine. FMCSA has extended their grace period until the end of February in your case.
My Dot health card expired inarch 2017 but my license are good to 2028 and still have cdl a on them can I get my health card and still have my cdls one time a lady told me from Tn dot that you had 5 years after an expired medical card to get a new one to keep cdl in TN is this true
@ Howard
See Above for Gordon M.
i had my cdl whan i was 21, grandfathered in , now my doctor wont let me drive because of a upcoming surgery, so now after 35 years , i will lose my cdl,before 2012 i keep them with no med card as long as not driven.what the world going to ?
@ william r s
All is not lost. Check with your local drivers license department for confirmation. If you explain your situation to the DLD, they should guide you through the process of keeping your cdl, given you are headed to surgery. They may require a valid medical card to maintain your cdl. You can get a DOT/FMCSA medical certification examination after you are released from your doctors to return to work.
How can I check and see if my medical card has been updated?
@ Jesse j
Check with your states drivers license department, they should be able to answer your question. Once the CME completes the examination and puts your information into the federal data base, it’s good for the federal DOT. Getting the info to the state is your responsibility, unless you were informed differently by the examiners office.
I just found out today that i recieved a letter from TN DOT that my medical certificate expired June 1st 2019. This makes no sense considering i have my certificate with me and it doesn’t expire til February 28 2020. It is Friday 9:00pm and cannot get a hold of anyone at the department and i’m parked in west Tn afraid to leave. What am i supposed to do now?
@ Steven
Make sure the state has a copy of your most recent medical card. You should be able to drive if you can support a DOT officers questions with a valid medical card.
Can you send me the self certification form. I’ve misplaced the one that the state of tenn sent me. Call me at 9019079332 if you have any questions.
@ Mark L
Download the form SF-1480 (Rev11/18) here from Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.