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Texas CDL Requirements
All Texas CDL holders are required to certify the type of commercial operation they’re engaged in. CDL holders operating in non-excepted interstate and non-excepted intrastate are required to submit a current medical examiner’s certificate and any variance they may have to the Department.
Non-Excepted-Interstate Commerce (Form CDL-4)
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements.
Non-Excepted-Intrastate Commerce (Form CDL-5 part B)
You must meet the Texas medical certificate requirements.
Submit Your Self-Certification Affidavit and Medical Certificate to Texas Department of Public Safety
Submit the following two documents:
- Texas Commercial Driver License Self-Certification Affidavit – Form CDL-4 or Form CDL-5.
- Copy of your valid DOT medical card (not the long form) and any variance you may have. Enlarge the copy to ensure that all information is legible.
By Mail:
Texas Department of Public Safety
License and Record Service
Attention: CDL Section
P.O. Box 4087
Austin, Texas 78773-0320
By Fax:
512-424-2002 Attn: CDL Section
By Email:
CDLMedCert@dps.texas.gov
Documents must be in PDF format
Keep Your Medical Card Current With Texas Department of Public Safety
Drivers are required to keep a current medical variance or medical examiners certificate on file with DPS, and failure to do so will result in the downgrade of the individual’s CDL.
You must provide a copy of each new DOT medical card to the Department prior to the expiration of the current DOT medical card.
To prevent your commercial driver license from being downgraded, you will need to send a copy of your new DOT medical certificate to the Department within 15 days of the DOT medical certificate issuance date.
You may submit your new medical certificate by mail, fax, or email, as described above.
You can review a driver’s current CDL medical certification status by accessing driver eligibility.
Other Information:
Texas DPS official website: Driver License
Texas CDL Medical Certification Requirement
Texas DPS/CVE – Locate a commercial vehicle office – address and phone number
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! —
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I renewed my medical card at the end of March and was not told to take a copy to the DMV and it totaled slipped my mind. What’s going to happen to my license now?
@ Steven D
Your local drivers license department will give you the best advice.
I’m supposed to get my dot physical by the 28th of this month. I broke my leg last month and won’t pass the physical. What do i do?
@ Michael J P
You take the medical examination when you can pass it. If the question is regarding your cdl license, then check with your local driver license department for your states rules.
I just got my medical exam renewal. The practitioner gave me the completed ‘medical examiner determination’ sheet to send into DOT instead of the actual certificate. Is it okay to just send the determination sheet instead of the certificate?
@ Andre
Most, not all, only want a copy of the medical certificate card. And some states require the full examination findings. So check with your states drivers license department for your specific requirements.
Can we reduce the medical form and laminate it so it doesn’t get destroyed in a wallet? It is still readable.
@ Lynn
DOT must be able to read everything on the medical card with the naked eye. Most offices are using a tri-fold lamented card which meets the DOT’s standards. Just make sure you have a copy of the card as it came to you too.
I am from Texas. And have a cdl but my medical card expires soon and am out of the states How many days would I have to send a new one in after it expires And if it expires will it be downgraded? And the dps and. DMV will never answer the phone plz help
@Arturo
Even if you are out of state, you can get your DOT physical examination done by a certified medical examiner in any state so you don’t have to wait until you get back home.
The details for sending in your new medical certificate to Texas DPS are on this page.
I have a CDL class b for bus driver. It expired in August however my medical examiner card is valid. Can I just renew or will I have to retest ??
@ Steph
Drivers license is different than medical card. You will need to check with your local drivers license department for the best answer.
I have a TEXAS CLASS B CDL It was changed about 15-20 years ago when renewing license to having a “P” restriction and they dropped my HAZ MAT Endorsement because I wasn’t driving a truck at time. Texas DOT said this way I could keep my CLASS B and that I could be that far ahead if I ever needed it again. I may be getting back into driving like a (cement truck, dump truck or Commercial delivery van or Bobtail Truck) on the road. What do I need to do to get things rolling on this so I am legal?
@Charles
You’ll need to contact your local drivers license department for this information.
Hello my husband recently got downgrade for not renewing his medical card in time if he renews it will he be upgraded back to his cdl???
.was he able to get he’s cdl back with out taking all the test all over again ? mine is about to expire and I would like to know
I am in somewhat the same boat. I have a current medical card issues in WA state have moved here two years ago. I have never let it laps yet forgot to send in copy to TX. they have down graded me. does anyone know if I can just send in prof that I have been current for reenstatement?
@ Dace McC
You really need to check with Texas DMV for the best answer.
Thanks for your response. the problem with this is that they are almost impossible to contact over the phone. I’ve left a number of emails too, yet no response. Man this could really effect my livelyhood.
In texas you need to contact DPS for driver license questions not DMV, (they do vehicles only). DPS # 512-424-2601
If your Medical card go out and they downgraded your license you have to test again to get it upgraded again . That is what I was told from the DPS office in Houston .
A friend was downgraded due to his medical cert not getting turned in on time. He has been on the phone with Texas DPS for several months. They keep telling him it’s up to the review board. His license was suspended… not down graded. He can’t hold any job as he has no license to drive. This is crazy. How long can they hang someone’s livelihood up???
@ Danna
Go higher up the supervisor chain at the DPS. There is no reason for the holdup.