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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
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…
To help us all avoid the black eye experience — AARGH! —
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can you drive with a pace maker
@Thomas
As long as there is not a defibrillator unit in it then you should be good to go. One year medical card at the time.
I have class A Cdl .they don’t expire until 2016.Do I have to have a physical now? Are do I have to have a physical before I can renew them?
@Jackie
If you have a CDL, and you are not classified Exempt, you must have a current DOT medical card, or DMV will downgrade your driver’s license. You must send a copy of your medical card and self-certification form to your state DMV to keep on file with your driver’s license record.
At my job a lot of my co workers medical card was fax to Austin TX later on a few of us gotna letter that we had no medical card on file after we got confirmation that it was received would that be our fault if our job submitted it And later find out our license was down graded to class C.
I have a question, I am applying for Class B License to drive RV Motor Home 26,001 LBS
Is medical card required
@Clyde
Each state is different, so check with your state.
Here in my home state of Utah it is mandatory.
I have my CDL from Texas and I have not drive since July 01/13 ,my question is do I need to send the medical certificate to the DPS to keep my CDL even if I’m not working or using my CDL..?
I appreciate any info that anybody can help with.
Thank you.
@ D. Ramsey
Most likely yes, you must keep a copy of a current medical certificate on file with Texas DPS updated with your CDL record, otherwise DPS will downgrade you to a non-CDL.
Check with DPS to see if they’ll allow you to certify in a non-exempt status, until you are ready to drive again.
For more information see “Tip – Not driving but want to keep your CDL”, at the end of this blog post New FMCSA medical certificate requirements.
I have my medical card, I got my CDL this May, 2014… Do I still have to submit this or is it already in the database being I obtained my cdl after Jan. 2014? I’ve had somebody tell me I have until Jan. 2015 but I have no idea? Please lmk
Thanks!
I actually just looked at the Self Certification Affidavit document and I do remember filling that paper out while it was in the process of getting my CDL… So in that case, I should be all set, correct?
Is there a grace period once my medical card expires before I have to obtain a new one? I’m usually in the road and have a hard time finding a place to get a new DOT MEdical Card.
@Anastacio
Medical card goes invalid at midnight of the expiration date on the card. No grace period.
Also – your CDL record, at the drivers license department, has a copy of your medical card record, and if expired, your CDL is in danger of being downgraded.
Best to get a new DOT physical done a few weeks before the expiration date, and not play Russian Roulette with your CDL.
We created DOTPhysicalDoctors website, so you can find driver friendly doctors throughout the United States. Good Luck
My med card expired a couple months ago. I have a Texas CDL but have been up in North Dakota for a little bit working. I’m not currently driving a CDL required vehicle. When I get my new med card in a couple weeks, will my License still be valid?
I didn’t even know about this “rule” until sometime in June. I sent my medical certification to the State of Texas by email. They accepted it and updated my record to show that I had the medical certification card. Now, I recently went to change my address on my license because I moved and received a letter stating my current medical card will expire soon. Not sure if that means they plan to not send me my license or what. Could just be coincidence the letter came when it did. But I should have my license long before my medical card expires and with plenty of time to go get a new medical card. If they are trying to claim I need to go get a new one first, then send it all in and then they will send my license that is just crapola, and the State or FMCSA should have to pay for the new medical certification cards if they need to be done that much in advance of their expiration dates.
I payed for a medical card one year ago, it is good for two years I registered it. Shortly after that I got a job an they sent me to get new card that was only good for a year and they registered that and it will expire soon. I took the original”the first card to dmv tx and registered it.Will that be sufficient in providing proof of eligibility? Has me worried greatly that I may get a license cancellation in the mail
@Jim
All this now depends on time frames and reporting processes.
First card was good for two years and then a one year card. Why? What changed?
Next – If the second card was issued after May 21, 2014 then your medical card will expire in one year according to FMCSA records.
The state has its own set of rules and records. So your original 2-year card is what may still be in the system. Just check with your DMV, they can tell you what is going on. I doubt that they will over-ride a two year card because of a new one, but I would question it and not assume anything.
So my husband has just taken his dot physical in Texas and last year he was given a three month card for blood pressure and we got that under control. We just went and know they are saying his bmi was above 35 he has to have a sleep apnea test done before he can get a renewal. The problem is his medical card expires in 7 days
What do we have to do to not have his licensed downgraded. Can you get a temporary card to do the sleep apnea test
@ Stephanie
Go for a second opinion else where. No new rules regarding BMI and neck measurements.
I would assume the answer to that would be no. Reason being, you knowingly knew you got a new card for one year. The reason you got the card for one year instead of two is for health reasons which could ultimately render you ineligible to operate a CMV. You should have been honest and forthcoming when you sent your medical card. Unless you had already sent the two year card and just didn’t send the new one year card you have. If you haven’t sent it in yet, you should so they can update their records. That is kind of the reason they have the database now. To stop the ones who are driving without it, and those who are not telling the truth about their health status to avoid disqualification.
If it was only for one year, that was likely because of a pre-existing condition, or as in some clinics cases, greed. However, the most recently updated medical card will be the one you will need to maintain.