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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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My DOT medical card expires June 9, and I had my physical done June 3. However, since I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and I was given a cpap, I need the prescribing doctor to fill out another form and so I can send it in with the DOT card. Problem is, he is out of the office until June 15. Will I stll miss the deadline even though I had the physical completed and passed before the deadline?
@William
Sounds like you don’t have a new medical card yet. You cannot drive on an expired medical card.
As far as getting a new medical card on file with Texas DPS, each state treats this expiration process and license downgrade time period differently, so only your local drivers license department can answer your question.
Ok….i drive a school bus in Texas. The district i work for changed the med card to check off intrastate only. During the summer i do drive away trucking. So i need to go get my own dot certificate. Will this void the one i have with the school district? The district was losing drivers to drive away and decided to make it harder for us to work some where else during the summer. Thats my speculation anyway.
@Bill
Whenever you get a new medical certificate examination done and that information is placed into the database, it supersedes the last medical certificate. And no company has the right to make a determination regarding your intra-state or interstate qualifications.
had a seizure last week, doctor wants me off work for 6 weeks, currently hold a CDL and medical card that expires in 2017, do I have to report my medical condition to the state agency, I only drive intrastate
@Ron
Believe so, but check with your local drivers license department for confirmation.
My vision waiver expires Sunday April 24 2016 do I have a grace period to allow me to a get a new Vision waiver and DOT if so how many days and weeks do I have ?
@Gustavo
No grace period.
I was just informed that my cdl was downgraded because my emplyer never sent in my medical card it doesnt expire untill 2017 . I had no idea ky cdl was downgraded and i moved to arizona a week ago but they say i have to go to texas to get my cdl back…cant i get a new medical card in arizona and have it upgraded again when i get a arizona cdl??
@Matthew
An Federal DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate (Interstate) is valid nationwide so you can get certified in any state, no matter which state you have your CDL.
I am a Safety Director to a Trucking company in Texas. A driver came to me and said that the DPS office said that it is going to ONLY take the “Texas Commercial Driver License Self-Certification Affidavit” in person – NOT going to be able to mail/fax/email the form in any longer – is there any truth to this?
@Gregory
We checked the link for Texas Medical Certification Requirement and the information is correct. That document on the official Texas DPS State website details all self-certification categories and submission by fax, mail, or email.
It’s a different story if the driver’s CDL has already been downgraded.
I went and took my dot physical today and was told that my urine had high sugar levels of about 1000 I had just eaten about fourtyfive min prior so yea I guess it would be high I am on meds my ac1 is good, thing is I don’t drive a commercial truck I drive a class c 350 ford but my company requires me to get the dot physical,because their trucks are dot reg this doc would not pass me and told me to follow up with my treating doctor will I not be able to drive a reg class c veicle what are the guidelines for that?
@Donald
FMCSA guidelines want NO sugar in urine, you are a safety issue. Commercial Drivers have to pass the the same test whether it’s for class A or class C. Best bet is to get your sugar completely under control and go back for the urine test. Once you can pee clean, then you are good for a one year medical certificate.
Question! My medical card expires today but I’ve had my new medical card for a week now. Will i be able to submit my renewed card with txDOT tomorrow or does it.have to be done before the expiration date?
@Israel
As long as you have a new medical card, you are okay to drive.
Just make sure you get a copy into TX drivers license department asap and you should be okay. Each state has different timing / backlog time to get their system updated. TX seems to be pretty tough.
Had sugar in my urine have cdl and they tested my blood and I was ok under 100. This is twice now and no problem. I’m in Texas
@Brenda
Do you have a question here?
My son was trying to get a medical card, he went to one dr who sent him to a eye specialist, who prescribe him new glasses and he passed the eye test, went back to the first dr and she said no she couldn’t give him a medical card until his new glasses came in, he went to second doctor and passed eye exam without new glasses and was given a medical card, now the first doctor is filing charges with the state can she do that?
@TXGMA
No, she can’t file charges with the state, and if she did, for what?