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Washington CDL Requirements
All CDL holders must self-certify in person between January 30, 2012 and January 30, 2014.
If you don’t self-certify before the deadline, Washington SDL will change your CDL record to show “not certified,” and you won’t legally be allowed to operate a commercial vehicle. You can return your status to normal by submitting a self-certification form and, if required, a copy of your medical certificate.
You must visit a driver licensing office to self-certify. Mailed in forms are not accepted.
The category you self-certify will determine whether you have to keep a medical certificate on file with Washington SDL, or not.
See WA State Licensing Official Site
Interstate Non-Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. You must keep a current copy of your medical certificate on file with WA SDL.
Intrastate Excepted
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. You do not have to keep your medical certificate on file with WA SDL but you must carry it with you when operating a CMV.
Intrastate
You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. You do not have to keep your medical certificate on file with WA SDL but you must carry it with you when operating a CMV.
Per RCW 46.25.055 CDL drivers must carry Medical Examiners Card in Washington.
How to Self-Certify and File your Medical Certificate
- You must submit a completed self-certification form in person at a driver licensing office. Mailed in forms are not accepted.
- Non-excepted interstate drivers must also submit a valid medical examiner’s certificate with the self-certification form.
Keep Your Medical Certificate Current With Washington Department of Licensing
The first time you self-certify as a non-excepted interstate driver, you must submit your medical certificate in person.
After that, you may mail, or fax, or email your new medical certificate before the old one expires.
By Mail:
CDL Medical Program
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9030
Olympia, WA 98507-9030
By Fax:
360-570-4915
By Email: (please do not email questions to this email)
CDLMed@DOL.WA.GOV
Other Information:
Washington State Department of Licensing – Commercial Driver License (official website)
Self-Certification and Medical Certificate FAQ
Intrastate Medical Waiver:
Intrastate Medical Waivers
Contact: CDL Program DOL Tiffany Cooper 360-902-3819
Questions:
If you have questions about your medical certificate or self-certification, you may call WA SDL at 360.902.3900 or email drivers@dol.wa.gov
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 husbands medical card just expired and we had misplaced the renewal notice until yesterday (it expired yesterday morning) and we are very concerned that he will lose the CDL. If he gets the physical asap will it be reinstated? the CDL is current. thank you
@Laura
Shouldn’t be a problem in a short window of time. Each state has a different process / time limit.
Just get a new medical card and then get a copy to your local drivers license department asap.
I don’t use my Washington state interstate cdl class B, but I keep it anyways, just in case I need it one day.
I need to go in and renew my license and cdl.
Do I need to have a medical card to do so?
@Rick
Intrastate: You must meet the Federal DOT medical certificate requirements. You do not have to keep your medical certificate on file with WA SDL but you must carry it with you when operating a CMV.
Check with your local drivers license department if they want a current medical card in order to renew your CDL.
You have the wrong fax for submitting CDL Medical. Keep Your Medical Certificate Current With Washington Department of Licensing
The first time you self-certify as a non-excepted interstate driver, you must submit your medical certificate in person.
After that, you may mail, or fax your new medical certificate before the old one expires.
By Mail:
CDL Medical Program
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9030
Olympia, WA 98507-9030
By Fax:
360-570-7893
Fax number should be 360-570-4915 and they can also email forms no questions to CDLMed@DOL.WA.GOV
Also Per RCW 46.25.055 must carry Med Examiners Card in Washington For Self Certification/Medical Certificates visit http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/cdlmedicalcertificates.html
For an Intrastate Medical Waiver visit http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/cdlmedicalwaivers.html
Contact me at 360-902-3819 CDL Program DOL Tiffany Cooper
@Tiffany
Thank you for taking the time and helping to keep our information updated.
It’s tough to keep up with changing info in 50 states, so we are grateful for everyone’s help.
We’ll correct the info above.
Hi I was diagnosed with a mild case of sleep apnea back in 2012 while I was in the army and my reccomendations were non invasive sleep techniques and given a old cpap machine no chip as a percaution …My AHI level is 8.9 and I read that moderate to severe cpap is required not mild…. Now I was given a 3 month medical card and to purchase a New machine…but before I spend 1200 bucks I wanted your opinion….oh and my blood work came back perfect with a blood pressure of 117 over 73…thank you
@Kevin
Most drivers that have sleep apnea will not leave home with out a unit. So my question would be, can and do you sleep normally without the unit? If you do not suffer from a multitude of other issues associated with sleep apnea, then you probably do not need a new unit. If you can’t sleep well without the unit, then it’s time to upgrade. And if you are service related, you might check with the VA along the way.
My husband who is 56 was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a year ago, and now needs to take his CDL Medical exam this Spring. He works for the WADOT. He is very nervous about if the doctor will fail him because of Parkinson’s. It doesn’t affect his driving….you can’t tell…he’s in the beginning stages of it…..he is on medication for it. He also, wears a CPAP, and is in compliance with the WADOT rules.
I’ve been on-line, looking for information about CDL liscence and Parkinson’s. I am making a notebook with all the doctors info…trying to help my husband out, so he won’t be nervous about this. He has worked for the DOT for 35 years. Can he get disability if he can’t pass his test?
A guy that I work with has the same problem, he failed the test where our company sends us, went to a different doctor and passed, it is still up in the air. He has another hoop to jump through. We’ll see.
I’m a type 2 diabetic and my med card expires tonight at midnight. I went yesterday and took the physical an they failed me saying that my blood sugar levels were supposed to be under 100. My question is what are the blood sugar levels for the state of Washington to pass the physical ?
@Robert
Why is anyone testing your blood sugar levels? If your condition is under control, with or without medications, and you do not pass sugar into your urine, then you should have passed.
There are a few new medications on the market that would cause you to have sugar in your urine and those new meds would require a recent A1c, but there is no requirements for any CME to be doing blood sugar levels, unless you do not have your diabetes under control. You might try a second opinion else where.
What i would know is why when you get a physical they turn away from you and wisper and then ask what did i say when you are in a big rig there is no one in there wispering to you so why does the dot requere them to do this test.
@Terry
It’s true that no one is going to be sitting in your truck whispering to you, but the FMCSA wants to make sure that you hear well enough to hear a siren or other emergency vehicle coming up from behind you, or any other issue around you. It’s a safety issue not a judgement call.
If I’ve had open heart surgery, am I required to do a Stress test before I can renew my CDL/DOT Medical Card?
What is required for the Medical Variance/Waiver?
@Don
Stress test need to be completed every two years for you to maintain your class A license. Also have your doctor complete a medical release form for you before you go for the examination with the DOT/CME. If you are ready to return to work, just be aware that your medical card will be limited to one year at the time from this point on.