CDL Medical Certification and Self-Certification Process

What is Med Cert documentation?

Med Cert (Medical Certification) documentation is proof that you are medically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Med Cert documentation always includes a valid, unexpired Medical Examiner's Certificate/DOT Physical Card, and if applicable, a federal Skills Performance Evaluation (SPE) or a federal or Maryland Waiver/Exemption​, form DL-171.

Drivers who are required to be medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) must have an examination performed by a Medical Examiner listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.

• The new medical certificate will be electronically submitted to DDS by FMCSA via the National Registry. You are not required to provide a paper med cert to DDS.

Read Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Medical Certification Integration Final Rule, National registry II (NRII).

You must determine whether you operate in interstate or intrastate commerce, and are excepted or non-excepted from either the Federal or State requirements. 

RULES FOR EXCEPTED and NON-EXCEPTED

• EXCEPTED (E): If you answer "YES" to any of the questions below, your commercial driver status is EXCEPTED (E).
  • Drive a School Bus?                                         
  • Transport for a federal government, state, or political subdivision?
  • Occasionally transport personal property (Personal use)?
  • Drive a fire truck or rescue vehicle?
  • Drive for custom farm harvesting operations?
  • Transport human corpses, sick or injured persons?
  • Drive a 9-15 passenger van (<26,001 pounds)?
  • Drive a non-combination vehicle controlled and operated by a farmer (no hazardous materials)?
  • Provide emergency delivery of propane?
  • Transport migrant workers?
  • Transport bees seasonally as a Beekeeper?
• NON-EXCEPTED (N) - If you drive for any other reason than those listed above, your commercial driver's status is NON-EXCEPTED (N).

RULES FOR INTRASTATE (A) or INTERSTATE (I)

• INTRASTATE (A) 

  • You drive inside the State of GA only AND the cargo on your vehicle is from inside the state of GA and will not leave the State of GA. 

• INTERSTATE (I)

  • You drive from the state of GA to any other State or Foreign Country: OR
  • You move cargo in the state of GA that came from another state; OR
  • Your cargo will be moved to another State or Foreign Country

Based on your answers above you must certify one of the four (4) following categories:

1. Non-excepted Interstate (NI) - I operate or expect to operate in interstate commerce and am required to maintain federal medical certification. (Medical Certificate/Card Required)
2. Non-excepted Intrastate (NA) - I operate or expect to operate only in intrastate commerce and am required to meet FMCSA driver qualification requirements. (Medical Certificate/Card Required)
3. Excepted Interstate (EI) - I operate or expect to operate in interstate commerce, but engage exclusively in operations that qualify me for exception from the requirement to maintain federal medical certification.
4. Excepted Intrastate (EA) - I operate or expect to operate only in a city, county, state or federal vehicle only, and I am exempt from the FMCSA driver qualification requirements.