🚨 FMCSA Medical Certification Changes: Step-by-Step Guide for Medical Examiners and Motor Carriers

Big changes are coming to how DOT Medical Certifications are submitted and verified. Starting June 23, 2025, all Certified Medical Examiners (CMEs) must electronically submit DOT exam results to the FMCSA, which will then share them with State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs).

This means:

✅ No more paper Medical Cards for CDL/CLP drivers

✅ Medical Certifications will now appear on the driver’s Motor Vehicle Record (MVR)

This post breaks down exactly what you need to do — whether you’re a Medical Examiner, Motor Carrier, Fleet Manager, or Commercial Driver — to stay 100% compliant under the new rules.

If you’re a Medical Examiner listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, here’s what the FMCSA now requires of you:

• Log into the National Registry
• Use your official FMCSA login at: https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov
• Ensure your account is active and up to date
• Conduct the DOT Physical Exam
• Perform the standard DOT medical examination
• Use Form MCSA-5875 and MCSA-5876 (Medical Examiner’s Certificate)
• Submit Results Within 1 Day
• Deadline: Electronically upload exam results by midnight (local time) the day after the exam
• Use the FMCSA’s portal to enter results for ALL CDL and CLP holders
• Double-Check Accuracy
• Verify all driver information is correct before submitting
• Typos in name, license number, or dates can cause serious downstream errors
• Save Confirmation
• Keep a copy or screenshot of the successful submission confirmation for your own records

🔒 Important: You are now legally responsible for electronic reporting. Failure to submit on time can result in removal from the National Registry and FMCSA penalties.

Even though drivers no longer need to hand-carry paper Medical Cards to the DMV, the requirement to have a valid medical certification still exists. Now, verification shifts to pulling the MVR after the exam.

• Schedule Your DOT Medical Exam
• Still required every 2 years (or more often if medically required)
• Visit a Certified Medical Examiner listed on the National Registry
• Confirm the CME is Certified
• Search for a certified examiner here: FMCSA National Registry
• Wait 1–2 Business Days After the Exam
• FMCSA will process and transmit your Medical Certification to your State Licensing Agency
• Request or Pull Your MVR
• Ask your employer or pull it yourself to confirm your Medical Certification Status appears correctly
• The MVR is now the official proof that your medical is current

• Stop Collecting Paper Medical Cards for CDL/CLP Drivers
• The FMCSA and state DMVs now handle the certification flow electronically
• Verify with MVRs Instead
• Pull an updated Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) from your driver’s licensing state
• Look for “Medical Certification: Valid” on the MVR to confirm compliance
• Update Your DQF Process
• Replace old paper processes with automated MVR pulls
• DOTDriverFiles.com makes it easy to monitor certification status and receive alerts
• Continue Paper Collection for Non-CDL Drivers
• Non-CDL commercial drivers still must submit paper copies of their MEC
• These should still be kept in their Driver Qualification File (DQF)

Using a system like DOTDriverFiles.com helps carriers stay on top of these changes with:

• ✅ Automated MVR Monitoring
• ✅ DQF Management for CDL and Non-CDL Drivers
• ✅ Alerts for Missing or Expiring Medical Certifications
• ✅ Document Storage & Compliance Reporting