Certified Medical Examiners
Effective May 21, 2014, commercial drivers can no longer get a DOT exam performed by their general practitioner, internal medicine physician, chiropractor or other provider unless that provider is certified and listed on the National Registry of Medical Examiners.
Information about the National Registry can be found at:
Medical Providers
National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has published rules and regulations that created a National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. The National Registry was created to improve highway safety and driver health by requiring that medical examiners be trained and certified so they can accurately and effectively determine whether a driver’s medical fitness for duty meets FMCSA’s standards. As of May 21, 2014, the FMCSA will:
- Require that motor carriers and drivers use only medical examiners on the National Registry.
- Accept as valid only those medical examiners listed on the National registry. This means that as of May 21, 2014, commercial drivers can no longer get a DOT exam performed by their general practitioner, internal medicine physician, chiropractor or other provider unless that provider is certified and listed on the National Registry of Medical Examiners.
The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners lists medical examiners (MEs) who have been trained, tested and certified to perform medical examinations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in interstate commerce. These ME’s fully understand the medical standards in the FMCSA Regulations, related guidance and how they relate to the medical demands of operating a commercial motor vehicle.
The goal of the National registry is to promote and preserve the highest level of professional standards, training and care among medical examiners. Therefore, the National Registry requires that medical examiners performing CMV driver examinations be trained and certified.
All healthcare professionals are eligible to apply to become a certified medical examiner if their scope of practice authorizes them to perform physical examinations, as defined by the State in which they practice.
The objectives of the National Registry are to:
- Ensure that medical examiners understand fully the medical standards in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and related guidance and how they apply to CMV drivers.
- Maintain ongoing competency of medical examiners through training, testing, certification and recertification
- Promote public confidence in the quality of the medical examinations of CMV drivers.
- Ensure that the list of certified medical examiners is easily accessible.
FMCSA is and will continue to be involved in all facets of the National Registry program development and implementation and maintain an oversight role. Implementation of the National Registry program demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Transportation and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to making our Nation’s highways safer.
Medical Examiners who perform driver medical exams are expected to understand fully the medical standards of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSAs) and related guidance. The National Registry requires medical examiners to participate in required training, pass a certification test, and register on the National Registry system to become a certified medical examiner. Certified medical examiners agree to keep their National Registry accounts up to date (licenses, training records, etc.).
Information on becoming a certified medical examiner can be found at: