Changes Made in DOT Exam Process

January 14, 2016

Starting on December 22, 2015 all Certified Medical Examiners (CMEs) must use a new Medical Examination Report (the long form) and new Medical Examiner Certificate (the form you must present to your state driver's license agency). These are the new forms that must be used:

  • Medical Examination Report (MER) is form MCSA-5875
  • Medical Examiner's Certificate (MEC) is form MCSA-5876
You can view the new Medical Examination Report (MER) along with full details on the changes here:
https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/ResourceCenter/documents/NRII%20and%20MER.pdf

Here are some additional things to keep in mind:

  • There are some changes in how questions are presented during the examination, such as:
    • The new Medical Examination form MCSA-5875 now has a "not sure" answer for the driver health questions.
    • All driver health history questions now ask "Do you have or have you ever had…" They refer to your entire lifetime of medical history.
  • The examiner now has the option of placing the driver in "up to 45 day pending" determination. This will allow the driver to get more documentation, test results, or any items the CME needs in order to make a determination the driver is physically compliant to drive a CMV. This will not extend a medical card beyond its current expiration date. During a pending determination the driver may use the rest of the time that's left on the current medical card.
  • If you have a 30, 60, or 90 day medical card that expires after 12/21/15, you must get it updated if possible before 12/21/15. If not you will be required to take a complete new exam.
  • After Dec 22nd, there will be no 30, 60, or 90 day extensions of med cert. There will be a 90, 180 day certification. But after the time expires, the driver will have to take a complete exam again.

Additional changes will be forthcoming as scheduled in 2017 and 2018.  You can read about those changes when you visit the link provided earlier.