The DOT medical card — officially a Medical Examiner's Certificate — proves you're medically cleared to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Here's everything CDL holders need to know: validity, requirements, renewal, and where to get one.
Get My DOT Medical Card — $110 →A DOT medical card — formally called the Medical Examiner's Certificate (MEC) — is a wallet-sized certificate issued by an FMCSA-registered Federal Medical Examiner after you pass a DOT physical exam. Federal law (49 CFR Part 391.41) requires all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers to hold a valid DOT medical card.
The card shows:
Commercial drivers must submit their Medical Examiner's Certificate to their state DMV. Your CDL will reflect a "certified" medical status. Failure to submit — or operating with an expired card — is a federal violation that can result in your CDL being downgraded to a non-CDL license.
The standard validity period is 24 months. However, the examiner can issue a shorter certificate based on your health status:
| Condition | Maximum Validity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Normal BP, no conditions | 24 months | Standard certification |
| Stage 1 HTN (140–159/90–99) | 12 months | Treat and return for annual renewal |
| Stage 2 HTN (160–179/100–109) | 12 months | Must achieve <140/90 within 3 months |
| Sleep apnea (treated) | 12 months or less | Ongoing CPAP compliance required |
| Insulin-treated diabetes (ITDM) | 12 months | Requires FMCSA exemption |
| Stage 3 HTN (≥180/110) | Disqualified | Must treat, then reapply |
Your DOT physical — and therefore your medical card — must be performed by a Federal Medical Examiner (FME) listed on the FMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. Not every doctor qualifies. A regular family physician who is not on the FMCSA registry cannot certify you.
Go to portal.dot-physical.net and order your DOT physical for $110. You get an authorization within 1 hour.
Choose from 15,000+ certified sites in all 50 states. No appointment needed — walk in the same day.
Pass the exam and walk out with your Medical Examiner's Certificate (DOT medical card) the same day.
Yes, in most cases. Stage 1 (140–159/90–99) and Stage 2 (160–179/100–109) hypertension result in a 12-month certificate. Stage 3 (180/110+) is disqualifying until treated to below 180/110. Controlled blood pressure with medication is certifiable.
Operating a CMV with an expired medical card is a federal violation. Your CDL can be downgraded and you can be placed out of service. Renew before expiration — you can renew up to 90 days early without losing any validity time.
Non-insulin-treated diabetes is generally certifiable. Insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) requires an FMCSA exemption based on documented stable control and specialist letters.
Yes. Federal law requires commercial drivers to self-certify with their state licensing agency and submit their medical certificate. Failure to do so can result in your CDL being downgraded to a non-CDL license.
The DOT physical exam that results in your medical card costs $110 at DotPhysical.net. If you pass, your Medical Examiner's Certificate is issued the same day at no additional charge.
Yes — "CDL medical card," "DOT medical card," "DOT physical card," and "Medical Examiner's Certificate" all refer to the same document. It is issued after passing your DOT physical exam.
Order your DOT physical online — $110, same-day certificate, 15,000+ locations nationwide.
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