Drivers who are unable to meet the full CDL physical exam requirements due to a medical condition may still be able to obtain a commercial license by applying for an exemption document. Note that these exemption programs are only available to drivers who fail their DOT physical requirements for interstate commercial operations. Even commercial motorists who fail their CDL physical tests as a result of impaired or missing limbs, such as hands, fingers, arms, feet or legs may be able to qualify for a commercial driving license.
For instance, even if you do not meet the DOT physical standards due to a physical impairment, you can enroll in the SPE program for a chance to demonstrate your ability to safely operate a commercial vehicle. If you pass the skills test, you will earn eligibility for a SPE certificate.
Note that this program is also limited to drivers engaged in interstate commerce. Drivers who are required to meet medical standards must certify that they meet the requirements when they apply for their license and every two years thereafter. The MER MCSA must be completed and signed by a health care professional who is licensed, certified, or registered in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations to practice medicine and perform physical examinations in the United States U.
Health care professionals are doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, physicians assistants, and advanced practice nurses, or doctors of chiropractic who are clinically competent to perform the examination. An optometrist O. Drivers who wish to perform interstate commerce must have their exam completed by a medical professional on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners and the certification number must be present on the form.
For 15 days after being issued a MEC MCSA , commercial drivers must have a copy of the MEC, signed by a health care professional, in their possession when operating any commercial motor vehicle.
DMV reviews the medical report for completeness, legibility, and compliance withmedical standards. If the driver does not meet the medical standards or does not adequately compensate for a loss or impairment, the driver may be scheduled for a reexamination or issued an Order of Refusal.
In certain instances, we may also issue the following outcomes:. DMV will conduct a drive test to determine whether the driver compensates for a condition that is waivable under federal standards if the driver has not previously demonstrated compensation.
If the driver compensates for the condition, DMV will issue a restricted license. In certain circumstances, DMV may make exceptions to the medical standards for a commercial driver license. On original CDL applications, DMV may make rare exceptions to the medical requirements when the driver is able to demonstrate a history of adequate compensation. The commercial drive test will determine if the driver adequately compensates for any loss or impairment of a limb, vision, or hearing.
If a CDL is issued, it will be restricted to driving intrastate only within California , and without passengers or HazMat. Factors DMV considers to determine if the medical condition will affect driving include but are not limited to the following:. If the driver has been driving safely with the disqualifying medical condition, DMV may make exceptions from federal standards to allow the driver, when renewing a Class A or B license, to operate a commercial vehicle.
However, the license must be restricted to driving intrastate only and without passengers or hazardous materials. If the medical condition or physical impairment would affect coordination, strength, vision, hearing, or judgment, a drive test may be required to determine the adequacy of compensation.
Occasionally a driver will contact DMV seeking a federal waiver or exemption. Such drivers may qualify for a federal waiver if they are employed driving in interstate commerce. Restrictions may be included on individual waivers when the Regional Federal Highway Administrator determines they are necessary for public safety. The driving record is analyzed for potential problems that may be related to the physical or mental condition violations, accidents, suspension, revocation.
A hearing officer may order a reexamination based on information such as medical reports, law enforcement or court referrals, Department of Health Services Confidential Morbidity Reports CMR , or other contacts. The hearing officer will make a decision following the reexamination to take no action, or, if action is required, find that the driving privilege should be:. When DMV has refused, restricted, or revoked a CDL, the hearing officer must determine if the action is supported by the evidence.
If the action is not supported and should be modified, the hearing officer must determine which, if any, restrictions should be imposed.
In determining whether the driver qualifies for a CDL, the hearing officer must consider the evidence received, which may include the following:. The hearing officer will make a determination regarding whether the driver is competent to drive a particular commercial vehicle in specific circumstances.
Possible determinations include:. Learn more about applying for a commercial driver license, including the application steps, requirements, and fees. Contact the Licensing Operations Division if you have any questions about the federal medical standards for commercially licensed drivers.
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The DMV chatbot and live chat services use third-party vendors to provide machine translation. Machine translation is provided for purposes of information and convenience only. The DMV is unable to guarantee the accuracy of any translation provided by the third-party vendors and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information or changes in the formatting of the content resulting from the use of the translation service. The content currently in English is the official and accurate source for the program information and services DMV provides.
Any discrepancies or differences created in the translation are not binding and have no legal effect for compliance or enforcement purposes. If you take medications for conditions, you may be required to be recertified more often than if you were in perfect health, but that does not disqualify you from seeking gainful employment with a reliable company.
You will need to be recertified for your CDL license once a year if you have this condition. If your blood pressure is any higher than that, you will not be given a certified CDL license.
If you have regular blood pressure, you must still be certified every 2 years. You may check to ensure your Medical Certificate has been processed by accessing the License Eligibility application.
Please allow up to 10 business days from the time you have submitted for your record to be updated. A CDL that was downgraded to a driver license DL solely for failure to provide a valid medical variance or medical examiners certificate, may be upgraded back to your previous CDL status including restrictions and endorsements without taking CDL knowledge and skills exams provided the following conditions are met:.
If you are changing your certification status between categories, you must visit your local driver license office to complete the change. The driver license office personnel will assist you in determining if any restrictions should be added or removed from your CDL or CLP.
The driver will need to visit the driver license office to remove the intrastate restriction and certify to interstate CDL qualifications. The driver will also be required to present a medical examiners certificate and pay the applicable transaction fee. Additional information on Department of Transportation medical requirements may be found in the commercial federal regulations.
Depending upon your certification, a current medical examiner's certificate may be required to be on file with the Department. If a medical examiner's certificate is required, it must be valid at all times to prevent the downgrade of your CDL or CLP.
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