FMCSA Issues Update On June 23 Medical Certification Process Changes
Starting June 23, 2025, the FMCSA’s Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration Rule (NRII) will go into effect. Under the rule, certified medical examiners must electronically submit CDL drivers’ DOT medical examination results directly to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners by the next calendar day. The FMCSA will then send the results to state driver’s license agencies (SDLAs), which must then update the Commercial Driver’s License Information System and the driver’s motor vehicle record. The SDLA must downgrade a driver’s CDL or CLP within 60 days if it receives notification that the driver is no longer medically qualified or has an expired medical card. Drivers must still self-certify their type of commercial operation, but they will not need to submit a physical copy of their medical card. The new rule will also eliminate the need for drivers to possess physical copies of their medical card while driving and will allow carriers to verify drivers’ medical qualifications electronically. The new regulation does not change the process for non-CDL drivers.
As of today, several states have failed to meet the June 23 deadline. The list of states that have not yet implemented NRII can be found at the bottom of the NRII Learning Center page.
In states that have adopted NRII, the rules will take effect on June 23 as planned. For states that have not adopted NRII, the FMCSA issued an Information Sheet for Medical Examiners and Drivers in States That Have Not Implemented NRII. According to that information sheet:
- Medical Examiners must continue to issue paper medical cards to drivers.
- Drivers must continue to manually submit their new medical cards to SDLAs in states that have not implemented NRII. SDLAs must change a driver’s status to “not certified” if the driver fails to submit the new medical card within 10 days of the medical card’s expiration and must initiate downgrading procedures within 60 days from the change in status.
- Carriers should require the driver to submit a copy of the new medical card to the carrier, and carriers should then obtain a motor vehicle record from the SDLAs within 15 days of the issuance of the medical card.
The FMCSA indicated it will continue to update its NRII Learning Center website as states come into compliance.
For more information, contact Greg Feary, Tim Wiseman, or Chris Eckhart.
News from Scopelitis is intended as a report to our clients and friends on developments affecting the transportation industry. The published material does not constitute an exhaustive legal study and should not be regarded or relied upon as individual legal advice or opinion.
FMCSA Issues Update On June 23 Medical Certification Process Changes
Starting June 23, 2025, the FMCSA’s Medical Examiner’s Certification Integration Rule (NRII) will go into effect. Under the rule, certified medical examiners must electronically submit CDL drivers’ DOT medical examination results directly to the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners by the next calendar day. The FMCSA will then send the results to state driver’s license agencies (SDLAs), which must then update the Commercial Driver’s License Information System and the driver’s motor vehicle record. The SDLA must downgrade a driver’s CDL or CLP within 60 days if it receives notification that the driver is no longer medically qualified or has an expired medical card. Drivers must still self-certify their type of commercial operation, but they will not need to submit a physical copy of their medical card. The new rule will also eliminate the need for drivers to possess physical copies of their medical card while driving and will allow carriers to verify drivers’ medical qualifications electronically. The new regulation does not change the process for non-CDL drivers.
As of today, several states have failed to meet the June 23 deadline. The list of states that have not yet implemented NRII can be found at the bottom of the NRII Learning Center page.
In states that have adopted NRII, the rules will take effect on June 23 as planned. For states that have not adopted NRII, the FMCSA issued an Information Sheet for Medical Examiners and Drivers in States That Have Not Implemented NRII. According to that information sheet:
- Medical Examiners must continue to issue paper medical cards to drivers.
- Drivers must continue to manually submit their new medical cards to SDLAs in states that have not implemented NRII. SDLAs must change a driver’s status to “not certified” if the driver fails to submit the new medical card within 10 days of the medical card’s expiration and must initiate downgrading procedures within 60 days from the change in status.
- Carriers should require the driver to submit a copy of the new medical card to the carrier, and carriers should then obtain a motor vehicle record from the SDLAs within 15 days of the issuance of the medical card.
The FMCSA indicated it will continue to update its NRII Learning Center website as states come into compliance.
For more information, contact Greg Feary, Tim Wiseman, or Chris Eckhart.
News from Scopelitis is intended as a report to our clients and friends on developments affecting the transportation industry. The published material does not constitute an exhaustive legal study and should not be regarded or relied upon as individual legal advice or opinion.