FMCSA’s National Registry: May 21, 2014
May 20, 2014
Mark your calendars!
Beginning May 21, 2014, the FMCSA will require all medical exams to be conducted by a Certified Medical Examiner. A medical examiner (ME) must have applied for certification, completed required training, and successfully passed a test on FMCSA’s physical qualification standards to be featured on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. The goal of the National Registry is to promote and preserve the highest level of professional standards, training, and care among ME’s. FMCSA’s intent is to maintain ongoing competency of ME’s through training, testing, certification, and recertification.
Healthcare professionals eligible for certification include:
- Medical Doctor (MD)
- Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)
- Physician Assistant (PA)
- Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP or NP)
- Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)
Driver medical certificates (aka: med cards/physical cards) that were obtained from an uncertified ME and not found on the National Registry are only valid if they were obtained prior to May 21, 2014. Any medical certificates obtained by drivers that were completed by an ME not on the National Registry after May 21, 2014 will not be recognized as a valid medical certificate.
Be sure that your company’s ME’s are certified by visiting the National Registry website HERE. Finding a certified ME is as easy as entering a city/state or zip code on the National Registry website and setting the radius of miles for the search. Once entered, a list of certified ME’s in the area is produced along with contact information and a map of their location.
Key items to remember:
- After May 21, 2014, medical certificates must have a space for an ME to include their National Registry Number. Be sure the certified ME includes their number on the medical certificate or the state will not accept it.
- All medical certificates still must be submitted to the state (Department of Motor Vehicles) the driver is licensed to drive.
- Until January 30, 2015, interstate commercial drivers must carry their medical certificate with them when operating a commercial motor vehicle.
- Motor carriers must ensure that MVRs are in the driver qualification files illustrating that the drivers’ medical certificates are valid according to 391.51(b)(7)ii.
Lastly, according to 391.51(b)(9), the fleet must maintain in the driver qualification file: “A note relating to the verification of medical examiner listing on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners required by 391.23(m).”
The National Registry of Certified Examiners is found at: https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/NRPublicUI/home.seam.