How to Obtain a Commercial Driver's Medical Examiner's Certificate

You must have a valid Medical Examiner's Certificate (MCSA-5876) to receive a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). The Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC) is a federally mandated (U.S. Department of Transportation) document that certifies you meet all physical and medical standards for operating a commercial motor vehicle. As of June 23, 2025, the certificate no longer needs to be carried on your person.

Notes:

If you have a valid/unexpired Maryland CDL, you will be required to maintain valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate (and intrastate or interstate waiver/exemption or Skills Performance Evaluation if required), even if you are not currently operating a commercial motor vehicle.
Medical Examiner’s Certificates (MEC) are only valid for two (2) years or less, so CDL holders will be required to obtain a new updated medical document(s) prior to its expiration.
A new Medical Examiner’s Certificate must be obtained annually to maintain the School Bus endorsement. Failure to obtain a new MEC within one (1) year of the previous one expiring, will result in removal of the “S” endorsement. Once the endorsement is ceased, CDL holders have one (1) year to obtain a new valid MEC and visit the MVA to add the endorsement.
Certification is only acceptable through a valid provider within the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. You may search for a valid medical examiner here.
If the MVA does not have proof of the CDL holder's valid medical document(s), the commercial license holder will be required to downgrade to a noncommercial driver's license, or they will have their commercial driving privilege cancelled.
A valid MEC must be obtained to renew or obtain a duplicate, corrected, or new CLP/CDL. The driver must also declare a self-certification category relating to their type of commerce. Click here for information on the self-certification categories. See Obtaining a CDL for more information.

If you are not able to meet certain standards, you may still be able to obtain a federal (interstate) exemption or waiver, or an MVA (intrastate) waiver which must be kept on your person at all times when operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle. Note that the MVA’s waiver restricts you to driving in Maryland ONLY.

Note: Even if you are not required to have a CDL, you may still need a Medical Examiner’s Certificate. Maryland law requires you to carry a DOT card if your vehicle:

is used for commercial purposes; and
weighs more than 10,000 pounds.

How do I obtain a Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MCSA-5876)?

To obtain a Medical Examiner’s Certificate, you must be examined by a doctor. In some cases, your employer or prospective employer will make the arrangements.

The doctor who sees you must complete a medical examination report and certify that you meet the federal qualifications included in Section 391.41(b)(10) of Title 49 CFR (Federal Motor Carrier Regulations). The doctor will also complete, sign and give to you the Medical Examiner’s Certificate (DOT card), noting any restrictions, including the need for a federal or MVA waiver.

The Medical Examiner’s Certificate you receive can be valid for up to two years; the doctor who examined you will determine the card’s expiration date.

How do I obtain a federal (interstate) exemption or waiver?

If you don’t meet certain physical or medical standards included in Section 391.41(b) of Title 49 CFR (Federal Motor Carrier Regulations), you may be able to continue driving interstate if you qualify for a federal (interstate) exemption or waiver.

Note: If you don’t qualify for the federal exemption/waiver, you still may be eligible for an MVA (intrastate) waiver; however, this waiver restricts your driving to Maryland ONLY.

To obtain a federal (interstate) exemption or waiver, you must contact the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) which will advise how to proceed. Note: Federal (interstate) exemption/waiver can be valid for up to two (2) years.

Medical/Physical Condition	Contact Information	Additional FMCSA Documentation Issued (must be carried with the Medical Examiner's Certificate (DOT Card))
Loss of limb or limb impairment	Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate Program \| FMCSA	Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate from the FMCSA
Hearing or Seizure	Driver Exemptions \| FMCSA	Exemption letter from the FMCSA

How do I obtain an MVA (intrastate) waiver?

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Individuals who do not meet the medical qualifications outlined in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Section 391.41(b) of Title 49 CFR may be eligible for an intrastate waiver issued by the MDOT Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). The MVA may issue an intrastate waiver, which covers the following physical/medical conditions listed below.

Amputation and loss of limb
Power grasping and prehension
Deaf/Hard of Hearing (only for those individuals who hold, or held, a CDL within the past year are eligible for this waiver)

Individuals who do not meet the physical requirements of §391.41(b)(1) and (10) (11) and cannot obtain an FMCSA waiver or exemption may apply for an intrastate waiver, which is issued by the MVA. An intrastate waiver restricts the individual to driving a commercial motor vehicle within Maryland. Individuals with an intrastate waiver may not drive a commercial motor vehicle across State lines and the cargo contained in the commercial motor vehicle cannot cross State lines. CDL customers granted an intrastate waiver are not authorized to have Passenger, School Bus and Hazardous Material endorsements. Individuals who do not meet the physical qualifications in §391.41(b) and wish to apply for the MVA Intrastate Waiver must submit a Medical Examination Report for Commercial Driver Fitness Determination form (MCSA-5875) and Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MCSA-5876) conducted by a certified medical examiner that is on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration National Registry.

REQUESTING AN INTRASTATE WAIVER:

Your request for an intrastate waiver must include the following:

Name, address, driver’s license number, signature, and telephone number of the individual submitting the waiver request;
The description of the medical condition which requires the waiver;
The class of CDL the applicant wishes to maintain (A or B);
A current Medical Examination Report for Commercial Driver Fitness Determination form (MCSA-5875) and Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MCSA-5876) appropriately marked for intrastate (State) operation of a commercial motor vehicle.

Intrastate waiver requests will not be accepted over the telephone. They must be submitted in writing to the:

CDL Intrastate Waiver Program

Driver Wellness and Safety Room 124
MDOT Maryland MVA
6601 Ritchie Highway N.E.

Glen Burnie, MD 21062

Contact number: 410-768-7513

All waiver applications require a review by the Driver Wellness and Safety and this Administration’s Medical Advisory Board.

Waiver applicants will be required to take a public road test in the appropriate class of commercial motor vehicle. Limb waiver applicants are also required to demonstrate certain functional skills for an assessment prior to the public road test.

INDIVIDUALS APPLYING FOR AN INTRASTATE WAIVER FOR DEAF/HARD OF HEARING:

To be eligible to apply for this waiver, you must have held a commercial driver’s license (CDL) within the past twelve (12) months.

APPROVAL OF INTRASTATE WAIVER:

Upon granting a waiver, the MVA will notify the driver applicant in writing. The waiver will set forth the terms, conditions, and limitations. The driver applicant must have the waiver in his/her possession whenever he/she is operating a commercial motor vehicle and conducting licensing transactions at the MVA.

Fees:

There is no MVA fee for either the federal (interstate) exemption/waiver or the MVA (intrastate) waiver.
The doctor who examines the customer and issues the Medical Examiner's Certificate may charge a fee.

Contact Information:

MVA Driver Services Division CDL Unit

6601 Ritchie Highway, NE

Glen Burnie, MD 21062

410-424-3011

To request an MVA (intrastate) waiver:

CDL Intrastate Waiver Program

Driver Wellness Division

6601 Ritchie Highway, NE

Glen Burnie, MD 21062

410-768-7513

MVA Customer Service Center: 1-410-768-7000

TTY/Hearing Impaired: 1-800-492-4575