What is the National Registry?
The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners is a listing of medical personnel who have been approved to conduct medical exams on DOT-regulated commercial motor vehicle drivers. The National Registry is available online at nrcme.fmcsa.dot.gov.
Who has to use the National Registry?
Any driver who operates or intends to operate a regulated commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce and who needs to obtain a DOT-mandated medical exam after May 20, 2014, needs to select someone from the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners to perform the exam.
Are non-CDL drivers affected as well?
Yes. All interstate drivers of “commercial motor vehicles” as defined in Sec. 390.5, whether they hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or not, need to use the National Registry.
Do in-state-only drivers need to use the Registry?
Drivers who are not involved in interstate commerce do not need to use the Registry unless their state requires it.
Does the National Registry affect our interstate drivers’ qualification files?
Yes. For any interstate driver who obtains a DOT medical exam after May 20, 2014, his or her file must include documentation showing that the motor carrier verified that the examiner was listed on the National Registry at the time of the exam.
How can someone verify that a medical examiner is on the Registry?
By going to the National Registry website and searching by the examiner’s National Registry number or name, or using a variety of other search criteria.
If I lose my medical card, can I get a replacement copy from the National Registry?
No, you would need to contact the medical examiner who issued it.
If a driver receives a medical certificate from an examiner who is later removed from the National Registry, is the medical certificate still valid?
Yes. However, the FMCSA has authority to review the examiner’s exam reports and void the examiner’s medical certificates. If that were to happen, the affected drivers would be contacted.
