CDL Medical Certification Requirements in Maryland
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What is a Medical Examiner’s Certificate?
A Medical Examiner’s Certificate (Med Cert) is a federal document that shows you meet the medical and physical standards needed to drive a commercial vehicle safely.
Who needs a Medical Examiner’s Certificate?
Commercial drivers in Maryland must be medically qualified to operate commercial motor vehicles, so all CDL-holders must have a Med Cert on file. Most CDL-holders do not need to carry the paper card. It will be sent electronically from the federal database to the Maryland MVA.
Some non-commercial license holders still need a Medical Examiner’s Certificate. You are required to carry a Med Cert on your person if your vehicle:
- is used for commercial purposes; and
- weighs more than 10,000 pounds.
If you don’t have a valid Med Cert on record, your commercial privileges could be cancelled or your CDL could be downgraded to a non-commercial license.
Getting a Medical Examiner's Certificate
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Step 1: Get a medical exam
You must be examined by a doctor listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.
During the exam
The doctor will check your:
- Vision
- Health
- Physical ability to operate a commercial vehicle
- Any limitations that may apply
After the exam
The doctor will:
- Issue your Medical Examiner’s Certificate and determine how long it will be valid (up to two years)
- Send your certificate information electronically to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
The MVA will automatically receive your medical certification. You do not need to mail or submit your certificate to the MVA.
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Step 2: Self-certify (when required)
CDL holders must “self-certify” what type of commercial driving they will do. This means you must tell the MVA whether you will drive:
- Interstate (across state lines)
- Non-Excepted Interstate (NI): You are medically qualified to drive across state lines and meet all federal rules.
- Excepted Interstate (EI): You drive across state lines only for certain excepted activities (like transporting school children).
- Intrastate (inside Maryland only)
- Non-Excepted Intrastate (NA): You can only drive in Maryland and have an approved Maryland waiver.
- Excepted Intrastate (EA): You drive only in Maryland for excepted activities but still meet all medical requirements without a waiver.
You must self-certify when you:
- Get a new CDL
- Renew your CDL
- Transfer or upgrade your CDL
- Change your medical status
- Switch between interstate and intrastate driving
If you need a waiver or exemption, those documents must be submitted with your Med Cert.
- Interstate (across state lines)
How do I get an exemption or waiver?
Federal (Interstate) Exemption or Waiver
If you don’t meet certain physical or medical standards, you may be able to continue driving interstate if you qualify for a federal (interstate) exemption or waiver.
- The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) issues federal (interstate) exemptions or waivers for:
- Loss of limb or limb impairment: visit the FMCSA Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate Program webpage for more information and request a waiver.
- Hearing or seizure: visit the FMCSA Driver Exemption webpage for more information and to request an exemption.
- Please note:
- A federal (interstate) exemption/waiver can be valid for up to two (2) years.
- You will have additional documentation from FMCSA to carry with your Med Cert:
- Loss of limb or limb impairment: Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate
- Hearing or seizure: Exemption letter
- 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. See below.
Maryland MVA (Intrastate) Waiver
If you don’t meet certain physical or medical standards and can't get an interstate waiver from FMCSA, you may be able to continue driving within Maryland if you qualify for a Maryland MVA (intrastate) waiver.
- The MVA intrastate waiver covers different conditions, including:
- 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)
- An intrastate waiver restricts the individual to driving a commercial motor vehicle within Maryland.
- You may not drive a commercial motor vehicle across State lines and the cargo contained in the commercial motor vehicle cannot cross State lines.
- You are not authorized to have Passenger, School Bus and/or HAZMAT endorsements.
MVA Intrastate waiver requests must be submitted in writing to the MVA and 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.
- FOR DEAF/HARD OF HEARING: you must have held a commercial driver’s license (CDL) within the past twelve (12) months.
- Mail to:
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 MVA Driver Wellness and Safety and 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.
- If a waiver is granted, the MVA will notify you in writing. The waiver will set forth the terms, conditions, and limitations.
- You must have the waiver in your possession whenever you are operating a commercial motor vehicle and at the MVA for any licensing transactions.
Frequently asked questions
Med Cert FAQ
Most Medical Examiner’s Certificates are valid for up to two years. Check the expiration date listed on your certificate and log in to your myMVA account to view your CDL status.
However, your certified medical examiner may issue a certificate for a shorter period if you have a medical condition that requires monitoring (such as high blood pressure).
A new Medical Examiner’s Certificate must be obtained annually to maintain the School Bus endorsement. Failure to obtain a new Med Cert 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 Med Cert and visit the MVA to add the endorsement.
If your medical certificate expires:
- You are no longer legally qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle
- Your commercial driving privileges will be downgraded
- You must stop operating commercial vehicles immediately
If your CDL is downgraded and more than one year passes, you will have to retake all CDL knowledge and skills tests to get it back. Do not wait until the last minute to renew. Schedule your medical exam before your current Med Cert expires.
Medical certification information is transmitted electronically from the federal system to the Maryland MVA. If your exam was completed by a certified examiner and properly submitted, it will update in the system automatically.
To confirm your status, check your myMVA account or contact the MVA before your expiration date.
If you transfer your CDL to Maryland, you must:
- Provide proof of valid current medical certification
- Self-certify your type of commercial driving
- Meet all Maryland CDL requirements, which include:
- Passing both Passenger and School Bus knowledge test to transfer the S endorsement
- Passing the Hazmat knowledge test and a new background check to transfer the H/X Hazmat Endorsement
Although you don't need a new Med Cert, you must have a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate on file when upgrading your CDL (for example, adding endorsements or moving to a higher class).
If your certificate is close to expiring, it is best to renew it before applying for the upgrade.
You may operate a commercial motor vehicle only if your medical certification is valid and not expired.
If your certificate has expired, you must stop driving commercially until you are medically qualified again.
In most cases, no. Medical certification information is transmitted electronically.
However, you may need to visit a MVA branch if:
- There is a problem with your record
- You need to change your self-certification status
- You are applying for a corrected license
You are responsible for ensuring you are physically qualified to drive a commercial vehicle. If your medical condition changes and could affect your ability to drive safely:
- Get re-examined by a certified medical examiner to make sure you still meet medical standards
- Follow any updated restrictions or requirements
- Make an appointment to update your license with restrictions or waivers, if required
You are responsible for making sure your Med Cert is valid at all times.
CDL applicants are required to certify which of the four types of commercial driving (commerce) they will be performing:
- NON-EXCEPTED INTERSTATE (NI) - The CDL holder is qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle across state lines and complies with all federal qualification requirements.
- NON-EXCEPTED INTRASTATE (NA) - The CDL holder is qualified to drive a commercial vehicle only within the state of Maryland and has an approved MVA CDL Medical Waiver.
- EXCEPTED INTERSTATE (EI) - The CDL holder drives a commercial motor vehicle across state lines only for specific excepted activities, such as to transport school children or staff, sick or injured persons, corpses, etc. Since the driver must meet all Maryland requirements without an MVA CDL Medical Waiver, the CDL holder may select the non-excepted interstate certification (NI) to maximize his/her driving options.
- EXCEPTED INTRASTATE (EA) - The CDL holder drives a commercial motor vehicle only within Maryland. Although exempt from the federal qualification requirements based on the type of driving performed, the CDL holder must meet all Maryland requirements without an MVA CDL Medical Waiver and may select the non-excepted interstate certification (NI) to maximize his/her driving options.
As a Maryland CDL holder, you must designate the type of driving you are qualified to do. For example:
- If you have a medical condition which requires an Intrastate Waiver, you need to certify that you will be driving only within the State of Maryland.
- If you have a CDL and a medical certification without limitations, you would certify that you are physically qualified to drive Interstate (in any state).
CDL holders are no longer required to submit a self-certification form when updating their medical certification. The self-certification will only be required when a customer is obtaining a new CDLs, transferring a CDL, renewing a CDL, upgrading a license to a CDL, or changing their status from intrastate to interstate or vice versa. If a waiver/exemption is needed, it should be submitted along with the medical certification card.
As of June 23, 2025, a Medical Examiner’s Certificate is no longer required to be carried physically on your person.
Some non-CDL holders still need a Medical Examiner’s Certificate. You are required to carry a Med Cert on your person if your vehicle:
- is used for commercial purposes; and
- weighs more than 10,000 pounds.
If you have a waiver or exemption marked on your Med Cert, you must still carry your waiver document while on duty.
The MVA may cancel your commercial license if your medical certification expires. It is illegal to drive a commercial motor vehicle in Maryland without proof that you are medically qualified with a Med Cert as proof.
- If you are no longer medically qualified to drive or if you elect not to be examined to determine if you are medically qualified, you must visit an MVA office immediately and downgrade your license to a non-commercial license.
- If your commercial license is cancelled or you voluntarily downgrade your CDL, you may reapply for a CDL within one year if you obtain a valid Med Cert. If more than 1 year passes, you must retake knowledge and skills tests and meet all application requirements again.
All Maryland license holders must provide the MVA with their current address.
If you are a CDL holder and change your address, visit an MVA office kiosk or login to your myMVA account to immediately change your address to avoid missing communication regarding your driving privileges.
Failure to keep MVA updated with your current address information may result in cancellation of your entire commercial and noncommercial driving privilege/license.
You are required to obtain a corrected CDL within 30 days when an address or name change is made.
Your CLP is cancelled and you must retake the knowledge test and pay for a new CLP. Visit the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to get started.
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