National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners

On April 18, 2012, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a final rule implementing its new National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME). This rule lays out requirements for medical personnel that wish to be included on the Registry, rules for drivers’ medical certification, and rules for motor carriers validating their drivers’ medical status. These rules will take effect on May 21, 2012, but have a two-year implementation period. The NRCME rule is summarized below:

Requirements for Drivers:
• Beginning May 21, 2014, interstate drivers may only receive medical certification physicals from MEs listed on the National Registry.
• Intrastate drivers regulated by FMCSA (such as those who move loads of placarded hazmat), must also undergo physicals from MEs listed on the National Registry.
• Medical certificates issued before May 21, 2014 remain valid until their expiration date, even if that expiration is after May 21, 2014.
• Drivers must still provide copies of their medical certificate to their State Licensing Agency.

Requirements for Motor Carriers:
• Motor carriers retain the option to require drivers to be examined by an ME they select and/or compensate.
• Medical certificates issued before May 21, 2014 remain valid until their expiration date, even if that expiration is after May 21, 2014.
• Motor carriers still must obtain an original copy of the driver’s medical certificate.
• Beginning May 21, 2014, motor carriers will be required to verify a medical certification they receive from a driver by validating it against the examiner’s Registry Number in the NRCME and note this verification in the driver qualification file.
• Motor carriers are NOT required to obtain copies of their drivers Medical Examination Reports (long form). The motor carrier is obligated to know a driver’s medical qualification, not the medical reasoning behind it.
• Pursuant to international agreements, Canadian and Mexican drivers’ licenses are proof of those drivers’ medical qualification.

Requirements for Medical Examiners:
• Clarifies that a medical examiner must be: an advanced practice nurse, doctor of chiropractic, doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathy, physician assistant, or any other medical professional authorized by State laws or regulations to perform physical examinations.
• To become a certified medical examiner, a healthcare professional must pass an examination on his/her knowledge of the FMCSA medical certification requirements in 391.43(c) and the medical advisory criteria prepared by FMCSA.
• Medical examiners that pass the test will receive credentials to issue medical certificates for 10 years, provided the ME attends refresher training after 5 years.
• Beginning May 21, 2014, only certified medical examiners listed on the NRCME may issue valid medical certificates.
• Medical examiners will be required to transmit the following information to FMCSA about drivers examined monthly: name, date of birth, driver’s license State and number, date of examination, an indication of the examination outcome, driver inter- or intrastate status, and date of medical certification expiration.
• Medical examiners are required to transmit an original copy of a driver’s medical certificate (short form) to a motor carrier employing the driver upon request.

April 18, 2012