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Qualification & health2 min read
Medical card questions we get every week
Electronic transmission changed how your certificate reaches your state, and a waiver is holding the paper card open until 11 October 2026. Eight questions, answered from FMCSA's own material.
- Author
- Relay Dispatch Desk
- Published
- 17 Aug 2026
- Verified
- 15 Aug 2026
- Re-checked
- monthly
Key takeaways
- Since 23 June 2025 certified examiners transmit results electronically rather than handing over the only copy that matters.
- A waiver lets drivers rely on a paper certificate for up to 60 days after issuance, currently through 11 October 2026.
- Non-CDL drivers still carry the paper certificate.
- Find a certified examiner through the National Registry — nowhere else.
- Who is allowed to give me the exam?
- A medical examiner listed on FMCSA's National Registry. If they are not on the registry, the certificate does not count — check before you book, not after.
- Does my certificate still reach my state on paper?
- For CDL and CLP holders, no. Since 23 June 2025 certified examiners transmit exam results electronically to FMCSA, which passes them to your state licensing agency.
- So should I still ask for a copy?
- Yes. FMCSA encourages CDL and CLP holders to request a copy for their own records, and it is the fastest way to prove certification while the electronic record catches up.
- I do not hold a CDL. What changed for me?
- Less. Non-CDL drivers are still required to carry the paper medical examiner's certificate.
- What is the paper waiver everyone mentions?
- FMCSA has extended a waiver allowing drivers to rely on a paper certificate for up to 60 days after the date of issuance. The current extension runs through 11 October 2026.
- Why do some drivers still hit problems at the roadside?
- Because not every state had completed the transition. As of April 2026, five states were reported as not yet transitioned — Alaska, California, Kentucky, Louisiana and New Hampshire. Carry your copy.
- What happens when my certificate expires?
- Your driving privileges depend on being medically certified, so treat the expiry date as a hard deadline and book the exam before it, not after. Put it on the same calendar as your Form 2290 and your annual inspection.
- Does Relay handle this for me?
- No, and nobody can. The examination and the certificate are personal to you, in the same way a licence is. What we do is make sure the expiry date is not a surprise.
Sources
- FMCSA · National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners · accessed 15 Aug 2026
- FMCSA · National Registry II — driver frequently asked questions (electronic transmission of exam results) · accessed 15 Aug 2026
- FMCSA · Waiver for use of the paper medical examiner's certificate (extended) · accessed 15 Aug 2026
- CCJ (trade press) · Report naming the five states not yet transitioned, 13 April 2026 — used only to date the state list · accessed 15 Aug 2026 · Trade press, not a government source. Cited only for the April 2026 state list; every other fact here comes from FMCSA.
Re-verified monthly. Educational summary — the regulation controls. Not legal advice.
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