FMCSA Grants 60-Day Exemption for CDL Medical Certificates
Summary
FMCSA issued a temporary exemption allowing interstate CDL holders, CLP holders, and motor carriers to continue relying on paper copies of medical examiner's certificates as proof of medical certification for 60 days after the certificate date. The exemption supports the transition to the National Registry II (NRII) secure electronic transmission system and is effective April 11 through October 11, 2026.
What changed
FMCSA has issued a temporary exemption to the National Registry II (NRII) final rule requirements, allowing interstate CDL and CLP holders to use paper medical examiner's certificates for 60 days after issuance rather than requiring immediate electronic transmission. The exemption, effective April 11 through October 11, 2026, provides a six-month transition window for State Driver's Licensing Agencies and certified medical examiners to complete NRII implementation.
Transportation companies employing commercial drivers and the drivers themselves should maintain paper certificates as backup documentation while electronic systems are implemented. Certified medical examiners should continue issuing paper Form MCSA-5876 certificates alongside electronic submissions until further notice. This exemption is expected to be the final nationwide NRII waiver, after which full electronic compliance will be required.
What to do next
- Verify current medical examiner certificate status and retain paper copies for up to 60 days
- Ensure electronic submissions to NRII are being processed by certified medical examiners
- Monitor FMCSA NRII Learning Center for further guidance on electronic reporting requirements
Archived snapshot
Apr 10, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
In This Section
FMCSA Issues Temporary Exemption to Support NRII Transition
Friday, April 10, 2026 Bulletin
Contact: fmcsa.publicaffairs@dot.gov
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a temporary exemption allowing interstate commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders, and motor carriers to continue relying on a paper copy of the medical examiner’s certificate as proof of a driver’s medical certification for up to 60 days after the date the medical examiner’s certificate is issued. The exemption is in effect April 11, 2026 – October 11, 2026. The full contents of the exemption can be found here.
This action further supports drivers and carriers as State Driver’s Licensing Agencies and certified medical examiners continue to transition to the secure electronic transmission of medical certification data required under the National Registry II (NRII) final rule . FMCSA does not anticipate granting additional, nationwide NRII waivers or exemptions after the six-month duration of this exemption.
FMCSA also recommends that certified medical examiners continue issuing paper medical examiner’s certificates (Form MCSA-5876) to drivers, in addition to submitting examination results electronically, until further notice.
For more information and resources related to NRII, visit the FMCSA NRII Learning Center :
https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/nriilearning-center
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