The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (National Registry) is a Federal program that establishes requirements for healthcare professionals who perform physical qualitication examinations for truck and bus drivers. To become a certified medical examiner (ME) and be listed on the National Registry, healthcare professionals must complete training and testing on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) physical qualifications standards and guidelines. The National Registry website is accessible to carriers, drivers, enforcement officials, and the general public.
The National Registry is necessary because information from NTSB crash investigations indicates that improper medical certification of CMV drivers with serious disqualifying medical conditions has directly contributed to fatal and injury crashes.
FMCSA's current regulations arequire taht all MEs must be licensed, certified and/or registered, in accordance with applicable State laws and regulations, to perform physical examinations. This includes, but is not limited to, doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, physician assistancts, advanced practice nurses, and doctors of chiropractic.
MEs must be knoledgeable of the specific physical and mental demains associated with operating a CMV and the requirements of 391.43(c), including the medical advisory criteria prepared by the FMCSA as guidelines to aid the medical examiner in making the individual determination whether a driver should be issued a medical certificate; and be proficient in following the medical protocols necessary to adequately perfomr the medical examination.
Beginning May 21, 2014, all MEs who wish to conduct medical examinations for interstate CMV drivers must complete training about FMCSA's physical qualifications, regulations and advisory criteria, and pass a certification test to be listed on the National Registry. All medical certificates issued on or after this date must be issued by examiners listed on the National Registry.
As of May 21, 2014, intersate CMV drivers are required to obtain physical examinations and a medical examiner's certificate from a certified medical examiner listed on the National Registry website.
To find a certified medical examiner, visit the National Registry website at http://nrcme.fmcsa.dot.gov and conduct a basic or advanced search by:
- City and State
- Zip Code
- Name of Medical Examiner
- Business Name
- Employer
- Name
- Medical Profession
- National Registry ID #