Skip to main content
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

Utility menu

  • Online Services
  • Locations
  • Moving
  • Forms
  • My Account

Main menu

  • Licenses & IDs

    • Driver's License
    • REAL ID
    • Learner's Permits
    • ID Cards
    • Commercial Driver's Licenses
      • Apply for a CDL or Commercial Learner's Permit
      • Renew Your Driver's License or CDL
      • Get a Replacement CDL or Commercial Learner’s Permit
      • Additional Documents for a CDL or Commercial Learner's Permit
      • Commercial Driver Improvement Clinic Program
      • Commercial Learner's Permit
      • CDL Classifications, Endorsements and Restrictions
      • Virginia Commercial Driver's Manual
      • Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
      • Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME)
      • CDL Knowledge Exams
      • CDL Skills Tests
      • CDL Medical Certification Requirements - FAQs
      • CDL Medical Certification Requirements
      • CDL Disqualifications
      • CDL Skills Test Eligibility Requirements
      • CDL Testing Locations
      • About CDL Driver Training Schools (including Three Failures)
      • Third-Party Tester Program
      • Virginia Community College CDL Course for Three Exam Failures
      • Virginia Community Colleges Offering a CDL Course for Three Exam Failures
      • Skills Performance Evaluation Program
      • Troops to Trucks℠
    • Motorcycle License
    • Exams & Study Materials
    • Driver Training
    • Driver Improvement
    • Disability Programs
    • Payment Plan Program
    • Organ Donation
    • License Extension
    • Military Personnel
    • Moving
    • No-Cost Credentials and Vital Records for Homeless Youth

    Document Guide

    Know which documents are required for your driver application before you head to DMV.
    Access Guide
  • Vehicles

    • Title Your Vehicle or Trailer
    • Registration
    • License Plates
    • Buying/Selling a Vehicle
    • Insurance Coverage Verification
    • Taxes & Fees
    • E-ZPass at DMV
    • Insurance Requirements
    • General Information
    • National Motor Vehicle Titling Information System (NMVTIS)
    • Abandoned Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
    • Abandoned Vehicles/ Mechanics & Storage Lien (MSL) Vehicles
    • Download Vehicle Forms

    Registration Renewal

    Renew your vehicle registration before it expires to avoid a late fee.
    Renew Registration
  • Businesses

    • Motor Carriers
    • Hauling Permits
    • Insurance Services
    • Electronic Lien Program
    • Virginia Motor Fuels Tax Programs
    • Business Opportunities
    • How to Become a DMV Select Partner
    • Online Fleet
    • Dealer Services
    • Online Dealers
    • Rental Tax
    • Transportation Network Companies (TNC)

    VirginiaMCS

    Access VirginiaMCS to conduct your Virginia IRP and/or IFTA transactions online.
    Access VirginiaMCS
  • Records

    • Driver Alert Voluntary Driving Record Monitoring Program
    • Request a Copy of Your Driver or Vehicle Record
    • Request a Police Crash Report from DMV
    • Obtain Vehicle History
    • Change Address, Name or Sex Designation
    • Non-Governmental Access to DMV Records
    • Governmental Access to DMV Records
    • Resources for Family of Deceased
    • Emergency Contact Information
    • Vital Records at DMV
    • Prospective Purchaser Inquiry (PPI)
    • Release of DMV Information
    • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Rights and Responsibilities
    • Register to Vote

    Driving & Vehicle Records

    Purchase a copy of your driver or vehicle record online.
    View Records
  • Safety

    • Statewide Crash Data
    • Grants Management
    • Safety Programs
    • Safety Resources

    Points Balance

    Check your points balance to see where your record stands.
    Check Balance
Reserve Your Spot

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Licenses & IDs
  3. Commercial Driver's Licenses

Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Medical Certification Requirements

Skip to main content
  • Commercial Driver's Licenses
    • Apply for a CDL or Commercial Learner's Permit
    • Renew Your Driver's License or CDL
    • Get a Replacement CDL or Commercial Learner’s Permit
    • Additional Documents for a CDL or Commercial Learner's Permit
    • Commercial Driver Improvement Clinic Program
    • Commercial Learner's Permit
    • CDL Classifications, Endorsements and Restrictions
    • Virginia Commercial Driver's Manual
    • Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
    • Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME)
    • CDL Knowledge Exams
    • CDL Skills Tests
    • CDL Medical Certification Requirements - FAQs
    • CDL Medical Certification Requirements
    • CDL Disqualifications
    • CDL Skills Test Eligibility Requirements
    • CDL Testing Locations
    • About CDL Driver Training Schools (including Three Failures)
    • Third-Party Tester Program
    • Virginia Community College CDL Course for Three Exam Failures
    • Virginia Community Colleges Offering a CDL Course for Three Exam Failures
    • Skills Performance Evaluation Program
    • Troops to Trucks℠
  • Certification Categories
  • New Medical Examiner Requirement
  • Apply for an Original, Renewal or Replacement CDL/Commercial Learner's Permit
  • Additional Information

Certification Categories

Federal regulations require that anyone holding or applying for a commercial driver's license (CDL) or commercial learner's permit (CLP) certify to one of these four categories of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operation: 

  • Excepted Interstate (EI)
  • Excepted Intrastate (EA)
  • Non-excepted Interstate (NI)
  • Non-excepted Intrastate (NA)

Certification to either an "excepted intrastate" or "non-excepted intrastate" operation will require that an Intrastate Only restriction of "K" be placed on the CDL or CLP.

To help determine which category best fits your commercial vehicle operation, refer to CDL Medical Requirements Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

Medical Examiner Requirement

CDL drivers who certify to either a "non-excepted interstate" or "non-excepted intrastate" category of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operation must have their physical examiner's certificate completed by a medical examiner who is listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA's) National Registry of Medical Examiners.

Effective May 5, 2025, Virginia will no longer accept Medical Examiner Certificates (MECs) directly from commercial drivers. In compliance with federal regulations, all MECs must be submitted by their medical examiner provider electronically through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRII) Portal.

For more information on how to locate a medical examiner who is on the Registry, refer to the National Registry of Medical Examiners.

Apply for an Original, Renewal or Replacement CDL/Commercial Learner's Permit

If applying for an original, renewal or replacement CDL/commercial learner's permit (CLP), you must certify on your application to one of the four categories of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operations listed above. Based on your certification category, you may be required to submit additional medical documentation.

  • If you certify to one of the excepted categories (i.e., excepted interstate or excepted intrastate), no medical examiner’s certificate is required.
  • If you certify to one of the non-excepted categories (i.e., non-excepted interstate or non-excepted intrastate), you must obtain a valid medical examiner's certificate (also known as a DOT Medical Card) which will be verified electronically.

Failure to meet these conditions will cause your application to be denied.

Additional Information

For more information, please review the CDL Medical Requirements Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or contact us.

See Also

  • Our Driver Alert Program

About Us

Through our mission purpose, the DMV aims to be Virginia's most trusted service provider.

  • About DMV
  • Careers
  • Procurement

Resources

  • Online Services
  • How Do I?
  • Forms
  • News
  • Policies & Regulations
  • Fee Chart
  • ¿Habla Español?

Contact

  • Locations
  • Contact Us
  • Media

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (Superior Service | Secure Credentials | Saving Lives)

©2025 Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.

Back to top