DOT Medical Card Renewal Checklist (Free Printable)
A lapsed medical certificate can take a driver out of service and — for CDL holders — trigger a license downgrade at the state. Most failed renewals aren't failed physicals: they're missing paperwork at the exam, or a passed exam that never got submitted to the state. This checklist covers all three phases — booking, the exam itself, and the after-exam step people miss. Free printable Word version below — just tell us where to send it.
⬇ Download the printable checklist (Word)
Before you book
- Use an examiner from the FMCSA National Registry (nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov) — only National Registry examiners can issue a valid certificate.
- Book 2–4 weeks before expiration, so a request for extra records can't lapse you.
- If your last card was shortened for a condition (blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes), gather those records first — see below.
Bring to the exam
- Government photo ID (plus your CDL if you hold one) and your current medical card.
- Glasses, contacts, or hearing aids — you're tested wearing what you drive with.
- A complete medication list with dosages, including over-the-counter, and prescriber names.
- Diabetes: recent A1C/blood-sugar logs; insulin-treated drivers need the ITDM form (MCSA-5870) from their treating clinician.
- CPAP users: a compliance report (typically 90 days of usage data).
- Cardiac history: a clearance letter or recent stress-test results.
- Specialist letters for anything else flagged before (vision/hearing exemptions, seizure history).
At the exam
- You'll complete the driver-history section of the Medical Examination Report (MCSA-5875) — answer accurately; false statements are a federal offense.
- Pass, and the examiner issues your Medical Examiner's Certificate (MCSA-5876). Ask for two or three physical copies.
⚠️ The step that downgrades CDLs: passing the exam is not the finish line. CDL holders generally must submit the new certificate to their state driver licensing agency and keep their self-certification category current — if the state's record lapses, the CDL can be downgraded even though you passed. Requirements vary by state; confirm the submission method (online, email, in person) with your state agency.
After the exam
- Submit the certificate to your state licensing agency (CDL holders) and confirm it posted.
- File a copy in your carrier/safety file.
- Set reminders at 60 / 30 / 7 days before the new expiration — shortened cards lapse faster than you expect.
Free: Want your real deadlines, not a generic list? Run the free USDOT compliance check — your MCS-150, UCR and IFTA dates straight from the FMCSA registry. Then track them: your first compliance item is free →
Never let a deadline take a truck off the road
Enter your dates once — FleetClear computes every DOT/FMCSA deadline, alerts you at 60/30/7 days, and drafts the renewal notice. Your first compliance item is free.
Start free — no card requiredGeneral guidance for exam preparation, not legal or medical advice. Medical certification rules and state submission procedures change — verify current requirements with FMCSA and your state driver licensing agency. FleetClear is not affiliated with the FMCSA or any government agency.