U.S. · FMCSA
NRCME medical examiner lookup.
Find the official FMCSA registry, then use the credential dates an examiner has to meet to check whether their listing should still be current.
Examiner credential dates
Result
If you hold a commercial driver's license, your DOT medical card only counts when the exam was done by a medical examiner on FMCSA's National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME). Checking is quick, but the examiner's own listing runs on a clock that few drivers know about: the credential lasts 10 years, with training due partway through. This page sends you to the official registry and lets you test the dates against the federal rule.
How to check an examiner
Use the public search on FMCSA's registry website, linked in the sources, to look an examiner up by the details on your medical card or exam paperwork. This page does not query the registry or store anything you type. If you cannot find the examiner, 49 CFR 391.43(a) is the rule that matters: the exam has to be performed by an examiner listed on the registry, with two exceptions. A licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist may perform the vision part of the exam, and a certified VA examiner may examine veteran operators only.
How this is calculated
Under 49 CFR 390.109, the FMCSA credential expires 10 years after the date it was issued. Under 390.111(a)(5), an examiner must complete periodic training no sooner than 4 years and no later than 5 years after issue, and between 9 and 10 years after issue must complete periodic training and pass the certification test again. An examiner who does is issued a new credential valid for 10 years. The page adds 4, 5, 9 and 10 years to the issue date you enter and compares the date you want to check against the result. Rule text read from the eCFR on 2026-10-26. The registry record, not this arithmetic, is the authority on what FMCSA holds.
Worked example
An examiner's credential was issued on 2018-03-14. It expires 2028-03-14. The 4-to-5-year training window runs 2022-03-14 to 2023-03-14, and the training-and-test window runs 2027-03-14 to 2028-03-14. Checked on 2026-10-26, the credential has 505 days left and the examiner is between the two windows, so no scheduled step is due. An exam dated 2028-04-01 under the same credential would fall after expiry, so you would want to see that the examiner had been issued a new one.
Mistakes people make
- Assuming any licensed clinician can sign the card. The rule names examiners listed on the registry.
- Assuming a listing never lapses. The credential has a 10-year life and FMCSA can remove an examiner for reasons set out in 390.113.
- Using the old issue date after a renewal. A renewed examiner has a new credential with a new issue date.
- Confusing the examiner's cycle with yours. Your own certificate is governed by 391.45, which sets 24 months as the default.
Who this is for, and what it does not cover
It suits drivers, fleet safety staff and clinics who want a quick sense of whether an examiner's credential cycle lines up with an exam date. It does not search the registry, show an examiner's status, decide whether you medically qualify, or replace asking the examiner for their registry number and checking it on the official site.
FAQ
What is the NRCME?
The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, FMCSA's list of medical examiners who completed FMCSA-required training and passed the certification test and may perform DOT physicals for commercial drivers.
Does my DOT physical have to be done by an examiner on the registry?
Yes in general. 49 CFR 391.43(a) says the exam must be performed by a medical examiner listed on the registry. The exceptions are the vision part, which an ophthalmologist or optometrist may perform, and certified VA examiners examining veteran operators.
How long does an examiner's FMCSA credential last?
Ten years from the date of issue under 49 CFR 390.109. To stay listed, the examiner must complete periodic training between 4 and 5 years after issue, and training plus the test between 9 and 10 years after issue.
Can FMCSA remove an examiner from the registry?
Yes. 49 CFR 390.113 lists reasons, including failing to meet the requirements for continued listing, and 390.115 sets the procedure, including notice of proposed removal and a 30-day window to respond.
How often do I need a new medical certificate?
The default in 49 CFR 391.45(b) is every 24 months. Some drivers have a shorter cycle, for example 12 months for a driver with insulin-treated diabetes who obtained a certificate under 391.46.
Does this page look up the registry for me?
No. It links to the official registry and does date arithmetic in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Sources
Retrieved 2026-10-26. Each source was opened and read against the claim next to it.
- 49 CFR Part 390 Subpart D, National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (eCFR): sections 390.109 (credential expires 10 years after issue), 390.111 (continued listing, periodic training at 4 to 5 years, training and test at 9 to 10 years), 390.113 and 390.115 (removal).
- 49 CFR 391.43, Medical examination; certificate of physical examination (eCFR): paragraph (a): the examination must be performed by a medical examiner listed on the National Registry, with the exceptions in (b).
- 49 CFR 391.45, Persons who must be medically examined and certified (eCFR): the 24-month default and the shorter 12-month cases.
- FMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners: the official registry and its public examiner search.
General information only
This page is general information, not legal, compliance or financial advice. Rules, formats and registries change, and your facts may differ. Confirm anything that matters with the issuing agency or a qualified professional. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Common mix-ups
-
Often assumedAny licensed doctor or nurse practitioner can sign a DOT physical for a commercial driver.
What the source saysSection 391.43(a) says the exam must be performed by a medical examiner listed on the National Registry. The exceptions are the vision part, which an eye doctor may perform, and certified VA examiners examining veteran operators. [1]
-
Often assumedOnce an examiner is on the National Registry, the listing is permanent.
What the source saysThe FMCSA credential expires 10 years after issue (390.109). Staying listed requires periodic training at 4 to 5 years and training plus a test at 9 to 10 years (390.111), and FMCSA can remove an examiner under 390.113. [2]
Checked against these sources on .