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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require Certified Medical Examiners to complete the recertification process no sooner than 9 years and no later than 10 years after the date of issuance of the medical examiner’s certification credential.
In order to recertify, the medical examiner must complete the accredited training (www.NRCMErecert.com). After successfully completing the training and uploading proof of training completion (i.e., training certificate) to the examiner's NRCME national registry account, the examiner will be eligible to take the 10-year NRCME recertification test. The 10-year certification test taken at an FMCSA-approved computerized testing center in the same manner as the initial National Registry Medical Examiner Certification Test.
If the medical examiner does not complete this process and obtain a passing score on the National Registry Medical Examiner Certification Test by his/her 10 year anniversary date, the examiner will be removed from the National Registry and will be unable to continue to perform DOT physical exams.
It is recommended that the medical examiner complete the recertification process as early as possible to avoid any risk of being removed from the National Registry.
In order to maintain your ability to perform DOT physical exams, you must complete the recertification process before your National Registry certification expires on the tenth anniversary of your initial NRCME certification If you do not complete your NRCME recertification by this date, you will be removed from the National Registry for noncompliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and lose the ability to perform DOT exams.
In order to recertify, the medical examiner must complete the accredited training (www.NRCMErecert.com). After successfully completing the training and uploading proof of training completion (i.e., training certificate) to the examiner’s NRCME national registry account, the examiner will be eligible to take the 10-year NRCME recertification test. The 10-year certification test taken at an FMCSA-approved computerized testing center in the same manner as the initial National Registry Medical Examiner Certification Test.
You can complete the recertification process as early as one year before the expiration of your current NRCME certification. It is recommended that the medical examiner complete the recertification process as early as possible to avoid any risk of being removed from the National Registry.
In order to maintain your listing on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners and the ability to continue to perform DOT physical exams, the certified medical examiner must:
Complete the 5-year periodic training requirement
When the certified medical examiner reaches the 4-year anniversary date from certification with the National Registry, the periodic training will be released to the examiner’s NRCME account for completion prior to 5 years from the certification date with the National Registry. Medical examiners that do not complete the periodic training by 5 years from the certification date will be removed from the National Registry for noncompliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.
Complete the 10-year NRCME certification testing requirement
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require Certified Medical Examiners to complete the recertification process no sooner than 9 years and no later than 10 years after the date of issuance of the medical examiner’s certification credential. This process consists of completing accredited recertification training (www.NRCMErecert.com) followed by obtaining a passing score on the 10-year NRCME certification exam.
One of the fundamental concepts underlying DOT exam certifications is that of regulation versus guidance.
FMCSA guidance is not regulatory, meaning the examiner has discretion whether or not to follow such guidance. It is important to understand that FMCSA guidance is not composed of arbitrary recommendations created by administrators. Rather, such guidance is the result of expert panels made up of clinical experts and traffic safety experts that are convened to address how examiners should best approach various clinical conditions. Such guidance and expert recommendations serve as the de facto standard of care.
Should the medical examiner choose not to follow such guidance, s/he should document the reason for deviating from guidance so that if an accident or other adverse event occurs, you can defend yourself. You can be sure that plaintiff counsel is very familiar with FMCSA guidance.