Effective January 1, 2014, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will only accept the DL 51 form with a 1/2014 revision date as a valid medical examination report for commercial driver license holders. Exams performed before January 1 can still be submitted on the older forms (revision date of 1/2012 or newer).

Also new this year, physicians who give DMV medical examinations will, beginning May 21, need to complete a federal accredited training and pass a certification test to continue to perform physical qualification examinations for truck and bus drivers. Only accredited physicians listed as medical examiners on the national Registry of Certified Medical Examiners will be able to perform medical examination reports for the DMV.

To become a certified medical examiner, a physician needs to register online at https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov, complete accredited training and pass a standardized certification test.

DMV also has a booklet, A Physician’s Guide for Commercial Driver License Medical Exams, which contains additional information. Medical examiners may request a copy of this booklet by calling (916) 657-6550.