CDL/CLP Medical Examination & Physical Qualifications

You are required to have valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC) information on your DMV driver record. The medical examiner will upload your MEC information to the FMCSA National Registry. The FMCSA will electronically transmit the MEC information to DMV. Upon receipt, DMV will record the MEC information to your DMV driver record. To get a commercial driver license or commercial learner permit:

You must complete a Department of Transportation (DOT) medical examination with an examiner listed in the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners;
You must have valid MEC information on your DMV record before the previous certificate information expires.
You are responsible for knowing when your MEC will expire.
It may take up to midnight of the calendar day after your medical examination for your MEC information to be added to your DMV driving record.

List of physical qualifications 49 CFR 391.41

Federal Exemption and Skills Performance Evaluation (SPE) Programs

If you certify that you drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce and do not meet the federal physical qualifications, you may qualify for a federal exemption for hearing or seizure disorder or an SPE for loss or impairment of limbs (arms, hands, fingers, legs or feet).

For Federal Exemption information:

Visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Exemption Programs website; or
Call the Oregon office of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at 503-399-5775.

For Federal Skills Performance Evaluation (SPE) certificate information:

Visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration SPE Program website; or
Call the Oregon office of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at 503-399-5775.

Oregon Waiver of Physical Disqualification

If you cannot meet the federal medical qualifications for commercial motor vehicle operation, you may qualify for an Oregon Waiver of Physical Disqualification.

This waiver is available from DMV.
It permits operation of a commercial motor vehicle used in Oregon intrastate commerce or in excepted interstate commerce only.

For State waiver information call Oregon DMV at 503-945-5083.

Note: If the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has given you a Skills Performance Evaluation Certificate and/or a medical exemption or Oregon DMV has given you a state waiver, you must carry the original or copy of that medical variance documentation at all times when on duty.