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Medical certificates and self-certification

How to self-certify or change your current self-certification status

You can now change your self-certification and submit your medical documents online. The change that you are making may require you to visit a driver licensing office location to self-certify or to change your self-certification status. Depending on how you self-certify determines what CDL medical documents will be required. You must self-certify before obtaining a CLP.

What happens if I'm required to keep CDL medical documents on file and don't?

If you're required to keep current medical documents on file with us and don't, your CDL will be downgraded and you can't operate a commercial vehicle. To release the downgrade, we must have unexpired medical documents on file.

  • If your intrastate medical waiver has expired, see Intrastate Medical Waiver.
  • If you don't hold an intrastate medical waiver, submit your CDL medical documents:
    • Online
    • Make an appointment to visit a driver licensing office
    • Email: CDLMED@dol.wa.gov (This mailbox is only for submitting CDL medical forms, questions won't be answered.)
    • Fax: 360.570.4915
    • Mail
      CDL Medical Unit
      Department of Licensing
      PO Box 9030
      Olympia, WA 98507-9030

Note: It may take 7–10 business days to update your record after receiving your documents. Please be sure to submit current medical documents prior to your documents on record expiring.

Self certify options
Type of certification and status Self-certify as this type if you… Medical documents

Non-excepted interstate commercial driver

Status:

  • Self-certification: Non-excepted interstate
  • Medical certification: Certified
  • Cross state lines driving a commercial vehicle.
  • Transport cargo that isn't from Washington (WA) or is leaving WA.
  • Deliver cargo to WA ports.
  • School bus drivers with passengers crossing state lines to events.
  • Delivering goods across state lines.
  • Delivering goods, including logs, to WA ports.

Medical Examiners Certificate – must be submitted to us and added to the driver record.

Other documents:
If you have a disqualifying medical condition, submit a current Federal Exemption and/or SPE form.

Excepted interstate commercial driver

Status:

  • Self-certification: Excepted interstate
  • Medical certification:
    • No waiver requirements: No status
    • With waiver requirements: Certified
  • School bus drivers with students crossing state lines to and from school.
  • Occasionally transport personal property without compensation.
  • Operate a government vehicle or emergency response vehicle.
  • Make emergency deliveries of propane or home heating oil.
  • Drivers crossing state lines for city, county, or state-owned and operated transit organizations.
  • Truck drivers employed by federal, state, or local government to haul or deliver mail, supplies, or other goods.

Medical Examiners Certificate – must be submitted to us and added to the driver record.

Other documents:
If you're required to have an intrastate medical waiver, it must be valid and you must carry it when you're driving in WA.

Non-excepted intrastate driver

Status:

  • Self-certification: Non-Excepted intrastate
  • Medical certification:
    • No waiver requirements: No status
    • With waiver requirements: Certified
  • Don't cross state lines while operating a commercial vehicle.
  • Transport cargo that originated in and stays in WA.
  • School bus drivers who only transport passengers within WA.
  • Truck drivers who only transport and deliver goods to and from WA addresses.

Medical Examiners Certificate – must be submitted to us and added to the driver record.

Other documents:
If you're required to have an intrastate medical waiver, it must be valid and you must carry it when you're driving a commercial vehicle.

Excepted intrastate driver

Status:

  • Self-certification: Excepted intrastate
  • No medical certification required
  • Do not operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)

No documents required. May not operate a CMV

Types of CDL Medical Documents

Depending on how you self-certified or what your medical condition is, one or more of the following documents may be required:

What if I don't know what type of commercial driving I'll be doing?

The most flexible option is to certify as a non-excepted interstate driver and submit a medical certificate to us. This allows you to accept jobs that require you to operate in interstate commerce.

I'm not an active commercial driver. Can I maintain my CDL but not my medical certificate?

Yes, but only if you:

  • self-certify as an excepted intrastate driver, and
  • don't operate a commercial vehicle.

Why do we have to do this?

Self-certification and valid medical certificates help prevent medically unqualified drivers from operating commercial vehicles.

Questions? Need help?

Call us: 360.902.3900 (TTY: Call 711)

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