Commercial Driver License (CDL) Medical Certification Requirement

All commercial drivers are required to complete a Self-Certification Affidavit (CDL-7) (PDF) when applying for or renewing a Texas commercial driver license (CDL). Individuals who are required to maintain a medical variance or a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) medical examiner’s certificate must also present a copy of the variance or certificate at the driver license office.

Self-Certification Affidavit Instructions

To complete the CDL-7, individuals must:

1. Provide general information in the top section of the form, and
2. Select the correct category of commercial transportation.

Expired Medical Variance or DOT Medical Examiner’s Certificate

Individuals must obtain a new medical variance or DOT medical examiner’s certificate and submit to DPS if the:

1. Individual is required to submit a medical variance or a DOT medical examiner’s certificate, and
2. The variance or certificate is about to expire.

Failure to keep a current medical variance or DOT medical examiner’s certificate on file with DPS will result in the downgrade of the individual’s CDL.

NOTE: Individuals must continue to carry the DOT medical examiner’s certificate in their commercial motor vehicle until January 30, 2014.

Change Commercial Transportation Category

Individuals who are changing the category of commerce they operate within must complete a new CDL-7 (PDF). If the new commercial transportation category is not exempt then the individual must also submit a current medical variance or DOT medical examiner’s certificate.

Additional information on DOT medical requirements may be found in the commercial federal regulations.

Submit Documentation

Documents (i.e. CDL-7, medical variance, or DOT medical examiner’s certificate) can be submitted by mail, email or fax. All documents submitted by email must be in PDF format.