Upcoming Compliance Changes for NRII: What You Need to Know
NRII Implementation Deadline
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has set June 23, 2025, as the official compliance date for the National Registry Integration Initiative (NRII). However, states may implement NRII earlier if they are prepared. Once a state integrates NRII, medical certification information for Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) applicants and Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders will be electronically transmitted from the National Registry to the State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA). In such states, the paper Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MCSA-5876) may no longer serve as valid proof of medical certification.
Key Changes Effective June 23, 2025
Several important modifications will take place:
• FMCSA will electronically transmit medical examination results (qualified, unqualified, and voided) for CLP applicants and CDL holders to the SDLAs.
• FMCSA will transmit medical variance information (medical exemptions and Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) certificates) electronically to the SDLAs.
• SDLAs will update CDL Information System (CDLIS) driver Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) with examination results and restrictions.
• Medical examiners will no longer issue paper certificates (MCSA-5876) to CLP applicants or CDL holders.
• CLP applicants and CDL holders will no longer need to submit paper certificates to their SDLAs.
• Motor carriers must verify medical certification electronically through the CDLIS driver MVR instead of using paper Medical Examiner’s Certificates.
Medical Variances
If a medical examiner determines that a driver requires a medical variance, such as an SPE Certificate or medical exemption, the driver’s examination results will not be transmitted to the SDLA until FMCSA issues the variance. Once obtained, the National Registry system will link the variance with the original examination results and transmit them to the SDLA. Despite electronic transmission, drivers must still carry proof of medical variances while operating.
Ensuring Your Medical Certification is Posted to Your Record
Since drivers do not have direct access to the National Registry or SDLA systems, errors in transmission may occur. If a driver receives a CDL downgrade letter despite having completed a physical qualification exam, their medical certification was not received by the SDLA. Follow these steps to resolve the issue:
1. Contact the medical examiner who conducted your exam and ask them to verify if an error message was received regarding your certification.
2. Contact your SDLA to confirm whether the corrected medical certification was posted.
3. If the issue persists, reach out to FMCSA’s National Registry Technical Support Helpdesk at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (617) 494-3003.
If stopped by law enforcement and informed that you are not medically certified, follow the same steps immediately to correct the issue.
Non-CDL Holders
If you do not hold a CDL, NRII does not apply to you. Medical examiners will continue to issue the paper Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MCSA-5876) as proof of medical certification, and you must carry it while operating a commercial motor vehicle. However, if you later obtain a CDL, the SDLA can retrieve your existing certification information from the National Registry and post it to your CDLIS driver MVR.
