10-year Periodic Training and Testing Requirement
10-year Periodic Training and Testing Requirement
Due to the delayed launch of the 5-year periodic training, and the extended timeframe for completion,
FMCSA has received numerous questions regarding how the 10-year periodic training and testing
requirements will be implemented as we have some MEs that will reach their 10-year National Registry
certification expiration date starting in January 2023.
Regulatory Requirement
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations under 49 CFR 390.111 - Requirements for Continued
Listing on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, requires certified MEs to complete
periodic training and receive a passing score on the National Registry Medical Examiner Certification
Test no sooner than 9 years and no later than 10 years after the date of issuance of the ME’s certification
credential by FMCSA.
How to Complete 10-year Periodic Training and Testing
MEs will complete training provided by private sector training organizations in the same manner as the
initial National Registry Medical Examiner training required for certification. After successfully
completing the training and uploading proof of training completion (i.e., training certificate) to your
National Registry account, you will be eligible to take the 10-year certification test. The 10-year
certification test will be provided by the two FMCSA-approved testing organizations (Prometric and PSI)
in the same manner as the initial National Registry Medical Examiner Certification Test.
MEs Past or Currently Due to Complete 10-year Periodic Training and Testing (MEs past the
9-year timeframe)
To ensure that all MEs in this status have a full year to complete the required recertification training and
pass the certification test, FMCSA will not take action against affected MEs for noncompliance with the
regulations for not completing the training and passing the certification test within the 10-year timeframe.
The 10-year periodic training and testing function in the National Registry will be available starting on
January 1, 2023. All MEs will receive an email at the professional contact email address listed in their
National Registry account notifying them when the 10-year periodic training and testing is due to be
completed. To be sure you receive notifications regarding the 10-year periodic training and testing, please
log into your National Registry account and review your profile to ensure your professional contact email
address is correct.
The table below explains how much extra time you will receive to complete the training and testing based
on the training and testing being available January 1, 2023, and the month in which your National
Registry certification expires.
| Certification Expires | Extra Time to Complete Training and Testing |
| January 2023 | 12 Months |
| February 2023 | 11 Months |
| March 2023 | 10 Months |
| April 2023 | 9 Months |
| May 2023 | 8 Months |
| June 2023 | 7 Months |
| July 2023 | 6 Months |
| August 2023 | 5 Months |
| September 2023 | 4 Months |
| October 2023 | 3 Months |
| November 2023 | 2 Months |
| December 2023 | 1 Month |
Based on this information, FMCSA encourages MEs to take full advantage of the extended 1-year
timeframe by starting training and testing actions on January 1, 2023.
