FMCSA Extends National Registry II Exemption Through mid-October 2026

On April 10, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an extension of its temporary National Registry II (NRII) exemption, allowing continued flexibility as the industry transitions to full electronic medical certification reporting.

Under this exemption, interstate commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders, and motor carriers may continue to rely on a paper copy of the medical examiner’s certificate as proof of a driver’s medical certification for up to 60 days from the date of issuance. The exemption will be in effect from April 11, 2026, through October 11, 2026.

This action is intended to support drivers, motor carriers, State Driver’s Licensing Agencies, and certified medical examiners as they complete the transition to secure electronic transmission of medical certification data required under the NRII final rule. FMCSA has indicated it does not anticipate granting additional nationwide NRII waivers or exemptions beyond this six-month period.

FMCSA also recommends that certified medical examiners continue issuing paper medical examiner’s certificates (Form MCSA-5876) to drivers, in addition to submitting examination results electronically, until further notice.

For additional information and NRII resources, please visit the FMCSA NRII Learning Center: https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/nriilearning-center

NTTC staff will continue to keep members informed of any updates related to NRII implementation.