[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1626-1627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00385]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2022-0195]


National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners: 10-Year 
Refresher Training and Recertification Testing Requirements

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department 
of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of implementation of medical examiner 10-year refresher 
training and recertification testing.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces implementation of the regulatory requirement 
that all medical examiners certified and listed on the Agency's 
National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (National Registry) 
maintain their certification by completing refresher training 4 to 5 
and 9 to 10 years after certification and passing a recertification 
test 10 years after certification. The 5-year refresher training has 
been implemented and

[[Page 1627]]

FMCSA is now proceeding with the 10-year training and testing. The 
required 10-year refresher training will be delivered by private sector 
training organizations in the same manner as the initial National 
Registry medical examiner training. The 10-year recertification test 
will be provided by the two FMCSA-approved testing organizations in the 
same manner as the initial National Registry medical examiner 
certification test. Medical examiners will be able to upload proof of 
completion of the 10-year training to their National Registry accounts 
and be eligible to take the 10-year recertification test starting 
January 1, 2023.

DATES: This announcement is effective on January 11, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief, 
Medical Programs Division, (202) 366-4001, [email protected], FMCSA, 
DOT, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W64-224, Washington, DC 20590-
0001. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. If you have questions regarding viewing 
material in the docket, contact Dockets Operations, (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Legal Basis

    Section 31149(d) of Title 49 of the United States Code, enacted by 
section 4116(a) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, 119 
Stat. 1144, 1726 (Aug. 10, 2005), required FMCSA to establish and 
maintain a current national registry of certified medical examiners 
qualified to perform medical examinations and issue medical 
certificates. In addition, FMCSA was to develop requirements to become 
a medical examiner that included the completion of specific courses and 
materials, as well as passing a test (49 U.S.C. 31149(c)(1)(D)(i) and 
(iii))
    In 2012, FMCSA issued a final rule establishing the National 
Registry (77 FR 24104). This rule also established training and testing 
requirements for medical professionals who conduct physical 
qualification examinations of interstate commercial motor vehicle 
drivers. To maintain certification and listing on the National 
Registry, medical examiners are required to complete periodic training 
specified by FMCSA no sooner than 4 years and no later than 5 years 
after the date of issuance of the medical examiner certification 
credential by FMCSA, and 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 the certification credential issued by FMCSA.

II. Background

    In 2018, FMCSA initiated development of improvements to the 
National Registry system. The first medical examiners certified and 
listed on the National Registry were required by regulation to complete 
5-year refresher training in January 2018. Because the information 
technology system improvements were not yet completed, FMCSA was unable 
to deliver the 5-year refresher training to meet that deadline. On July 
14, 2022, FMCSA issued the 5-year refresher training to all medical 
examiners who were either past due or currently due for the training 
using their National Registry accounts. FMCSA notified eligible medical 
examiners who were past due for the training that they have until 
December 31, 2022, to complete the training.

III. 10-Year Refresher Training and Recertification Testing

    Because of the delay issuing the 5-year refresher training and the 
extended timeframe offered for completion of that training, the 
programming to process the 10-year refresher training and 
recertification testing in the National Registry was also delayed. This 
functionality will be available starting on January 1, 2023. To ensure 
that all medical examiners have a full year to complete the required 
10-year refresher training and pass the recertification test, medical 
examiners whose National Registry certification expires in 2023 
(affected medical examiners) will have until December 31, 2023, to 
complete the 10-year refresher training and pass the recertification 
test. FMCSA will not take action against affected medical examiners, 
provided that they complete the training and pass the recertification 
test as specified in this notice.
    The 5-year refresher training developed and issued by FMCSA and 
previously released to all medical examiners who were either due or 
past due for their 5-year refresher training will be made available as 
a resource to all training organizations that intend to provide the 
National Registry medical examiner 10-year refresher training. The 5-
year refresher training will be posted on the Resource Center page of 
the National Registry website at https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/resource-center. In addition, training 
organizations can request a copy by contacting the National Registry 
Technical Support Help Desk at [email protected] or (617) 494-3003. 
FMCSA encourages all training organizations to obtain a copy and 
incorporate the content of the 5-year refresher training into the 
National Registry training they provide.
    The 10-year refresher training will be provided by private sector 
training organizations in the same manner as the initial National 
Registry medical examiner training required for certification. Medical 
examiners will contact a private sector training organization directly 
to schedule and complete the 10-year refresher training. After 
successfully completing the training and uploading proof of training 
completion (i.e., training certificate) to their National Registry 
accounts on or after January 1, 2023, medical examiners will be 
eligible to take the 10-year recertification test. Note that medical 
examiners will not be able to upload proof of training and will not be 
able to take the 10-year recertification test until January 1, 2023, 
even if they completed the 10-year refresher training before January 1, 
2023. The 10-year recertification 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.

Robin Hutcheson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-00385 Filed 1-10-23; 8:45 am]
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