NRCME Medical Standards and Regulations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under FMCSA regulations, what is the maximum duration of a medical certificate issued to a driver who requires annual monitoring for a controlled condition?
- 6 months
- 1 year (Correct answer)
- 2 years
- 3 years
Correct answer: 1 year
When a medical examiner requires annual monitoring, the certificate is issued for no more than 1 year.
Question 2: A commercial driver presents with a resting blood pressure of 160/100 mmHg. According to FMCSA standards, what is the appropriate certification action?
- Disqualify permanently
- Certify for 1 year and recheck (Correct answer)
- Certify for 3 months only
- Certify for 2 years with no restrictions
Correct answer: Certify for 1 year and recheck
Stage 2 hypertension (160-179/100-109 mmHg) allows a one-time certification for up to 1 year with follow-up.
Question 3: Which federal agency maintains the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME)?
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (Correct answer)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Correct answer: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA established and maintains the NRCME under 49 CFR Part 390.
Question 4: A driver has had a single unprovoked seizure 6 years ago with no recurrence and has been off antiepileptic medication for 5 years. What is the FMCSA-recommended certification action?
- Permanently disqualify
- Certify with a 6-month certificate
- May be certified after thorough neurological evaluation (Correct answer)
- Certify only if EEG is normal
Correct answer: May be certified after thorough neurological evaluation
Drivers with a remote single seizure, prolonged seizure-free period off medications, and favorable neurological evaluation may qualify.
Question 5: Under 49 CFR 391.41, a driver must have distant visual acuity of at least:
- 20/20 in each eye with or without correction
- 20/40 in each eye with or without correction (Correct answer)
- 20/50 in one eye and 20/100 in the other
- 20/30 in the better eye only
Correct answer: 20/40 in each eye with or without correction
FMCSA requires at least 20/40 acuity in each eye with or without corrective lenses.
Question 6: Which condition requires a Federal Diabetes Exemption before a commercial driver can be certified?
- Type 2 diabetes controlled by diet alone
- Type 2 diabetes controlled by oral agents
- Insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (Correct answer)
- Pre-diabetes with fasting glucose 105 mg/dL
Correct answer: Insulin-treated diabetes mellitus
Insulin-treated drivers must obtain an FMCSA Federal Diabetes Exemption Program waiver to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.
Question 7: An NRCME-certified medical examiner fails to report a driver's medical certificate information to the FMCSA National Registry within the required timeframe. What is the standard reporting deadline?
- 24 hours
- 3 business days (Correct answer)
- 7 calendar days
- 30 days
Correct answer: 3 business days
Medical examiners must electronically transmit examination results to the NRCME within 3 business days of completing the exam.
NRCME Medical Standards and Regulations 2
Under FMCSA regulations, what is the maximum duration of a medical certificate issued to a driver who requires annual monitoring for a controlled condition?