If you’re planning to start a career in trucking, there’s one thing you should know right from the start: obtaining your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is more than just driving a big rig. One of the most important (and often misunderstood) steps is the Medical Examination for CDL Florida — and how it fits into the bigger certification process.
Whether you’re just out of high school or taking the leap to a mid-life career change, this guide takes you through the entire CDL medical schedule, step by step — from your initial class to your final certification.
Step 1: Sign up for a CDL Training School
Your first step is, typically, to get CDL training in Florida at a trucking school or a technical college. What to need:
- Classroom training (rules, regulations, safety)
- Behind-the-wheel training (backing, shifting, highway driving)
- Pre-trip inspection training
Tip: Some schools insist on a DOT medical exam prior to enrollment, while others permit you to perform it during the course. Ask first!
Step 2: Get Your DOT Medical Examination for CDL
Before you are eligible to even obtain your Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP), you need to pass a DOT medical examination conducted by a certified medical examiner listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.
What the Medical Exam Includes:
- Blood pressure check
- Vision and hearing test
- Urinalysis (for medical issues, not drugs)
- Review of medications/medical history
- Physical exam (cardiac, neurological, musculoskeletal)
If you pass, you will be issued a Medical Examiner’s Certificate (Form MCSA-5876) that is valid for 2 years (or less based on a shorter recommendation).
This is important to begin your CDL process, and required for CDL for truck drivers in Florida.
Step 3: Send your medical certificate to the Florida DMV
After passing the medical exam you have to send your certificate to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) that way you can:
- In person at a CDL office
- By mail
- Or via the FLHSMV online portal
Don’t skip this step! Even if you passed the medical exam, your CDL application can’t move forward unless there’s decent documentation on file.
Step 4: Obtain Your Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP)
Once your medical certificate has been submitted and approved, you can go on to apply for a CLP. This is a permit that allows you to practice driving a commercial vehicle under supervision.
To Get Your CLP:
- Pass the written knowledge tests (general knowledge, air brakes, combination vehicles) for which you need to be licensed.
- Provide your medical certificate
- Pay applicable fees
The CLP is valid for 180 days and renewable for one term.
Step 5: Complete CDL Training Hours + Road Practice
This phase is where real driving experience kicks in. You’ll practice:
- Backing into docks
- Shifting gears
- Tight spot maneuvering
- Driving on highways, streets, truck yards
During this time, your medical status must remain valid. If your medical certificate for the CDL is expired, you are disqualified from driving as if you don’t have a valid certificate.
This is why understanding the timeline of your medical certification is so important — it directly affects your CDL progress.
Step 6: Drug Screening (Pre-Employment Requirement)
Drug testing is not involved in the CDL medical exam, yet you need to pass a DOT drug test prior to being hired by a trucking company. Most carriers or schools will take care of this after you pass your CDL exam or before onboarding.
Step 7: Take the CDL Skills Test
Once your training is complete and you’re ready, you’ll schedule your CDL Skills Test. This includes:
- Pre-trip inspection
- Basic vehicle control
- On-road driving test
You’ll need your valid medical certificate in hand for test day — no exceptions.
Step 8: Get Your Commercial Driver Certification (CDL)
Pass your skills test? Congratulations — you’re now ready to be officially licensed!
You’ll return to the DMV with:
- Proof of passing scores
- Your current medical certificate
- Any endorsements needed (e.g., hazmat, passenger)
Once processed, you’ll receive your CDL — your official Commercial Driver Medical Certification in Florida.
Step 9: Stay Compliant with Medical Renewals
Even after you get your CDL, your medical certification must stay valid. Generally, drivers should renew every 24 months; although some conditions (high blood pressure, diabetes) require annual renewal. If your medical certificate expires, then you can lose your CDL and be downgraded to a Class-E (noncommercial) license.
What Will Happen Next After You Have Your CDL
From your first CDL class, to your certification as a professional truck driver, your DOT medical should be in order to complete the process. Knowing the medical time-line — and ahead of renewals and requirements — will help ensure your journey is a legal, efficient, and stress-free one.
At Transportation Medicine, Dr. Weinberg brings decades of experience helping Florida drivers meet CDL medical standards quickly, safely, and stress-free. Drivers trust our clinic for its fast appointments, DOT expertise, and driver-friendly service.
Book your DOT medical exam with Dr. Weinberg today at aweinberg@medavex.org or call us at (727) 648-2402 and get one step closer to earning your CDL in Florida.