Notice2023-00385
National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners: 10-Year Refresher Training and Recertification Testing Requirements
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 11, 2023
Effective
January 11, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Abstract
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 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.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1626-1627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00385]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1c7a717f6f7d717978757f7d705c787368327b736a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aaccc7c9d9cbc7cfcec3c9cbc6eacec5de84cdc5dc">[email protected]</span></a>, 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 <a href="https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/resource-center">https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/resource-center</a>. In addition, training
organizations can request a copy by contacting the National Registry
Technical Support Help Desk at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f59398968190969d868085b5919a81db929a83"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5a3c37392e3f3932292f2a1a3e352e743d352c">[email protected]</span></a> 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]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 11, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.