NRCME STUDY EXAM GUIDE UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔what are Long relay drivers? - ✔✔drivers drive 9 to 11 hours and then have at least
a 10-hour off duty period)
✔✔What are Straight through haul drivers? - ✔✔cross country
✔✔What are Team drivers? - ✔✔drivers share the driving by alternating their 5-hour
driving periods and 5-hour rest periods
✔✔What are the instructions for completion of a DOT physical? - ✔✔Driver arrives at
medical examiner's office
Driver may bring paperwork
-Verify driver identification with photo ID
Driver completes formsMCSA 5875 - Medical Examination Report Form driver history
-Confirm driver signature and date
-Recommend driver sign HIPAA compliant release form(s)
Driver testing then completed by medical examiner and/or staff
-Vision testing
-Hearing - whisper test or audiometry
-Dipstick urinalysis
-Blood pressure
- pulse
-Height and weight
Medical Examiner examination
=Review driver historyAcknowledge driver "Yes" answers and clarify with questions and
additional information
-Ask if driver has ever received less than a 2-year certification at any prior DOT medical
examination
Physical examination - driver should be in medical gown or equivalent
-Medical Examiner notes abnormal findings with comments
Medical Examiner completes forms (MCSA 5875 and MCSA 5876)
Provide copy of Driver Certificate to driver and, if requested, to employer
Complete online completion of driver certification information no later than midnight
(local time) of the calendar day following the date of the examination
✔✔When does the online completion of driver certification information have to be done?
- ✔✔no later than midnight (local time) of the calendar day following the date of the
examination
✔✔An individual diagnosed with Stage 1 hypertension (BP is 140/90-159/99) may be
certified for how long? - ✔✔1 year
,✔✔At recertification, an individual with a hx of HTN; BP is greater than 140/90 but less
than 160/100, - ✔✔3 months
✔✔An individual diagnosed with Stage 2 (BP is 160/100-179/109) should be treated
and given certificate for how long? - ✔✔3 months
✔✔An individual diagnosed with Stage 3 hypertension (BP equal to or greater than
180/110) should - ✔✔not be certified until his or her BP is reduced to 140/90 or less,
and may be recertified every 6 months
✔✔What are the four required tests for DOT exam? - ✔✔Vision
Hearing
Blood pressure/pulse
Urinalysis
✔✔What should you tell a driver with contact lenses and/or glasses? - ✔✔that he or she
should carry extra contacts/pairs of glasses while driving.
✔✔What should you tell a driver who wears a hearing aide? - ✔✔that he/she should
possess a spare power source for the device while driving.
✔✔What are some reasons to disqualify a driver? - ✔✔Who is currently using
methadone.
Who has a current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism or who uses a controlled substance
including a narcotic, an amphetamine, or another habit-forming drug without a
prescription from the treating physician.
Who has a diagnosis of a regulatory disqualifying condition such as epilepsy, monocular
vision, or hearing loss.
When evidence shows a condition exists that will likely interfere with the safe operation
✔✔What are the only conditions that a driver is medically qualified "only when" -
✔✔Wearing corrective lenses
Wearing a hearing aid.
Accompanied by a ______ waiver/exemption. (E.g. federal vision).
Driving within an exempt intracity zone (49 CFR 391.62).
Accompanied by a Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) certificate. (SPE certificates are
issued by the FMCSA for fixed extremity deficits if the driver demonstrates the ability to
meet FMCSA safe driving requirements).
Qualified by operation of 49 CFR 391.64 (grandfathering for a limited number of drivers
who participated in diabetes and vision waiver study programs).
✔✔When a Determination Pending status was previously chosen, and the driver returns
with the required information that establishes that the driver meets certification
, requirements what is the certification date? - ✔✔the date that the driver provided the
required information is used as the date from which certification is determined.
✔✔Can someone be certified if they are taking a schedule 1 drug? - ✔✔no
✔✔Should you certify someone of a controlled medication? - ✔✔prescribing doctor can
write that the driver is safe to be a commercial driver while taking the medication
✔✔is anti-seizure medication used for the prevention of seizures disqualifying? - ✔✔yes
✔✔is methadone dysqualifying? - ✔✔yes
✔✔Should a driver be certified while using chantix? - ✔✔no
✔✔is marijuana use disqualifying? - ✔✔yes
schedule I drug
✔✔Is the use of insulin dysqualifying? - ✔✔yes unless they have a wavier
✔✔Is the use of anticoagulant medications neurological conditions disqualifying? -
✔✔yes due to the risk of hemorrhage causing a cerebrovascular accident.
✔✔Which of the following is true?
Regulations are advisory and are not mandatory.
Driver qualification standards are found in 49 CFR 391.43.
Medical guidelines are regulatory and must always be followed by the medical
examiner.
Medical guidelines are based on expert review and intended to assist the medical
examiner in determining driver certification. - ✔✔Medical guidelines are based on expert
review and intended to assist the medical examiner in determining driver certification.
✔✔What is the medical examiner certificate expiration date? Examination 11/16/2011;
disqualified due to diagnosis of benign positional vertigo last episode 10/11/2011; return
to medical examiner's office for complete new certification examination on 1/2/2012.
Note asymptomatic since 10/11/2011 - driver qualified for two years. - ✔✔Expiration
date 1/2/2014.
✔✔Additional tests above and beyond what are necessitated by the examination
process should be performed only when ____________. - ✔✔The examination was
unable to determine if the driver passed one or more requirements.
✔✔The FMCSA directly regulates __________. - ✔✔Interstate commercial operations,
including the driver.
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔what are Long relay drivers? - ✔✔drivers drive 9 to 11 hours and then have at least
a 10-hour off duty period)
✔✔What are Straight through haul drivers? - ✔✔cross country
✔✔What are Team drivers? - ✔✔drivers share the driving by alternating their 5-hour
driving periods and 5-hour rest periods
✔✔What are the instructions for completion of a DOT physical? - ✔✔Driver arrives at
medical examiner's office
Driver may bring paperwork
-Verify driver identification with photo ID
Driver completes formsMCSA 5875 - Medical Examination Report Form driver history
-Confirm driver signature and date
-Recommend driver sign HIPAA compliant release form(s)
Driver testing then completed by medical examiner and/or staff
-Vision testing
-Hearing - whisper test or audiometry
-Dipstick urinalysis
-Blood pressure
- pulse
-Height and weight
Medical Examiner examination
=Review driver historyAcknowledge driver "Yes" answers and clarify with questions and
additional information
-Ask if driver has ever received less than a 2-year certification at any prior DOT medical
examination
Physical examination - driver should be in medical gown or equivalent
-Medical Examiner notes abnormal findings with comments
Medical Examiner completes forms (MCSA 5875 and MCSA 5876)
Provide copy of Driver Certificate to driver and, if requested, to employer
Complete online completion of driver certification information no later than midnight
(local time) of the calendar day following the date of the examination
✔✔When does the online completion of driver certification information have to be done?
- ✔✔no later than midnight (local time) of the calendar day following the date of the
examination
✔✔An individual diagnosed with Stage 1 hypertension (BP is 140/90-159/99) may be
certified for how long? - ✔✔1 year
,✔✔At recertification, an individual with a hx of HTN; BP is greater than 140/90 but less
than 160/100, - ✔✔3 months
✔✔An individual diagnosed with Stage 2 (BP is 160/100-179/109) should be treated
and given certificate for how long? - ✔✔3 months
✔✔An individual diagnosed with Stage 3 hypertension (BP equal to or greater than
180/110) should - ✔✔not be certified until his or her BP is reduced to 140/90 or less,
and may be recertified every 6 months
✔✔What are the four required tests for DOT exam? - ✔✔Vision
Hearing
Blood pressure/pulse
Urinalysis
✔✔What should you tell a driver with contact lenses and/or glasses? - ✔✔that he or she
should carry extra contacts/pairs of glasses while driving.
✔✔What should you tell a driver who wears a hearing aide? - ✔✔that he/she should
possess a spare power source for the device while driving.
✔✔What are some reasons to disqualify a driver? - ✔✔Who is currently using
methadone.
Who has a current clinical diagnosis of alcoholism or who uses a controlled substance
including a narcotic, an amphetamine, or another habit-forming drug without a
prescription from the treating physician.
Who has a diagnosis of a regulatory disqualifying condition such as epilepsy, monocular
vision, or hearing loss.
When evidence shows a condition exists that will likely interfere with the safe operation
✔✔What are the only conditions that a driver is medically qualified "only when" -
✔✔Wearing corrective lenses
Wearing a hearing aid.
Accompanied by a ______ waiver/exemption. (E.g. federal vision).
Driving within an exempt intracity zone (49 CFR 391.62).
Accompanied by a Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) certificate. (SPE certificates are
issued by the FMCSA for fixed extremity deficits if the driver demonstrates the ability to
meet FMCSA safe driving requirements).
Qualified by operation of 49 CFR 391.64 (grandfathering for a limited number of drivers
who participated in diabetes and vision waiver study programs).
✔✔When a Determination Pending status was previously chosen, and the driver returns
with the required information that establishes that the driver meets certification
, requirements what is the certification date? - ✔✔the date that the driver provided the
required information is used as the date from which certification is determined.
✔✔Can someone be certified if they are taking a schedule 1 drug? - ✔✔no
✔✔Should you certify someone of a controlled medication? - ✔✔prescribing doctor can
write that the driver is safe to be a commercial driver while taking the medication
✔✔is anti-seizure medication used for the prevention of seizures disqualifying? - ✔✔yes
✔✔is methadone dysqualifying? - ✔✔yes
✔✔Should a driver be certified while using chantix? - ✔✔no
✔✔is marijuana use disqualifying? - ✔✔yes
schedule I drug
✔✔Is the use of insulin dysqualifying? - ✔✔yes unless they have a wavier
✔✔Is the use of anticoagulant medications neurological conditions disqualifying? -
✔✔yes due to the risk of hemorrhage causing a cerebrovascular accident.
✔✔Which of the following is true?
Regulations are advisory and are not mandatory.
Driver qualification standards are found in 49 CFR 391.43.
Medical guidelines are regulatory and must always be followed by the medical
examiner.
Medical guidelines are based on expert review and intended to assist the medical
examiner in determining driver certification. - ✔✔Medical guidelines are based on expert
review and intended to assist the medical examiner in determining driver certification.
✔✔What is the medical examiner certificate expiration date? Examination 11/16/2011;
disqualified due to diagnosis of benign positional vertigo last episode 10/11/2011; return
to medical examiner's office for complete new certification examination on 1/2/2012.
Note asymptomatic since 10/11/2011 - driver qualified for two years. - ✔✔Expiration
date 1/2/2014.
✔✔Additional tests above and beyond what are necessitated by the examination
process should be performed only when ____________. - ✔✔The examination was
unable to determine if the driver passed one or more requirements.
✔✔The FMCSA directly regulates __________. - ✔✔Interstate commercial operations,
including the driver.
