2026 NRCME TEST BANK EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Which of the following is a disqualifying condition?
A) A past clinical diagnosis of alcoholism
B) A breath alcohol result of 0.019%
C) An alcohol-related stable physical condition, regardless of the time element
D) Use of methadone - ✔✔D) A current diagnosis of alcoholism is disqualifying. A
breath alcohol result of 0.02% or higher renders the driver unqualified to drive. An
alcohol-related unstable physical condition is disqualifying.
✔✔Ongoing voluntary attendance at self-help groups (e.g. 12 step programs) for
maintenance of recovery from alcoholism:
A) Is required for all drivers recovering from alcoholism
B) Is disqualifying
C) Is allowed but not required for drivers recovering from alcoholism
D) Fulfills the requirement for rehabilitation following a violation of alcohol rules. - ✔✔C)
12-step or similar programs do not fulfill rehabiliation requirements for drivers with a
violation of alcohol (or drug) regulations. Participation in such programs is allowed, but
not required, and is not disqualifying.
✔✔Which of the following is a mental health professional that the medial examiner may
refer to or consult with?
,1) Breath alcohol technician (BAT)
2) Designated employer representative (DER)
3) Medical review officer (MRO)
4) Substance abuse professional (SAP)
A) 1, 2, and 3
B) 1 and 3 only
C) 2 and 4 only
D) 4 only
E) all of the above - ✔✔According to the FMCSA, all of these are defined as mental
health professionals
✔✔The maximal certification internal for a driver with a history of drug abuse or
alcoholism is
A) Six months
B) One year
C) Two years
D) Do not certify - ✔✔C) Drivers with a history of drug abuse or alcoholism may be
certified forup to two years. Drivers may be subject to drug and/or alcohol testing more
frequently, but such testing is performed under 49 CFR Part 40 drug and alcohol testing
regulations, not under 49 CFR Part 391.41 driver qualification standards
✔✔Which of the following is true?
A) One of the requirements for the CMV drier physical examination is testing for
controlled substances
B) A driver taking multiple medications reports daily, regular or moderate use of alcohol.
The Medical Examiner should evaluate the possibility of medication interactions with
alcohol that may cause impairment
C) Even in remission, alcoholism is disabling for the CMV driver
D) Use of Schedule I drugs is not disqualifying - ✔✔B) Testing for controlled substances
if not required for the CMV driver examination. Alcoholism in remission is not a
disqualifying condition. Use of Schedule I drugs is disqualifying.
✔✔Ongoing attendance at self-help groups
A) Fulfills the requirement to complete a rehabilitation program
B) Is not disqualifying when used for maintenance of recovery
C) Eliminates the need for follow-up testing
D) Is mandated by the FMCSA - ✔✔B) Attendance at self-help groups is to disqualifying
but does not fulfill the requirement for participation ina rehabilitation program. Follow-up
testing must be performed according to FMCSA guidelines, regardless of participation in
a self-help group. The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) determines the need for
attendance at self-help groups as a condition of return to work as a CMV driver.
✔✔A driver taking methadone for substance abuse treatment may be certified for three
months.
,A) True
B) False - ✔✔B) False, methadone is disqualifying
✔✔Schedule I drugs, including marijuana or medical marijuana, are disqualifying
A) True
B) False - ✔✔A) Driver's taking Schedule I drugs are disqualifying
✔✔Recertification o the driver disqualifying for alcohol abuse requires the driver to
A) Have an evaluation y a substance abuse professional (SAP)
B) Have a referral by the driver's primary care physican stating the driver is attending a
self-help group
C) Have a complete physical examination
D) Have a drug test - ✔✔A) A driver disqualified for alcohol abuse must be evaluated by
a substance abuse professional prior to return to duty and complete any rehabilitation
program recommended by the substance abuse professional. The driver also must
undergo return to duty alcohol testing.
✔✔The Medical Examiner should be familiar with DOT drug and alcohol testing
requirements as outlined in:
A) 49 CFR Part 40
B) 40 CFR Part 38
C) 49 CFR Part 66
D) 49 CFR Part 12 - ✔✔A) DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations are described in
49 CFR Part 40
✔✔If the Substance Abuse Professional determines that current alcoholism exists, the
driver is not qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce
A) True
B) False - ✔✔A) Drivers with a current diagnosis of alcoholis are disqualified
✔✔The impairment benchmark for FMCSA for alcohol is
A) 0.01
B) 0.03
C) 0.04
D) 0.08 - ✔✔C) FMCSA recommendations use the degree of imipairment produced by a
0.04 percent food alcohol concentration as a benchmark for impairment
✔✔A driver with monocular vision who has been granted a federal vision exemption or
who is qualified by operation of 49 CFR 391.64 must have an annual physical
examination.
A) True
B) False - ✔✔A) Even though a vision exemption is provided for two years, the driver
must undergo annual examinatin
, ✔✔Who of the following is not qualified to perform the vision testing portion of the
interstate CMV driver physical examination?
A) An optometrist
B) The medical examiner
C) A licensed vision testing technician
D) An ophthalmologist - ✔✔C) Vision testing must be performed by the medical
examiner, an optometrist, or ophthalmology
✔✔Which of the following is true with regard to horizontal field of vision testing include:
A) Passing parameters are 75 degrees in left and right eye visual fields
B) Medial examiners may use a variety of methods in the clinical setting to measure
field of vision, including reasonably reliable and accurate tests
C) Telescopic lenses that redirect peripheral vision to compensate for loss of central
vision are acceptable corrective lenses for meeting commercial driving qualificatin
requirements
D) Specialized ophthalmological equipment should not be used for precise
measurement to determine if vision meets the 70 degree requirement - ✔✔B) Passing
parapets for field of vision are 70 degrees in left and right visual fields. Telescopic
lenses that redirect peripheral vision to compensate for loss of central vision are not
acceptable. Specialized ophthalmological equipment may be used to measure vision
parameters.
✔✔Which of the following will always disqualify a driver from being certified without
federal exemption?
A) Abnormal reactivity to light
B) 70 degrees horizontal field of vision in each eye
C) Monocular vision
D) Floaters - ✔✔C) Without a federal exemption or grandfathered status, monocular
vision will always disqualify a driver from being certified.
✔✔For a driver to be certified without a waiver for color recognition, they must
________________
A) Correctly identify the true colors of signs and traffic lights
B) Sufficiently recognize traffic signals and devices showing the standard red, amber
and green traffic signal colors
C) Be able to identify the different signs and traffic lights through shape and positional
analysis
D) Pass an Ishahara color vision test - ✔✔B) Drivers must be able to recognize red,
yellow, and green traffic signal colors
✔✔A driver with monocular vision who has been grandfathered must provide proof of
grandfathered status at what time?
A) Within three oaths of certification
B) When the certification is issued
C) Before the certification process is complete
ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Which of the following is a disqualifying condition?
A) A past clinical diagnosis of alcoholism
B) A breath alcohol result of 0.019%
C) An alcohol-related stable physical condition, regardless of the time element
D) Use of methadone - ✔✔D) A current diagnosis of alcoholism is disqualifying. A
breath alcohol result of 0.02% or higher renders the driver unqualified to drive. An
alcohol-related unstable physical condition is disqualifying.
✔✔Ongoing voluntary attendance at self-help groups (e.g. 12 step programs) for
maintenance of recovery from alcoholism:
A) Is required for all drivers recovering from alcoholism
B) Is disqualifying
C) Is allowed but not required for drivers recovering from alcoholism
D) Fulfills the requirement for rehabilitation following a violation of alcohol rules. - ✔✔C)
12-step or similar programs do not fulfill rehabiliation requirements for drivers with a
violation of alcohol (or drug) regulations. Participation in such programs is allowed, but
not required, and is not disqualifying.
✔✔Which of the following is a mental health professional that the medial examiner may
refer to or consult with?
,1) Breath alcohol technician (BAT)
2) Designated employer representative (DER)
3) Medical review officer (MRO)
4) Substance abuse professional (SAP)
A) 1, 2, and 3
B) 1 and 3 only
C) 2 and 4 only
D) 4 only
E) all of the above - ✔✔According to the FMCSA, all of these are defined as mental
health professionals
✔✔The maximal certification internal for a driver with a history of drug abuse or
alcoholism is
A) Six months
B) One year
C) Two years
D) Do not certify - ✔✔C) Drivers with a history of drug abuse or alcoholism may be
certified forup to two years. Drivers may be subject to drug and/or alcohol testing more
frequently, but such testing is performed under 49 CFR Part 40 drug and alcohol testing
regulations, not under 49 CFR Part 391.41 driver qualification standards
✔✔Which of the following is true?
A) One of the requirements for the CMV drier physical examination is testing for
controlled substances
B) A driver taking multiple medications reports daily, regular or moderate use of alcohol.
The Medical Examiner should evaluate the possibility of medication interactions with
alcohol that may cause impairment
C) Even in remission, alcoholism is disabling for the CMV driver
D) Use of Schedule I drugs is not disqualifying - ✔✔B) Testing for controlled substances
if not required for the CMV driver examination. Alcoholism in remission is not a
disqualifying condition. Use of Schedule I drugs is disqualifying.
✔✔Ongoing attendance at self-help groups
A) Fulfills the requirement to complete a rehabilitation program
B) Is not disqualifying when used for maintenance of recovery
C) Eliminates the need for follow-up testing
D) Is mandated by the FMCSA - ✔✔B) Attendance at self-help groups is to disqualifying
but does not fulfill the requirement for participation ina rehabilitation program. Follow-up
testing must be performed according to FMCSA guidelines, regardless of participation in
a self-help group. The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) determines the need for
attendance at self-help groups as a condition of return to work as a CMV driver.
✔✔A driver taking methadone for substance abuse treatment may be certified for three
months.
,A) True
B) False - ✔✔B) False, methadone is disqualifying
✔✔Schedule I drugs, including marijuana or medical marijuana, are disqualifying
A) True
B) False - ✔✔A) Driver's taking Schedule I drugs are disqualifying
✔✔Recertification o the driver disqualifying for alcohol abuse requires the driver to
A) Have an evaluation y a substance abuse professional (SAP)
B) Have a referral by the driver's primary care physican stating the driver is attending a
self-help group
C) Have a complete physical examination
D) Have a drug test - ✔✔A) A driver disqualified for alcohol abuse must be evaluated by
a substance abuse professional prior to return to duty and complete any rehabilitation
program recommended by the substance abuse professional. The driver also must
undergo return to duty alcohol testing.
✔✔The Medical Examiner should be familiar with DOT drug and alcohol testing
requirements as outlined in:
A) 49 CFR Part 40
B) 40 CFR Part 38
C) 49 CFR Part 66
D) 49 CFR Part 12 - ✔✔A) DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations are described in
49 CFR Part 40
✔✔If the Substance Abuse Professional determines that current alcoholism exists, the
driver is not qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce
A) True
B) False - ✔✔A) Drivers with a current diagnosis of alcoholis are disqualified
✔✔The impairment benchmark for FMCSA for alcohol is
A) 0.01
B) 0.03
C) 0.04
D) 0.08 - ✔✔C) FMCSA recommendations use the degree of imipairment produced by a
0.04 percent food alcohol concentration as a benchmark for impairment
✔✔A driver with monocular vision who has been granted a federal vision exemption or
who is qualified by operation of 49 CFR 391.64 must have an annual physical
examination.
A) True
B) False - ✔✔A) Even though a vision exemption is provided for two years, the driver
must undergo annual examinatin
, ✔✔Who of the following is not qualified to perform the vision testing portion of the
interstate CMV driver physical examination?
A) An optometrist
B) The medical examiner
C) A licensed vision testing technician
D) An ophthalmologist - ✔✔C) Vision testing must be performed by the medical
examiner, an optometrist, or ophthalmology
✔✔Which of the following is true with regard to horizontal field of vision testing include:
A) Passing parameters are 75 degrees in left and right eye visual fields
B) Medial examiners may use a variety of methods in the clinical setting to measure
field of vision, including reasonably reliable and accurate tests
C) Telescopic lenses that redirect peripheral vision to compensate for loss of central
vision are acceptable corrective lenses for meeting commercial driving qualificatin
requirements
D) Specialized ophthalmological equipment should not be used for precise
measurement to determine if vision meets the 70 degree requirement - ✔✔B) Passing
parapets for field of vision are 70 degrees in left and right visual fields. Telescopic
lenses that redirect peripheral vision to compensate for loss of central vision are not
acceptable. Specialized ophthalmological equipment may be used to measure vision
parameters.
✔✔Which of the following will always disqualify a driver from being certified without
federal exemption?
A) Abnormal reactivity to light
B) 70 degrees horizontal field of vision in each eye
C) Monocular vision
D) Floaters - ✔✔C) Without a federal exemption or grandfathered status, monocular
vision will always disqualify a driver from being certified.
✔✔For a driver to be certified without a waiver for color recognition, they must
________________
A) Correctly identify the true colors of signs and traffic lights
B) Sufficiently recognize traffic signals and devices showing the standard red, amber
and green traffic signal colors
C) Be able to identify the different signs and traffic lights through shape and positional
analysis
D) Pass an Ishahara color vision test - ✔✔B) Drivers must be able to recognize red,
yellow, and green traffic signal colors
✔✔A driver with monocular vision who has been grandfathered must provide proof of
grandfathered status at what time?
A) Within three oaths of certification
B) When the certification is issued
C) Before the certification process is complete
