📅 Updated July 2026📌 Source: TDOSHS, FMCSA⏱ 6 min read
Tennessee's medical certification process follows the federal standard closely, with a specific rule about certificate timing for first-time applicants worth understanding before you schedule.
Perceive a forced whisper at 5 feet in the better ear
Blood pressure
Within FMCSA guidelines for the certificate's duration
Urinalysis
Checks kidney function and glucose, not a drug test
Only an examiner listed on the FMCSA National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners can perform this exam.
The 60-Day Rule for First-Time Applicants
For first-time Tennessee CDL applicants, the Medical Examiner's Certificate must not expire within 60 days of submission. This is a specific timing requirement worth planning around, particularly if your exam happens well before you actually submit your CDL application.
How to Submit Your Certificate
Your Medical Examiner's Certificate can be scanned and emailed directly to DI.CDL.Medcert@tn.gov, giving applicants a straightforward digital submission path.
The FMCSA Clearinghouse
A "prohibited" Clearinghouse status blocks CDL processing nationwide, including in Tennessee. If the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse reports a driver as prohibited from operating a CMV, no state can issue, renew, upgrade, or transfer that driver's CDL until the driver completes the federal return-to-duty process.
Hazmat TSA Background Check
A TSA background check is required for the Hazmat endorsement specifically. This is separate from the medical certification process and should be planned for well in advance if you're pursuing this endorsement.
After Your Physical — Study for the Knowledge Tests
Use the processing time productively. Practice free now.