The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced it is amending the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to provide an alternative process for qualified advanced practice nurses, doctors of chiropractic, doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, physician assistants and other medical professionals who are employed in the VA and licensed, certified or registered in a state to perform physical examinations (qualified VA examiners) to be listed on the agency's National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, as required by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and the Jobs for Our Heroes Act.
The final rule takes effect August 10.
After successful completion of online training and testing developed by FMCSA, these qualified VA examiners will become certified VA medical examiners who can perform medical examinations of, and issue Medical Examiner's Certificates to, commercial motor vehicle operators who are military veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare system.
This rule will reduce the costs for qualified VA examiners to be listed on the National Registry.