CS Knowledge Article View - Department of Public Safety

Commercial Driver Medical Certificate Requirement – Action Required Before July 1, 2026
(EA) Excepted Intrastate - are the only drivers that are affected by this change.

Effective July 1, 2026, the State of South Dakota will adopt federal regulation 49 CFR 391.11, which requires most Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders to maintain a valid Medical Examiner’s Certificate (medical card).

This change removes the previous state exception that allowed certain drivers to indicate they were not required to hold a Medical Certificate.

Action Required

You must update your CDL medical certification status before July 1, 2026, to keep your CDL valid.
If no action is taken before July 1, 2026, your CDL will be downgraded.

To keep your Commercial Driver License (CDL) valid, you must choose one of the options below before July 1, 2026:

Option 1: Self Certify as Non-Excepted Interstate (NI)

You will need to obtain a Medical Examiner’s Certificate from a registered provider. You can find a provider on FMCSA’s website: https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/home
The provider must electronically submit your Medical Examiner Certificate to Driver Licensing.
Before July 1, 2026, you must visit a South Dakota Driver Exam Station to:
- Submit an application,
- Pay $43 application fee, and
- Provide two documents showing your residential address (such as mail or other approved proof of residency).

Option 2: Self Certify as an Excepted Interstate (EI)

You may certify that you operate only in transportation activities exempted under 49 CFR 390.3(f), 391.2, 391.68, or 398.3.
See full list of Excepted Interstate exemptions listed below.
Before July 1, 2026, you must visit a South Dakota Driver Exam Station to:
- Submit an application,
- Pay $43 application fee, and
- Provide two documents showing your residential address (such as mail or other approved proof of residency).

Option 3: Self Certify as Non-Excepted Intrastate (NA)

You may certify that you or your cargo do not cross state lines. You are still required to carry a Medical Examiner Certificate. This section also applies to certain school bus drivers under SDCL 32-12A-24 or if you are under the age of 21.
Your doctor must submit a valid Medical Certificate, and you must update your self-certification form with Driver Licensing.
Your medical status restriction (K Restriction) does not change. No new license is needed.

Option 4: Take No Action

If you do not update your self-certification, your CDL will be medically downgraded on July 1, 2026.
You may continue to hold a valid non-commercial license, but you will not be authorized to drive commercially until you complete a new self-certification status and obtain a valid Medical Certificate.

The South Dakota Driver Licensing Program is committed to assisting you with this update. Staff will be available at the following exam station locations to help with CDL medical certificate submissions and to update your CDL hard cards. These Saturday hours are ONLY for CDL license processing:

Mitchell Exam Station	Sioux Falls – One Stop Location
Saturday, April 11 – 7am to 12pm	Saturday, April 11 – 7am to 12pm
Saturday, April 18 – 7am to 12pm	Saturday, April 18 – 7am to 12pm
Saturday, April 25 – 7am to 12pm	Saturday, April 25 – 7am to 12pm

Brookings Exam Station	Rapid City Exam Station
Saturday, April 11 – 7am to 12pm	Saturday, April 11 – 7am to 12pm
Saturday, April 18 – 7am to 12pm	Saturday, April 18 – 7am to 12pm
Saturday, April 25 – 7am to 12pm	Saturday, April 25 – 7am to 12pm

Spearfish Exam Station	Huron Exam Station
Saturday, April 11 – 8am to 12pm	Saturday, April 11 – 7am to 12pm
Monday, April 27 – 8 am to 12pm	Saturday, April 18 – 7am to 12pm
	Saturday, April 25 – 7am to 12pm

Pierre Exam Station
Saturday, April 18 – 7am to 12pm
Saturday, April 25 – 7 am to 12pm

FAQs

Click on the arrow below to reveal the answer.

What's changing on July 1, 2026, for Medical Certificates in South Dakota?

• EA-Excepted Intrastate- Are the only drivers that are affected by this change.

• South Dakota will no longer exempt intrastate CDL holders from the requirements of 49 CFR

391.11 (b)(4), Physical Qualifications.

What if I take no action?

• Your CDL will be automatically downgraded to a non-commercial license on July 1, 2026.

• You can still drive on that non-commercial license.

• But you won't be allowed to operate commercial vehicles again until you receive a medical card.

How can I stay compliant?

Re-Certify as:

NI - Non-excepted Interstate - (You will qualify for this if you or your cargo cross state lines or you do not

meet qualifications in other categories.)

• Visit a certified medical examiner listed on the FMCSA's National Registry.

• They'll submit your medical certificate electronically to Driver Licensing within 2 business days.

• Then go to a driver exam station before July 1 to update your CDL and remove the "K" restriction -

and receive a new license.

El - Excepted Interstate - (You may qualify only if all your commercial driving is under federal exemptions

49 CFR 390.3(f), 391.2, 391.68, or 398.3).

• You may still qualify for Excepted Interstate under the following conditions: Beekeepers, custom

harvesters, government employees, and certain farm vehicle drivers and qualifying covered farm

vehicles. (See the federal regulations for a full list of excepted categories.)

• Go to the driver exam station before July 1 to update your CDL and remove the "K" restriction - and

receive a new license.

NA - Non-Excepted Intrastate - (You may qualify only if all your commercial driving is under 32-12A-24 (instate

school bus driving) or if you are under the age of 21.)

• Visit a certified medical examiner listed on the FMCSA's National Registry.

• They'll submit your medical certificate electronically to Driver Licensing within 2 business days.

• You will need to submit a new self-certification form to Driver Licensing. The form can be found at:

https://www.sd.gov.dps

• Once Driver Licensing updates your self-certification form, your process is completed.

Self-Certify Excepted Interstate Categories

You operate in excepted interstate commerce when you drive a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce only for the following excepted activities:

Transportation performed by the Federal government, a State, or any political subdivision of a State, or an agency established under a compact between States that has been approved by the Congress of the United States;
The transportation of human corpses or sick and injured persons;
The operation of fire trucks and rescue vehicles while involved in emergency and related operations;
Either a driver of a commercial motor vehicle used primarily in the transportation of propane winter heating fuel or a driver of a motor vehicle used to respond to a pipeline emergency, if such regulations would prevent the driver from responding to an emergency condition requiring immediate response as defined in § 390.5;
Pipeline welding trucks;
In custom harvesting on a farm or to transport farm machinery and supplies used in the custom harvesting operation to and from a farm or to transport custom harvested crops to storage or market;
Apiarian industries (beekeepers) in the transportation of bees;
As a private motor carrier of passengers for non-business purposes;
The occasional transportation of personal property by individuals not for compensation and not in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise;
The operation of commercial motor vehicles designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver), not for direct compensation, provided the vehicle does not otherwise meet the definition of a commercial motor vehicle, except for the provisions of §§ 391.15(e) and (f), 392.80, and 392.82, and except that motor carriers operating such vehicles are required to comply with §§ 390.15, 390.21(a) and (b)(2), 390.201 and 390.205.
Controlled and operated by a farmer, but is not a combination vehicle (power unit and towed unit), and is used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery or farm supplies (no placard able hazardous materials) to and from a farm and within 150 air-miles of the farm; or
To transport migrant workers.

If you operate in one or more of the above activities as the only operation in which you drive and you operate in excepted interstate commerce, you do not need a Medical Examiner’s Certificate.

CDL Holders Medical Certification Update