How to Get a Minnesota DOT Health Card
If you want to drive commercial vehicles in Minnesota, you must have a medical examiner's certificate, also known as a health card. You must have a health card to operate a vehicle over that is over 10,000 pounds of gross vehicle weight, is designed to take 16 or more passengers outside of the state and 8 or more passengers within the state, or is required to carry a hazardous material placard.
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Instructions
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Make an appointment with a licensed doctor or medical practitioner. This includes medical doctors, chiropractic doctors, physician assistants or advanced practice nurses.
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Ask if the doctor can conduct a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exam, and if he has a medical examination report. If he does not have the form available, download it from the Minnesota DOT website (dot.state.mn.us) and bring it to the appointment.
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Attend the appointment and submit to the required examination. The doctor will fill out the health history that you give, test your hearing, vision and blood pressure, and carry out a general physical examination. A urinalysis is also required.
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Have the doctor complete the medical examiner's certificate (page 9 of the form) and sign the report. He gives one copy to you and may also give a copy to you in the form of a health card, which some private companies require of their drivers. You must bring card stock to the doctor and have him print out the medical certificate on the card.
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Bring the certificate to the Department of Motor Vehicles and follow the standard procedures to obtain a commercial driver's license.
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Tips & Warnings
The medical certificate is valid for 24 months, or less if the doctor requires monitoring of a health issue such as a seizure disorder, high blood pressure or diabetes.
Be honest in the health history that you give the doctor. If you are later found to have hidden a medical condition that causes an accident, you may be criminally liable for not disclosing it before your application, as well as personally liable for any damages.
While the Minnesota DOT did not require a drug screen as of 2011 for commercial drivers, many private companies do.
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