Medical Certification (CDL) - by Province

Ontario

Class A, B, C, D, E, F

• Every 5 years until age 46
• Every 3 years between age 46 and 64 years
• Annually for drivers 65 or older

Medical standards for all commercial drivers are assessed directly against the national medical standards provided by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators. Vision standards apply to all drivers. Hearing standards apply to applicants and holders of class B, C, E and F licenses. If you are applying for a class A, B, C, D, E or F license, you need to submit a medical report. The medical report form can be completed by a physician or a nurse practitioner licensed to practice medicine in Canada.

Quebec

Class 1, 2, 3 and 4

• Required at ages 45, 55, 60 and 65
• Every 2 years thereafter

The medical examination requirements are based on the National Safety Code Standard 6: Determining Driver Fitness in Canada 4, which provides guidelines for assessing the medical fitness of drivers in different licence classes. The standard covers various medical conditions that may affect driving ability, such as cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, respiratory, metabolic, psychiatric, and substance use disorders. You need to send this report to the SAAQ before the deadline indicated in your letter to avoid the suspension of your driver’s licence or your right to obtain one 3.

Nova Scotia

Class 1, 2, 3,and 4

• At license renewal for ages 18 to 64 years
• Annually for drivers 64 or older

Complete a Driver’s Medical Examination Report form and submit it to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). You can get the form from any RMV office or download it from the website.

You can have the form filled out by a physician or a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are now able to perform medical assessments for drivers as of December 16, 20201.

The medical examination must be done within 90 days before you apply for the licence. You also need to provide a satisfactory optical report if you wear glasses or contact lenses.

The minimum visual acuity for a commercial driver’s licence is 20/30 (6/9) in the better eye, and 20/50 (6/15) in the poorer eye, with or without corrective lenses. The minimum visual field is 120 degrees horizontal in each eye.

New Brunswick

Class 1, 2, 3 and 4

• Class 1: Every five years under age 45; every three years from age 45 to 65; every year over age 65.
• Class 2: Every five years under age 45; every three years from age 45 to 65; every year over age 65. For school bus drivers, every two years from age 21 to 65; every year over age 65.
• Class 3/4: Every five years under age 45; every three years from age 45 to 65; every year over age 65.

Government of New Brunswick, the medical examination requirements for a commercial driver’s licence (Class 1, 2, 3, or 4) are as follows123:

• You must be at least 18 years of age.
• You must complete a Medical Fitness Report form within the past six months and have it signed by a Driver Examiner.
• You must pass a vision screening test with a minimum of 20/30 in the best eye and 20/50 in the weakest eye.

Manitoba

Class 1, 2, 3 and 4

• Every 5 years until age 45
• Every 3 years after age 45 until age 65
• Annually for drivers 65 or older

Driver Fitness utilizes the medical standards for drivers published by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) to assess fitness to drive. The standards were developed by medical advisors (physicians) and driver licensing administrators from Canadian provinces and territories, and establish basic medical qualifications for drivers with medical conditions that may impact their ability to drive safely.

The functions necessary for driving are cognitive, sensory (vision, touch), and motor (physical). Driving is a multifaceted perceptual-motor skill that usually takes place in a complex environment requiring the functions to operate together.

The types of impairment resulting from medical conditions can be classified as persistent or episodic and the effect of each on driving ability is assessed differently.

British Columbia

Class 1, 2, 3 and 4

• Every 5 years for drivers 25 to 45 years
• Every 3 years for drivers 48 to 63 years
• Annually for drivers 66 or older

Medical examination requirements

A person must complete a Driver’s Medical Fitness Examination Report when they apply for a:

• Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 licence
• Class 5 licence with endorsements 18, 19, 20

Prince Edward Island

Class 1 ,2, 3 and 4

• Every 5 years until age 45
• Every 3 years from age 45 until age 65
• Annually for drivers 65 or older

The medical standards are developed by medical advisors and administrators from Canadian provincial driver licensing bodies and are adopted from the Canadian Medical Association’s Guide for Physicians in Determining Fitness to Drive.

Medical examinations are required for Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 driver licenses to avoid preventable health-related accidents. Medicals completed within the last 12 months will be accepted. If the exam took place more than 1 year ago, a new medical examination is required for each class change.

When exchanging out-of-province Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 driver’s licenses, all US and Canadian drivers who are taking up residence in Prince Edward Island and who are requesting to exchange their out-of-province commercial license must submit a valid medical form completed and approved within the last 6 months (other jurisdictions’ medical forms may be acceptable).

Saskatchewan

Class 1, 2 3 and 4

• Every 5 years for drivers 18 to 45 years
• Every 3 years for drivers 46 to 65 years
• Annually for drivers 66 or older

Some of the conditions which may prohibit the issuing of a Class 1, 2, 3, 4 or school bus or heavy trailer endorsement are:

• Seizure disorders
• Certain heart or insulin dependent diabetic conditions
• Physical disabilities (paralysis, disability, arthritis, amputation)
• Blackouts, dizziness or fainting spells
• Head injuries
• Vision problems or hearing loss

The medical can be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner or an occupational health and safety nurse.

Alberta

Class 1, 2 and 4

• Every 5 years until age 45
• Every 2 years after age 45 until age 65
• Annually for drivers 65 or older

In Alberta, medical examinations are required for Class 3, 5, 6 and 7 driver’s licences, medical examinations at:

• Age 75
• Age 80
• Every 2 years after age 80

Newfoundland and Labrador

Class 1, 2, 3 and 4

• Every 5 years until age 45
• Every 3 years from age 45 until age 65
• Annually for drivers 65 or older

Before you get a commercial class of driver’s licence you must:

• Have one (1) year* as a Class 5 driver before you can apply for a commercial class of driver’s licence.
• Submit a routine medical completed by your doctor/nurse practitioner.
• Take a written test, along with a vision test. You will also need an air brake endorsement for those vehicles equipped with air brakes.
• For Class 1 licence only, you must complete Entry Level Training as of January 3rd, 2024.

*This requirement does not include time spent as a learner or novice driver (Class 5I or 5II).

Northwest Territories

Class 1, 2, 3, and 4

• Every 5 years until age 45
• Every 3 years from age 45 to 65
• Annually after age 65

According to the NWT Professional Driver’s Manual, the medical requirements for a commercial driver’s licence in Northwest Territories are: Class 1, 2, 3, or 4: upon initial application, every five years until age 45, every three years from age 45 to 65, every year after age 65.

Class 5, 6, or 7: at age 75, at age 80, every two years after age 80.

An examination may be conducted by a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or by a nurse registered under the NWT Nursing Profession Act. Medical reports are then sent directly to the GNWT – usually within five days.

Yukon

Class 1, 2, 3 and 4

• Every 5 years age 18 to 44
• Every 3 years from age 45 to 64
• Annually after age 65

According to the Government of Yukon, to get a commercial class licence in Yukon, you must provide a favourable driver’s medical for each of the following classes of licences:

• Class-1: semi-trailer trucks
• Class-2: motor coaches, transit buses, school buses, special activity buses with seating for over 24 passengers
• Class-3: heavy vehicles, with 2 or more axles, that weigh over 11,000 kilograms, such as dump trucks, large tow trucks, fuel delivery trucks, moving trucks, buses without passengers, large motor homes over 11,000 kilograms. Towing trailers weighing under 4,550 kilograms
• Class-4: taxi, limousine, ambulance, bus up to 24 passengers, special activity buses, handicapped bus You have to pass a medical exam to determine if you are fit to safely operate a motor vehicle. You can make an appointment with your doctor to get a medical exam and bring your results to your nearest Motor Vehicles office.

All Yukon doctor’s offices have the forms that the doctor will fill out and give to you to submit. The website also accepts medical exam results from outside of Yukon.

Nunavut

Class 1, 2, 3 and 4

• Every 5 years until age 45
• Every 3 years from age 45 to 65
• Annually after age 65

According to the Professional Driver’s Handbook of Nunavut1, the examination of drivers for a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 drivers licence includes:

• A vision screening test based on the vision standards established for the classification sought.
• A medical report of the driver’s physical condition.
• A knowledge examination, based on the information contained in this manual and driver manual.

You must be 18 years old, hold a Class 5 licence, and pass a medical exam to begin. The medical report must be completed by a physician and submitted to the Motor Vehicle Division. The medical requirements for a commercial driver’s licence are higher than for a regular driver’s licence, because they involve driving longer hours, often in poor weather conditions, and handling large heavy vehicles.